Growing Literacy
With a grant from the Canada Post Community Foundation, the CCBC undertook a project to help educators, librarians, and families build early literacy skills. These resources are a result of this project!
With the assistance of our consultant, Dr. Bev Brenna, we conducted an educator survey in 2024, collecting data on the types of support teachers were looking for to help with children’s literacy development. A number of educators asked for advice and strategies for reading aloud to their students, especially in genres beyond the picture book. Teachers also asked for recommendations on locating and using books by Canadian authors and illustrators, and just as important, a rationale for why it is important to get Canadian materials into the hands of Canadian kids.
Building on these themes, we developed a video series, tip sheets, and a webinar. Explore them below.
Growing Literacy with Indigenous Dual-Language Books
How can dual-language books best be used for read-alouds? We asked an expert!
Meet Dr. Melanie Griffith Brice who shares advice on using Indigenous dual-language books for read-alouds.
Download tips for reading aloud with Indigenous Dual-Language Books.
Growing Literacy with Non-Fiction Children's Books
How can non-fiction books best be used for read-alouds? We asked an expert!
Meet Dr. Kari-Lynn Winters, Professor in the Department of Educational Studies at Brock University and discover how Canadian non-fiction books are perfect for reading aloud!
Download tips for reading aloud with Non-Fiction Children's Books.
Growing Literacy with Wordless Picture Books
Can wordless picture books be used in read-alouds? We asked an expert!
Meet Dr. Tara-Lynn Scheffel, a former elementary school teacher, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Professor of Language & Literacies in the Faculty of Education at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Download tips for reading aloud with Wordless Picture Books.
Growing Literacy: Tips to make reading easy
and fun with Canadian kids' books
In this webinar, Dr. Lori McKee, a specialist in Literacies Education, in conversation with Professor Emerita Bev Brenna, explores ideas for growing readers. The two address questions arising from an educator survey conducted by the CCBC, and share resources and strategies for supporting readers of all ages.
Topics include ways to make learning to read productive and fun for emerging readers of all ages; why Canadian materials are important for Canadian kids; ideas to encourage home-school connections in support of literacies learning; how we can use read-alouds to support all children within busy, diverse classrooms; and much more!
A huge thank you to Dr. Melanie Griffith Brice, Dr. Kari-Lynn Winters, and Dr. Tara-Lynn Scheffel for sharing their expertise and to Dr. Lori McKee, Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum Studies at the University of Saskatchewan and Professor Emerita Bev Brenna for their guidance on this project.
