Canadian Literacy Facts and Figures: Courtesy of the World Literacy of Canada Organisation www.wordlit.ca In Canada: 48% of people over the age of 16 have low literacy. This amounts to approximately 12 million Canadians. 42% of working-age Canadians (16-65 years)
ILLITERACY PERSONAL AND SOCIAL COSTS
Have you seen the Oscar winning film “The Reader” where Kate Winslet struggles with her literacy? 16% of Canadians are functionally illiterate, here is an interesting article by Carolyn McKay talking about the effects of illiteracy on society http://www.writersblock.ca/spring1997/feature.htm
WHAT IS AN EDUCATIONAL TOY?
As “Educational Toy” continues to be a buzz word in the toy industry. More and more manufacturers seem to be claiming that their toys are educational in order to sell them. But do parents need to make sure that every
HOW CANADA RANKS
In a report comparing how Canada ranks against other countries for education Canada came second for literacy behind Finland and came in the top 6 for science literacy and math. CBC Article http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/education/oecd_2003.html Full Report http://www.oecd.org/document/7/0,3343,en_2649_39263238_33712135_1_1_1_1,00.html
SWIMMING WITH TADPOLES
I think most of us have a sense of how important the first few years of our children’s lives are to set them up for educational success. Scientists released a report looking into just how important this period of life
CANADA’S SHAME
Most of us would be suprised at the numbers of people in Canada today that are functionally illiterate. Here is an interesting article fom the National that discusses how literacy rates are suprising even the experts. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/education/canada-shame.html
WHAT MAKES AN EDUCATIONAL TOY
In today’s toy shops, every toy seems to have the words “Educational” written on the box. As a child’s chief mechanism of learning is through play it is possible that almost any toy can claim to teach a child somthing. This article
CANADA’S LITERACY LEVEL
Did you know that about 9 million Canadians of working age (42%) scored below Level 3 on the prose literacy scale. Level 3 is the desired threshold for coping with a knowledge-based economy and society. Research has shown that low literacy has
GO FORTH AND READ
Here are two interesting articles courtesy of Jen Robinson http://jkrbooks.typepad.com/blog/ Read and be read too: Talks about the importance of reading to your child. Kids get so much of their new vocabulary though books. It is a wonderful way to
15 MINUTES A DAY TURNS BRATS INTO BRAINS
Here is an interesting article from the Melbourne Herald Sun about the benefits of 15 minutes of reading with your child a day. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C23331921-2862%2C00.html