ESSENTIAL SKILLS in THE CLASSROOM Why am I learning this stuff?

Student Success What do students need to know? What are the implications for your teaching? What differences or similarities do you see between traditional academic programming and an essential skills infused program model?

READING TEXT Complexity based on: Text length Purpose of reading: extract information, compare, analyze Degree of inference required

READING TEXT Examples: Level 1 – read short text, locate single piece of information Level 5 – interpret dense text, make high- level inferences, use specialized knowledge

DOCUMENT USE Complexity is based on three dimensions: Document itself Demands of finding or entering information Complexity of information use (content knowledge prerequisites and thinking process)

Reading skills required Skimming to understand the gist, identify audience and purpose Scanning to locate information Working with unfamiliar vocabulary Navigating text and documents Comparing Identifying relevant & irrelevant information

WRITING Complexity based on Purpose of writing Audience ‘Stakes’ attached to the finished product

WRITING Common purposes for writing Recording information Making suggestions or requests Presenting a comparison or analysis

WRITING Complexity based on Purpose of writing Audience ‘Stakes’ attached to the finished product

NUMERACY Money math Scheduling, budgeting & accounting Measurement & calculation Data analysis Estimation

TOWES Measure Up A self-assessment component of the TOWES web site. Assesses reading text, document use and numeracy skills. Users can also practice typical tasks and explore career options and skill requirements. French & English

National professional development project for educators. Participants placed in a variety of workplace environments to help them connect the curriculum they teach with how that curriculum is used in the workplace.

Using what they learn at the workplace, participants develop relevant classroom activities Activities stored in an easy to use, searchable, electronic database.

Step One: Choose Subject Area(s): Leave all subjects unchecked to display all available data. Applied SkillsLanguage Arts LanguagesScience Arts EducationCareer Education MathSocial Studies ComputersOther

Step Two: Select Grade(s): Leave all grades unchecked to display all available data. K ABE 7-9Post- secondary 10Adult Literacy 11

The Big Picture; Essential Skills for Life, Learning and Work A full binder with black-line masters may be ordered. Contact: Wendy Lockie, Office of Partnerships and Innovation, Waterloo Region District School Board at (519) Ext or Cost is $50/binder for 1 – 10 copies or $40/binder for more than 10 copies. AWAL Web: Phone (250) Fax (250)