It’s November and that means Literacy Action Week in Nova Scotia and Financial Literacy month across Canada.

We have been receiving very positive feedback on the Webinar Wednesday series and are looking forward to the remaining five. These resources, as well as others, can be found on the LNS Resource Hub.

Please encourage your learners to apply for a LNS Scholarship or Bursary. Any learner in an adult learning program who did not receive a high school diploma can apply for the $500 bursary. Those who go on to post-secondary are eligible for $1500. The deadline is November 30th. Another resource your learners and others can take advantage of is the ABC Life Literacy Skills Hub. There is a new Stress Management Course available. They also have a free workbook and downloadable resources to help new internet users learn how to use the internet. It is available in French as well.

We will certainly miss Lynne Wells Orchard who is retiring after 30 years of being a professional and passionate advocate for the adult learner and NSSAL system. She has been our colleague and our friend and we wish her all the best in her retirement.

We were pleased to be a partner in the successful Essential Skills for the Atlantic Fisheries project which developed and tested a LES training model designed to take a pro-active and innovative approach to address the labour market and workforce challenges faced by fisheries sector employers in the Atlantic Provinces. The project won a national innovation award. LNS is looking at ways to continue to meet these needs in NS. Several of our partners have expressed an interest as well.

If you haven’t already, please complete the survey to provide input on Literacy Nova Scotia’s strategic plan for the next 3-5 years.

This fall, the Literacy Nova Scotia Board of Directors will be working with the Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre (AEC) to renew LNS' strategic plan. We are very excited about this process, and we are reaching out to you for your input. The survey will take between 7 - 25 minutes to complete. Last chance - Please complete and submit the survey by the end of the day on Wednesday, November 4, 2020.

Literacy Action Week (LAW) is the time when Literacy Nova Scotia and individuals and organizations who have an interest in supporting adult literacy share information with governments and the public about literacy and essential skills in their community.
During the week of November 2 - 6, 2020, we encourage you to post photos of adult learners, literacy practitioners, community members and literacy supporters. Everyone can participate; there are no age restrictions. If you feel passionate about literacy and learning in Nova Scotia, we urge you to get involved. It is easy. All you have to do is:

1. Print off one or all of the #LAW2020 posters in color or black and white.

• I think literacy is important because...
• Because I improved my literacy and essential skills, now I can...
• Literacy matters to me because...

2. Think about the question on the poster and fill in the blank.
3. Get a friend to take a picture of you holding the poster, or take a selfie!

After you have taken your picture, you can post your picture on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or email the photo to us. Write a caption including what you wrote on your poster. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #LiteracyMatters or #LAW2020, and tweet to @literacyns1. All pictures collected for LAW awareness will be posted on our social media, and they will be available on our website. Read more about LAW

This year, Labour and Advanced Education and Literacy Nova Scotia are pleased to offer webinars on Wednesdays from 2:30 – 4:00pm AT until December 9, 2020. Webinar descriptions are on the LNS website. The presentations and recordings are available on the LNS Resource Hub. LNS has received lots of positive feedback on the first two webinars we offered:
Inclusive Leadership, presented by Brenda Landry on October 21st:
"Excellent - I wasn't expecting to find it as compelling as it was!"
"I thought Brenda's session was excellent. I definitely see some areas for improvement in my communications."
"This was a most informative and engaging session. Brenda is a knowledgeable speaker. Thank you to LNS for always sourcing & providing relevant, motivating and inspiring speakers."
Nurturing Resilience Through a Strong Community, presented by Michael Ungar on October 28th:
"I loved Michael's presentation and would love to hear him speak again. Nurturing and modeling resilience is a key part of being an educator."
"Great presenter; he speaks in plain language, gave wonderful examples, and answered questions very well. An excellent presentation; great pace and examples. I appreciated having the PP in advance. I appreciated the questions and answers. Great job everyone."
These sessions are funded by Labour and Advanced Education and support the NSSAL system.  Register   Questions? Contact Marie David.

LNS Scholarship and Bursary Awards are available for adult learners. Application deadline is Monday, November 30, 2020 @ noon.

Register now for Practitioner Training modules scheduled for November 2020:
• What's Your Message? Relating To The Adult Learner (online module): Nov 9 – Dec 4
• Integrating Information Technology Into Your Teaching: Nov 9 – Dec 4
• Techniques for Teaching Reading, Writing and Spelling: Nov 9 – Dec 4
Check out the Practitioner Training webpage for details on the program, modules, tuition schedule, and how to register for modules. Questions? Contact Marie David or call 1-800-255-5203. These modules are funded by Labour and Advanced Education to support the NSSAL system. 

NSSAL IT Fund: There is $3400 remaining for community-based learning organizations to purchase equipment and resources necessary for the delivery of NSSAL’s Adult Learning Program. Read more information on criteria and application process. The NSSAL IT Fund is funded by Labour and Advanced Education to support the NSSAL system.

Is there a PD opportunity that would benefit your learning organization?
Apply to the NSSAL PD Fund. Online learning opportunities are eligible. Applications received in October will be reviewed on November 10th. The NSSAL PD Fund is funded by Labour and Advanced Education to support the NSSAL system.

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November 5th, 10:00am to 3:00pm AT at Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, 2158 Gottingen St, Halifax NS
Lunch is provided. To register and for more information, email Brittany@gmail.com.

November 9th, 9:30 to 11:30pm AT
This free virtual event starts 30 minutes before the Scotiabank Giller Prize Awards live broadcast. Funds raised from this event will support Frontier College and will help make literacy more accessible in our communities. Register

November 10th at 1:00pm AT: Mi'kmaw Governance
November 17th at 1:00pm AT: Culturally Relevant Education
November 24th at 1:00pm AT: Language - The Heart of Culture
Participants will learn about Canada’s shared history with Indigenous peoples, and how to take leadership roles in co-creating shared learning spaces. Register

Wednesdays until November 25, 4:00 - 4:45pm AT
In this webinar series, participants will learn to be better money managers. Topics include setting financial goals, building budgets, ways to save, building credit, avoiding online scams and ways to pay using money technology. Register.

ESAF is lead by the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick (LCNB) in partnership with the PEl Literacy Alliance (PEILA), Literacy Nova Scotia (LNS), and Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council (NLLLC). VIDEO: LCNB Executive Director Lynda Homer talks about the partnerships in the project (51:00); LCNB Coordinator Dianne Leger discusses the affects of COVID-19 (1:02:15). Watch the video

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LNS Resource Hub is the place for literacy practitioners who teach, tutor or mentor adult learners in Nova Scotia to share and co-develop teaching resources and discuss best practices. Recently uploaded resources:

• Fall 2020 E-3 & Essential Skills Training Resources
• Blended Learning Tools - Links and Tutorials
• Webinar presentation and recording: Nuturing Resilience Through a Strong Community
• Webinar presentation and recording: Inclusive Leadership
• Video Guides to Google Classroom
• Digital NS Tech Shy to Tech Savy Resource
• Wifi and Computer Access @NS Sites
• GSuite for Education Application Process Checklist
• Biology: Punnett Squares
• Biology: Trophic Levels
• On-line GED Practice Tests

If you don't already have an account on the LNS Resource Hub, email Elaine Frampton to request an account registration code. The LNS Resource Hub is funded by Labour and Advanced Education and supports the NSSAL system.

November 2020 is the 10th anniversary of Financial Literacy Month, and ABC Life Literacy Canada is offering free webinars, online courses and resources for adult learners. Read more     Money Words Vocabulary Sheet

Three resources highlighted in the DeCoda Literacy Solutions newsletter that our readers will find of interest:

• Adult Literacy Education: The International Journal of Literacy, Language and Numeracy, Volume 2, Issues 2, Fall 2020
• Managing Virtually in a Pandemic: 10 Good Ideas
• Solutions Storytelling: Telling Your Story of Change
  

Ontario community-based LBS agencies have been involved in digital and blended learning to support adult students for many years. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a strong increase in digital learning. These success stories will increase knowledge of the many innovative ways in which LBS agencies engage in digital learning opportunities. Resource

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ABC Life Literacy Canada News - October 2020
Tamarack Institute - October 2020
Tech Tips - October 2020
Volunteer Canada News - October 2020
World Education / U.S. - October 2020