by Michelle Kafka

Created on: March 06, 2009

How To Make A Literacy Box Or Bag

Literacy: The ability to read, write, listen, speak, and comprehend; also knowledgeable in a certain topic.

Steps:

1. Pick a pre-decorated large shirt box or pre-decorated large-size gift bag.

2. Design your own box/bag to add a personal creative touch if you'd like

3. Search for literacy items to include

4. Put items in box

5. Label box with date.

6. Share with others or keep for yourself

Items To Include:

Book
Poem
Quote
Proverb
Magazine Subscription
Letters from friends
Letters from family
Research project
PowerPoint Presentation
Speech
Newspaper clipping
Article clipping
Reading/Literacy game (homemade or store-bought)
Recipe
Family History
Music Lyrics
Bible verses
Phonics cards
Anything else you can think of

The box or bag can also double as a memoir box or bag of a particular age or a particular time/phase in your child's life they enjoy. You can also recycle the box or bag contents as long as there is no personal stuff in it by passing along to a relative, neighbour, friend, reading-club, library, literacy organization, community center, or reading party, etc.

My Tips:

1. Add a few other items including the candies and toys and give them out as take-away/party favour bags at birthday parties, etc.

2. Would also make for an interesting fundraiser.

3. Would be a great slumber party activity.

4. Can be done as school project or home project.

Literacy Facts:

There are many in-school after-school, library, community center reading programs available. 48% of citizens over 16 years of age hold a low literacy level; this figure represents around 12 million Canadians. Reading fosters imagination and creativity. Start reading to children at an early age because the children will do better during the school years and into the workforce later.

Literacy Myths: On the ABC Canada Adult Literacy Myths it says:

"There are millions of illiterate people in Canada."

"You can either read or you can't read."

"Low literacy is not an issue for adults who are educated and who have traditionally had good literacy skills."

"Low literacy primarily affects people of a certain socio-economic level."

"Canada's low literacy levels are as high as they are due to increased immigration."

"The school system should be able to address the issue of low literacy in adult Canadians."

The above are all false. You can find out why there.

Literacy/Reading Quotes:

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island."

~Walt Disney~

"Read, read, read."

William Faulkner~

"There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all."

~Jacqueline Kennedy~

Sources:

The Literary Company Reading Quotes

Retrieved March 3 2009

<http://www.readfaster.com/readingquotes.asp> ABC Canada Adult Literacy Myths Retrieved March 3 2009<http://www.abc-canada.org/en/adult_literacy/myths>

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