Trainers Corner

There is some good news for trainers. The T & C Committee has finalized the revisions to the - Literacy Trainer Handbook and hope to have an insert to the handbook available for trainers and apprentices this fall. This project has taken several years to complete. Changes have been made to the content of several segments, and we have suggested that revisions be made to the minimum workshop requirements for Each One Teach One and practice segments. There are also recommendations going to the Board that several changes be made to the requirements for certification as a Trainer - Literacy, and to the way in which Laubach can ensure the training being delivered maintains standards. Much of this work relies on Supervising Trainers (STs). The expectations of and standards for STs, therefore, have also been raised. Although the changes may seem result in a highly demanding process, especially for a volunteer organization, the T & C Committee feels that this commitment among trainers already exists. Our high standards set Laubach apart from other organizations, and give us a well-deserved reputation for delivering quality programs.

To facilitate the delivery of our Peer Youth Tutor (PYT) program, a resource manual containing sample handouts, overheads, schedules and presentations should be available for Conference '99. The program to date has been delivered in many different ways across the country, and LLC's "special" programs must be tailored to meet the audience's needs, which do vary from region to region. There must also be some consistency in content, however. We hope the PYT Resource Manual will help achieve that goal, while assisting trainers deliver a program that is useful and interesting.

The T & C Committee plans to dedicate time at the January meeting to revise the Creating a Learning Culture in the Home training manuals. Family Literacy trainers can expect to receive a survey requesting their feedback on delivering this program, how they tailor it, and suggestions about revisions they would like to see, if any.

Congratulations to the trainers who achieved the following certification in June:

Trainer- Literacy:
Jeanne Tucker..... Ontario
Wendy Woodhouse .....Ontario
Kristy Hermanson .....Ontario
Trainer- ESL:
Diane Hunt .....New Brunswick

Supervising Trainer- Literacy:
Martha Shufelt.....Quebec
Stephanie Hobbs.....Ontario
Master Trainer - Literacy:
Jo Cryderman
Jane Tuer .....Ontario

Born to Read and Cook

Nationwide, on October 9, 1998, nearly two million Canadian children returned home from school with a free book called Born to Read and Cook by Ben Wicks.

Born to Read and Cook is a call to action for parents and caregivers. Ben Wicks created this exciting new concept to overcome the problem of illiteracy in Canada. Born to Read and Cook carries children and their parents into the kitchen to bond and prepare meals together, uniting them as they learn to read, write and count (measure) while having fun preparing simple and nutritious foods.

With Born to Read and Cook being distributed in over 12,000 schools, the three Rs will effectively be put to use promoting family literacy. In addition, generous sponsors have joined this unique initiative to work together with government, literacy organizations, school boards, trustees, superintendents, libraries, schools and families to meet the learning needs of Canadian parents and their children.