Family Literacy Week kicks off with “mealtime learning” theme across Saskatchewan

EAGLE STAFF

Events are occurring in west-central Saskatchewan and elsewhere in the province today (Jan. 27), which is Family Literacy Day in the province.

“Make Mealtime Family Learning Time” is the national theme for Family Literacy Week, which runs until Saturday. The theme “focuses on how everyday routines like cooking, grocery shopping and sharing meals can become powerful learning moments for children and families,” a statement said.

A reading activity was slated for today at the Elrose Library, said Sheryl Harrow-Yurach of Foundations Learning and Skills Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, who’s helping promote the literacy events.

A book, Salma the Syrian Chef, also helps underline the theme, Harrow-Yurach said. The book, by Vancouver’s Danny Ramadan, is for children and “really captures the whole idea that families learn together around the kitchen table,” Harrow-Yurach said.

“It’s not always thinking that learning has to happen sitting down with paper and pen,” she said. “It happens when we measure ingredients or go through a recipe together and that’s what Salma does in the book.”

Activities also include the Family Bingo Card. It contains 25 simple mealtime learning activities and that people can download through www.foundationslearning.com.

People can win prizes if they complete three or more of the activities and submit the card to Foundations Learning, the West Central Literacy Committee or another of the province’s 10 “literacy hubs” by Saturday. They can reach the committee through the province’s literacy website.

“Last year, more than 1,500 Saskatchewan families participated in Family Literacy Week and 81 per cent of parents reported increasing literacy activities at home,” the statement said.