Real Life Literacy: Classroom Tools That Promote Real-World Reading and Writing.

Anne Hutchings is a public-school teacher and librarian in Ajax,
Ontario.

A recent article in the newspaper reported that more than half of Canadian adults miss key information when it comes to reading and interpreting health and nutrition labels. If that alarming statistic is even close to correct, Kathy Paterson’s Real Life Literacy couldn’t have appeared at a more opportune time.

The author believes that basic reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills are not enough. In order to function successfully in the real world, certain literacy skills need to be taught. Paterson has identified these skills and compiled this practical handbook consisting of 25 lessons dealing with six broad topics: (i) Messages—notes and memos, telephone messages, thank you notes, invitations, classified notices and advertisements, sequenced instructions; (ii) Labels—medicine, food, clothing; (iii) Money—order forms, packaging and shipping, claim forms, methods of payment, bank books; (iv) Non-fiction—glossaries, indexes and dictionaries, phone books and yellow pages, schedules and timetables, entertainment guides; (v) Personal Planning—agendas, calendars, address books, timetables; (vi) Special Forms—resumes, cover letters, employment applications.

Each lesson is divided into three parts: Preparing (which also includes an optional motivating activity); Presenting (information to be included with suggested strategies); and Practising (follow-up activities). A list of vocabulary is included somewhat unnecessarily since this is a resource for teachers, most of whom would know what “expiry,” “return address,” and “itinerary,” for example, mean. Questions for discussion and review conclude each section.

Although targeted at grades 5 to 12, it would also be appropriate for use in adult education and ESL classes. Topics such as invitations and thank-you notes could even be introduced in primary grades.

With its wealth of ideas for making connections between school and the real world, reproducible black line masters, and appendices, especially the list of short forms and abbreviations, Real Life Literacy will be a useful instructional resource for both personal and professional libraries. Highly recommended.