National Adult Literacy Database

Multilingual parents needn’t worry about confusing their children with multiple languages spoken at home, as new research findings from the University of Calgary reveal children can acquire and switch between languages effortlessly as long as they start young and interact regularly in those tongues.

A new web-based resource lets parents and teachers better help children who demonstrate unusual or worrisome emotions and behaviour, providing guidance as to whether they are a normal part of development or a potential mental health problem.

British Columbia may have one of the largest Aboriginal populations in Canada but it isn’t the only province whose first peoples are struggling to reconcile the history of colonialism, forced assimilation and abuse found in the residential school system with the need to educate and prepare their children for life in the 21st century.

Beyond reading, homework, educational games and visiting the library, the poll identified different activities that might be helpful with literacy and numeracy - such as involving kids in chores and cooking. Only 14 per cent said they always use paying their bills as a learning opportunity, with 19 per cent using the sorting and matching potential of laundry.

The new year is here and with it come promises of change – eating healthier foods, going to the gym, getting a new job. But beyond the traditional resolutions, improving your literacy skills can help you make the ultimate change.

The intent of the new law is to deter the most damaging and deceptive forms of spam from occurring in Canada. Spam includes more than unsolicited commercial messages. It has become the vehicle for a wide range of threats to online commerce affecting individuals, businesses and network providers.

A professor at the University of New Brunswick has been named one of the top 10 Canadian news makers in education technology for 2011 by one of the country's leading consulting firms. Steve Pierce, director of the Atlantic Centre for Educational Administration and Leadership with the university's faculty of education, joined the likes of David Suzuki, the British Columbia Premier's Council and digital media company Bitstrips Inc. on Mindshare Learning's second annual list.

A descendant of Irish immigrants, Paul Martin points to himself and other non-aboriginals. "Our ancestors were not treated very well," said Martin, adding that later generations were successful thanks to strong schooling.

Participate in the Family Literacy Day Colouring Contest from now until January 31, 2012, for a chance to win one of 13 Family Literacy Day Raise-a-Reader prize packs! If you haven’t already planned your Family Literacy Day activity for this year, this is a great option for everyone to enjoy on January 27.

Google Canada celebrates its 10th anniversary with a look back on a decade of accomplishments and advances that have changed the way Canadians find, share and organize information, network, and do business. A decade ago, most Canadians didn't Google things. Texting was a new technology, most of us were connecting to the Internet via dial-up, and we couldn't imagine the possibility of taking a virtual drive along our own streets.

Four Canadian book publishers will continue offering a rich selection of Canadian-authored books to readers everywhere, in both digital and print formats, thanks to an investment from the Government of Canada.

While children and parents get a break from school and work during the holiday season, families can still get involved in enjoyable learning activities.

"A lot of people on Twitter are dedicated readers. Twitter is like all of the other short forms that preceded it. It's like the telegram. It's like the smoke signal. It's like writing on the washroom wall. It's like carving your name on a tree," says Canada's literary legend Margaret Atwood.

The week celebrates adult learners across the country and the joy of learning throughout life.

Lindsay Kennedy, a member of the CLLN staff team since 2007, has been senior manager for the past two years. With over 20 years’ experience in the literacy and essential skills field, she is well-known as a visionary and a collaborator.