Reaching the Rainbow

The manual and video in this kit will help in planning an Aboriginal literacy program, or when considering adding an Aboriginal literacy component to existing programs. The kit is designed to develop awareness in Aboriginal communities of the impacts of literacy; present program options and opportunities; promote the importance of community involvement in Aboriginal literacy; serve as a resource for other literacy and Native organizations that plan to develop community-based Aboriginal programs; and help recruit learners and tutors. The video complements the manual and showcases different types of Aboriginal literacy programs across Canada. The kit is available for $55 from Parkdale Regional College, 72 Melrose Avenue, Yorkton, SK, S3N 1Z2. Tel: 306-786-2589, Fax: 306-786-7866.

Word Monster

On Family Literacy Day, January 27th, 1999, the PEILiteracy Alliance launched the latest Word Monster cartoon strip in the Charlottetown Guardian. For more information, see www.nald.ca/peila.htm.

New Literacy and Parenting Skills
(LAPS) materials

Literacy and Parenting Skills (LAPS) is a program developed by Bow Valley College in Calgary. LAPS programs are now offered in women’s centres, community centres, schools and family drop-in centres across Canada. Developed in collaboration with Aboriginal specialists and groups, the new Aboriginal Literacy and Parenting Skills (A-LAPS) program combines literacy and parenting skills with Aboriginal history, stories and legends. New with A-LAPS are two- or three-day training workshops to prepare community workers to deliver the program. Workshops include strategies for working with low-income Aboriginal parents, how to develop a family literacy program within a community, and how to develop a parent education program. An A-LAPS manual for instructors includes sessions on parenting issues, Aboriginal history, stories and legends, suggested children’s resources, and more.

Also new from Bow Valley College are two new supplementary sessions for the Literacy and Parenting Skills – ESL (LAPS – ESL) Facilitators Guide. “Let’s Talk About Food” deals with healthy eating on a low budget, “smart shopping,” and the Canadian Food Guide. “Is My Home Safe for My Children?” helps parents identify and avoid dangerous situations in the home. The cost of the supplementary package, including the two new sessions and participants’ handouts, is $5.50. The complete new LAPS – ESL manual, which includes the new supplementary sessions, is available for $20.