Every Moment Matters
“Thank you for choosing me,” a volunteer tutor told me one day. Her comment caught me by surprise, yet it is one of those moments that I vividly remember because it had a...
What has Symposium meant to you?
The 2024 Literacy & Learning Symposium Registration Kick-Off is on February 6, 2024! Many CALP staff look forward to this event every year, and there is a reason they keep...
National Literacy Supports
In my last blog post, Advocating Literacy, I wrote about work at the international level and a call to action at the local level. I want to share with you what is happening...
Celebrating Volunteers
“I love what I do.” “I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.” “I have learned so many new things.” “I am excited to help another person achieve their goals.” “I have...
Literacy & Learning Symposium 2023 Launch – Registration is now open!
Community Learning Network (CLN) is excited to launch online registration for the Literacy & Learning Symposium 2023 and registration is now live. Register Now! It’s been a...
Strategies for Reading
I love resources. I love being surrounded by books and am often distracted by a great online tool. Over the years, my stack of beloved resources has grown, and I am always...
Helping Students Learn Math – Three Keys: Goals; Current Level and Mindset
* Please note: this article was originally published in the Rural Routes Winter 2022 newsletter Math comes up again and again as a challenging subject to learn. To help a...
Online Facilitation - No Need to Panic!
Online…. Facilitation…. do either of those words bring you discomfort? Thoughts of boredom? Uncertainty? Depending on your skills, training, and experience in either of these...
Why Tutoring?
Today I watched large flocks of geese on their northern migration. They flew so effortlessly high in the sky. Then suddenly, they swirled around in large circles breaking the...
Tips for Giving Constructive Feedback
This week's guest blog post is by Terri Peters. Keeping feedback constructive is the every-lesson task of adult foundational learning tutors and instructors. You create a...
Volunteer Perspective on Psychological First Aid
This week's guest blog post is by Carlee Knight. This past October, I had the opportunity to take Psychological First Aid, a Canadian Red Cross certified course offered by...
Publisher Spotlight: ORCA Book Publishers
For the past 4 years, CALPs across Alberta have had access to generous book discounts from a variety of publishing companies. This year I'd like to highlight those companies...
A Recipe for Reading
Ingredients: Tutor and learner – A home phone or cell phone Coordinator – Access to a printer and ESL Bow Valley Readers As we navigate this new world of delivering programs...
Reaching Out
There were times when, as a volunteer tutor, or as an adult and family literacy program coordinator, my learner did not show up for our session. I always felt disappointed...
Practitioner's Shortcuts: K-W-L
As CALP staff, you are extraordinary multitaskers. You never know who is going to walk through your door and what they might need. As a result, it is nice to have tools and...
Teamwork Across the Generations
Strong relationships and a safe and welcoming atmosphere are important, not just for our learners but also within our organization as a whole. When I look across the CALP...
Practitioner's Shortcuts: Cloze Exercise
As CALP staff, you are extraordinary multitaskers. You never know who is going to walk through your door and what they might need. As a result, it is nice to have things in...
Volunteers – Building Capacity – Sharing the Journey
Did you know that 12.7 million Canadians volunteer their time and energy each year? How fortunate we are to live in a country where people give so generously of their time,...
Engaging Learners with Authentic Materials
When I would meet with foundational learners to discuss our volunteer tutor program I usually gave them an assignment. While they waited for a volunteer tutor, I asked them...
Volunteer Screening: Finding the Right Fit Makes All the Difference
This week, we are pleased to feature a guest blogger. The blog has been submitted by Volunteer Alberta, with an introduction from Monica Doherty, Volunteer Coordinator from...