Family Literacy

January 27^th has been designated Family Literacy day…

such a formal title for something I feel is so intimate. Reading with my kids has always been our “special time”. I was fortunate to find a love of books early in life, and have been equally as fortunate to share this with my kids, Jacob (8), and Ashley (6).

I LOVE stories – they take me far away, to places I only can only dream of and introduce me to people that I am amazed at and where happy endings DO happen. When it’s library day at my kids’ school, it’s usually me that is eagerly opening their backpacks searching for the new book!

Around the age of 6, my son wasn’t into the stories anymore. The Berenstain Bears were too young, he wasn’t enjoying or getting into the suspense of the Magic Tree House and Harry Potter was WAY too scary. I started to worry about him losing his joy of picking up a new book.  And then it happened.**

Exciting Events SHLC

As the leaves fall, and snow is in the air – things have not slowed down at all for us online!

Recently we had a wonderful online session to hear about
The Sky’s The Limit project with Wasaya Airlines LP in Northern Ontario! To those from the session that applied and are now working towards a career in the world of aviation – we wish you all the best! Thank you to our own Sandra Turner and Tiffany Beerthuizen, Project Director at Wasaya Airways LP, for putting this session together!

Two other staff members have been hard at work with another online FIRST for SHLC! Julie and Warren held our first live where we listened to a PODCAST! (What’s a podcast? Click here to find out!) Thank you to Ningwakwe Learning Press and CBC radio for providing us with the curriculum and access to the ReVision Quest podcast! Make sure you sign up for our newsletter so you will be notified on our next session!

SHLC has two more exciting online opportunities next week!

Sharing Circle: with Drew Hayden Taylor Monday Nov 21^st at 10:30amET 9:30amCT

Come join us as we hear from an award winning author, playwright and speaker who hails from Curve Lake First Nation! He has travelled the world spreading his messages of humour and dispelling the stereotypes of Native people – because really? – No one thinks there are blue eyed Indians! We’ll hear from Drew about his journey to where he is today and have a chance to ask him questions!

Information Session with Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Wednesday Nov 23rd at 10:30am ET 9:30amCT

Do you like working with numbers? Do you enjoy working with money? Are you interested in a career as a financial manager or an accountant? Do you want to be able to study for a career while remaining in your community? Come out and listen to Terry Copenace as he talks about the Aboriginal Financial and Economic Planning Program offered at a distance from Oshki-Pimache-O-Win.

These are live online sessions! Sign up today by emailing us at info@siouxhudsonliteracy.com! Space is limited!

Gratitude….

As Christmas approaches it’s not the title or the topic of a post that you would expect but as I look back at the month past, I realize that November an eye opener to those things we need to be thankful for!

Two experiences this month have once again reminded me why I LOVE working at Good Learning Anywhere and why we do what we do.

The first was my trip to Wasauksing First Nations to be present and to present an award to Ivy Tabobandung. She is someone who constantly inspires me and that I’m proud to call a friend. Ivy is working towards a life-long goal; her dedication and enthusiasm, even as life throws curve balls at her, amazes me. She and many others are the reason we do what we do, and why we strive to do the best with every email, every phone call and every course we teach at GLA.

I also had the opportunity to present at CESBA today – a conference for those working in adult Literacy programs in School Board. I was able to share the hour with 4 other presenters who are doing amazing things with technology in their classrooms and programs! Their enthusiasm and excitement were contagious as they shared their stories! Then it was my turn….

Heart thumping, palms sweaty and mouth dry….I approached the platform. I’m always excited to tell the GLA story and the things that we do – but how would this large group of experienced LBS Managers receive what we do???
As usual, a few slides into the presentation I was sailing – speaking a 100 miles a minute and trying to fit in all the amazing things we do at GLA in FIFTEEN minutes! At the end of it the comments and the feedback was – what your group does is AMAZING…and I have to agree….it is.

We have the opportunity to connect with individuals all across Ontario on a daily basis…and we work with learners, practitioners and colleagues that push us to be our best and challenge us to be better…to do more…to try something new…

Thank you to Ivy and to CESBA for reminding me….

Celebrating successes of our learner! Le…

Celebrating successes of our learner! Leadership award named after Wasauksing woman – our friend Ivy Tabobandung!
Check out the article in Cottage Country Now!
www.cottagecountrynow.ca/news/article/905676–leadership-award-named-after-wasauksing-woman

“Just do it”

Some of us have grown up with the Nike slogan in our head and often use it in conversations…but have you ever really thought about the saying?

This summer I am trying to accomplish many things – we are thinking about moving, I’d like to take some courses, our fall programs here at Good Learning Anywhere are just around the corner and there is a lot to get ready, as well as I’m trying to make it a fun summer for my kids and spend as much time with them as I can! Add on to those all those things we are supposed to do frequently to be “well-rounded” people – spend time with friend, exercise…who has time for it all! There are days it’s just overwhelming! I had a friend say to me yesterday that her and her family are looking at their priorities and what they want their lives to be about….this got me thinking – what is important and what should I be focusing on!

The end of summer brings on September – the time for a new school year and new beginnings. As it approaches, I challenge you to take a look at what you want your life to stand for and the things you would like to accomplish – do you want to go back to school? Join a club? Start a new project? Volunteer at you child’s school? Get a promotion? Make more time for you?

I came across this video the other day, and thought it hit home for me… stop making excuses as to why you can’t do the important things in life, and “Just do it”.