In 2008-09, Simcoe/Muskoka Literacy Network (SMLN) was funded by the National Office of Literacy and Essential Skills to complete a series of occupational-related curricula called “Bridging the Employment Gap”. The curricula were designed to help learners at Essential Skills Level 1 to upgrade their literacy, numeracy and other essential skills in an entry-level occupational context.
By placing clients at the centre of a network that includes Literacy and Essential Skills practitioners, employment support agencies and employers, all working together, Bridging the Employment Gap can help those clients with low literacy skills (Essential Skills Level 1) develop key Essential Skills and succeed in finding and keeping work.
In 2009, SMLN received funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to deliver a face-to-face workshop featuring the Bridging the Employment Gap resources and the associated transition-to-work model. Both literacy practitioners and employment counsellors attended. A video was made of this workshop so others who could not attend a face-to-face workshop could still gain some understanding of how to use the resources and work with employment service providers to help learners prepare for and succeed in employment.
The video is posted to this webpage in several segments, following the timeline of the actual workshop. There are several places where the video can be paused to allow you to try out the activities. Please click on the links below in order, to view the workshop as originally presented. You will need Adobe Flash Player to view the video. Free Download
When viewing the workshop, it is best if you have a copy of one of the manuals with you. Download them free from the links listed below or from the NALD website.
You may also check out a bonus segment featuring an Introduction to Motivational Interviewing, a technique that can help both you and your clients examine and change behaviour.
We aligned the tasks in the manual to the Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework (OALCF). The alignment charts for each curriculum are colour-coded to show the competencies, task group and complexity levels for each of the activities/tasks in the curriculum. This allows practitioners to determine if a curriculum is suitable for a specific student or to select learning tasks based on specific competencies and complexity levels
Manuals
| Clerical | Kitchen Help |
| Grounds Maintenance | Retail |
| Janitorial | Ready for Work |
Alignment Charts (MS Word version)
| Clerical | Kitchen Help |
| Grounds Maintenance | Retail |
| Janitorial | Ready for Work |
Videos
Under construction.