Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network

www.cllrnet.ca

More than seven million Canadian adults struggle with language and literacy problems every day. Studies show that more than 20 per cent of high-school graduates lack the literacy skills needed for entry-level jobs. Another 25 per cent of Canadians can read only simple printed material. Yet these skills are the building blocks in creating opportunities that help Canadians overcome personal or financial hurdles. Employers state that their top three employee requirements are good communication skills, the ability to learn and literacy.

Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network research aims to enable children to contribute more effectively to their social and economic surroundings. The Network focuses on early childhood development because language and literacy deficiencies are best addressed early in life.

The Network prioritizes four groups of children who are at risk for poor language/literacy development. 1. Aboriginal children. Between 40 per cent and 50 per cent of aboriginal children fail to meet the requirements of Grades 4, 7 and 10 literacy and numeracy tests. Furthermore, 75 per cent fail to graduate from high school. 2. Children in immigrant families. A Statistics Canada study found that the children of new immigrant families take seven to eight years to achieve the Canadian literacy norm. 3. Minority language children. The numeracy and literacy/language skills of 48 per cent of Canadian francophone adults are too limited to allow them to deal with the majority of everyday, written materials. 4. Children who require more intensive and targeted instruction or intervention. Fifteen per cent of Ontario high school students in the academic program are not passing the Grade 10 literacy test and 55 per cent of those in the applied program are failing the reading portion.

The Network has partnered with Invest in Kids in a unique project to translate the most recent science into user-friendly messages parents can easily understand. The project focuses on developing answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about language and literacy development in young children. The messages appear in the Answers for Parents section of the Invest in Kids Web site, http://www.investinkids.ca. The body of messages identifies the milestones of language development and addresses the common concerns parents may have about their children's language or speech development. The organizations have posted three new messages on the Web site and are working towards a total of 12. The first question, "Should I take sign language classes with my baby?" is related to the usefulness of sign language classes for parents and hearing babies. The second question, "Are educational computer games good for young children?" looks at the effectiveness of educational computer games in helping children learn certain skills. The third question, "How do nursery rhymes help children develop language skills?" explains how nursery rhymes support children's language development.

The University of Calgary, the University of Alberta and the Network presented their first series of lectures on Language, Literacy and the Next Generation. More than 250 participants participated in four lectures that examined factors affecting the language and literacy performance of Canadian children. The lectures were linked via teleconferencing, after which participants engaged in a live question period. The Network offers anyone the chance to watch and learn from these lectures through its Web site at http://sdg.cllrnet.ca/courseware/.

To undertake leading-edge research and apply it promptly, the Network invests heavily in its mission to train highly qualified personnel to develop and deliver efficient, innovative, interdisciplinary training. Among its programs are postgraduate scholarships, Undergraduate Summer Research Assistantships, grants for students to attend conferences and a poster competition at the Network's annual conference, each of which comes with financial compensation. The Network is also creating a Funding Handbook for Students that contains up-to-date information on external awards and guidance for writing the application.

Provincial Reach:

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Distribution of Research Personnel in 2004-2005

For more information visit the Network's Web site.