Native Literacy and Life Skills Curriculum Guidelines

These guidelines provide basic literacy materials and materials directed toward the teaching of pre-employment skills and life skills, computational skills, and native cultural awareness for native adult students. The material is applicable in both urban and rural (on-reserve) situations and directed toward students between a non-literate and Grade 5 literacy level. Part 1 is designed to provide instructors with the background and understanding necessary for the successful implementation of a native adult basic literacy course. It provides an overview of research on native education, a discussion of language experience as an approach to instruction, and learning objectives and teaching suggestions for each of the subject areas: basic literacy, pre-employment and life skills, computation, and native culture. Part 2 consists of an introduction outlining the organization and use of theme units and 12 sample theme units developed for use in a native adult basic literacy classroom. Each theme unit is cross-referenced to learning objectives in part 1, and selected classroom materials and references are provided with each theme unit. Part 3 provides lists of references materials, instructional resources (some annotations are included), and publishers and distributors. (YLB)