CALP Connections: October 2024

Community Learning Network's 2024 - 2025 Board of Directors

Thank you to everyone who joined us for CLN's 37th Annual General Meeting virtually on September 24th.

We are pleased to share with you the CLN Board of Directors for the 2024 - 2025 year:

                            
Monica Sczyrba-Davis                      Natasha Bozek
         Chair                   Vice Chair & Governance Committee Chair

                               
     Tanya Mercredi                               Tanya Klappe
        Treasurer                                       Secretary

                              
       Dave Albrecht                               Stephanie Brown
          Director                                           Director

                        
         Leslie Carbone                        Claudinei Saunders-Cruz
           Director                                            Director

Literacy & Learning Symposium 2025 Update

Dates: Tuesday, April 29 to Thursday, May 1

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton in Edmonton

Please mark your training calendars!

Our Symposium 2025 Theme is: “Making Waves”

We are seeking breakout session presentations and keynote presentations with a focus on --

• waves of imagination
• waves of inspiration
• waves of insight
• waves of innovation
• waves of impact
• waves of possibilities

CALL FOR PRESENTERS

The Symposium 2025 Call for Presenters is OPEN!

The Literacy & Learning Symposium Planning Committee is accepting proposals for breakout sessions at the Literacy & Learning Symposium 2025 and we encourage presenters to submit presentation proposals.

Are you or do you know an expert in our field who would like to contribute to the future of the CALP system?

To submit a proposal, please complete the online form here: https://calp.ca/submissions/call-for-presenters-literacy-and-learning-symposium-2025 

Deadline for submissions: Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

Please help circulate the Symposium Call for Presenters within your networks!

Questions?

Please contact: Pat Halewich, PD & Events Specialist (Symposium Event Lead), Community Learning Network at pdevents@calp.ca 

KEYNOTE PRESENTERS

Looking for Keynote Presenters!

Between now and the end of December the Symposium Planning Committee is in search of keynote presenters. 

If you have suggestions of possible keynote presenters or topics you would like to see at Symposium 2025, please contact: Pat Halewich, PD & Events Specialist (Symposium Event Lead), Community Learning Network at pdevents@calp.ca 

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

We invite you to explore the many PD and training options for CALP staff this fall. Register now for these upcoming events!

Looking for something new?

• Planning for Learning Series  Guided by Knowles’ five assumptions of adult learners, we will explore a collection of voices, resources, perspectives, and strategies intended to strengthen your organization’s design and delivery of learning opportunities.
• Self-concept (Tuesday Oct. 22 1-2:30 pm)
• Readiness to Learn (Thursday, Nov. 14 1-2:30 pm)
• Orientation to Learning (Monday, Jan. 27 1-2:30 pm)
• Motivation to Learn (Thursday, Feb. 27 1-2:30 pm)
• Communication Series  Build confidence in your own communication skills in one on one or group settings so that you can effectively share the great work your CALP does
• Small Talk and Big Talk (Presentation Skills) – Dec 12, 2024 Gain tips and tricks for ‘small talk’ and ‘big talk’ so you feel confident interacting and communicating in work-related situations; from one-on-one ‘small talk’ with learners, co-workers, volunteers, Board members, funders or community members to ‘big talk’ or presentations to create awareness and share the great things your CALP is doing.

• What's New in Adult Literacy Series Explore what’s new and effective best practices based on more recent studies for working with adult literacy learners.
• Finding and Recruiting Adult Literacy Learners – Oct. 25, 2024
• Adult Literacy Learners & Learner Identity – Nov. 15, 2024
• Indigenous Learners & Learning – Dec. 17, 2024
• Teach what is relevant to the learner-different ways of learning – Jan. 29, 2025
• Who is Paulo Freire and how is his pedagogy relevant today? - Feb. 18, 2025
• What is social justice? How does it connect to adult literacy learners? – Mar. 20, 2025
• Finding Adult Literacy Resources - Nov 19, 2024  Explore the CALP Portal for ideas for teaching reading and writing, modules & workbooks, and helpful how-to teach reading videos.
• Wellness Lunch & Learn Series – Watch for the next session on December 3!

New to CALP?

If you have recently started working in a CALP role, be sure to register for required training. CLN invites you to come meet other new staff to learn what supports are available to help you be successful in your new role!

• Introduction to Adult Foundational Learning (Required Training)
  Jan. 23 – Feb. 20 (10:00-11:15 am) (1:30-2:45 pm)
  May 21 – Jun 18 (9:30-10:45 am)

• CALP Essentials for Family Literacy Programs (Required Training)
  Nov. 13 – Dec 4, 2024 – (9:30-11:00 am) (1:00-2:30 pm)
  Feb. 25 – Mar 18, 2025 – (9:30-11:00 am) (1:00-2:30 pm)
  
  
• Welcome to CALP! – Jan 23, 2025

In-Person Training

• Psychological First Aid Attend a Red Cross resiliency-building training session and develop a personal understanding of the effects of stress, loss, trauma and grief, with emphasis on self-care and personal protection. 

• Psychological First Aid - Crowsnest Pass (Oct. 17-18)

CALP “Go-To” Training

Many CALPs make use of the CALP Database, offer volunteer tutoring, and teach digital skills. Don't miss the chance to learn more.

• CALP Database Learning Lab  (Oct. 8) Drop in to the NEW Database Learning Lab! Come with your questions, challenges or just to learn more.
• Volunteer Tutor Masterclass (Nov. 21 - Dec. 5) Volunteers are a critical partner in CALP. Dive in to learn strategies for recruiting, engaging and retaining volunteers and explore current trends and practices that will make you feel confident and excited about your volunteer program.

Personalized Coaching

Would you like some guidance in a particular area of your work. Don’t know who to ask?  

Book a coaching session with CLN staff in any of these areas:

• Literacy programming and instruction
• CALP Database
• Goal setting with learners
• Communications skills for small talk, big talk (presentations) and group talk (facilitation)

CLN’s training calendar is being updated regularly so check the Training & Events calendar on the CALP Portal often.

Communities of Practice

Join your peers for in-person or online for informal discussions and connections facilitated by CLN staff.

In Person Come together for an engaging, interactive day to connect with other CALP staff from across your region. Meet new and experienced staff and reconnect with those that you have not seen for a while and find out about the exciting work that CALPS are doing.

• Central Regional Gathering (Big Valley) – Oct. 16, 2024 
• West Regional Gathering (Stony Plain) – Oct. 17, 2024
• North-West Joint Regional Gathering (Grande Prairie) – Oct. 24, 2024 CALP staff from the West & North regions are gathering together in Grande Prairie to connect with other CALP staff from across these regions

Online Grab a coffee, bring a question, share a success or challenge, and settle in for five minutes or all sixty.

• East Connections Café – Oct 15, 2024

2024 Council of Federation Award Recipient

Congratulations to County of Lethbridge Community Learning Council for receiving the 2024 Council of the Federation Literacy Award! Since 2015, they have demonstrated great dedication and skill to adult literacy in Alberta, and their nomination is an example of their advocacy for their community. CLCLC helps newcomers and Low German Mennonites by providing English language training, and fostering connections with the wider community.

"CLCLC exemplifies inclusion through its approach to strengthening communities by innovative, collaborative, ELL and literacy programming." - Canada's Premiers 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2024 Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2024 event on September 26, 2024. 

We are honoured to have been joined by Elder Dave Matilpi and Elder Lucille Provost, who shared their Knowledge and teachings with us.

A recording of this event is now available.

Preparing Adult Learners for their Canadian Education Credential?

Norquest is now offering a Canadian Adult Education Credential course, which gives tutors/instructors the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the CAEC format, access literacy and numeracy materials, understand lesson structures, analyze a CAEC-specific lesson plan, and create their own lesson plan(s) for CAEC learners.

Read more about the course here: Preparing Adult Learners for their Canadian Education Credential | 2024-2025 | NorQuest College - Edmonton, Alberta 

Literacy in Action

This section of the newsletter is called Literacy in Action, but what does the word ‘literacy’ mean?

Throughout my decades of thinking and talking about literacy, I was frustrated there was no universal definition that would help me to really know what ‘literacy’ means.

Along the way I have picked up and dropped various definitions I came across. But when I look back at some of those understandings I had about literacy, I realize they have something in common. For me, literacy means how we use our reading and writing skills to function within our social and cultural setting. There is no ‘illiteracy,’ just different literacies, based on how I read the world around me. It’s about how my literacies help me get things done in my world.

What does literacy mean to you?

If you would like to explore your own definition of literacy, consider connecting with me. You can send me an email at literacy@calp.ca or book a coaching session with me on literacy programming and instruction.

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