The Literacy Materials Bulletin

his issue of the Bulletin has a nice variety of materials including the exciting new novels written for adult learners, the autobiographical Roast Moose and Rosaries, science and math books, a fundamental level English workbook and a delightful compilation of animal videos.

An evaluation is taking place in conjunction with Bulletin 17. It is a part of our commitment to our funders, the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology and the National Literacy Secretariat: Human Resources Development Canada, that we undergo some type of evaluation procedure each year. Last year we did an internal evaluation by the committee members. This year we are posting a form on First Class which we would like to see completed by as many Literacy Materials Bulletin readers as possible. For those who are not on First Class, but would like to complete the questionnaire, please contact Thomas at the Victoria READ Society, 720 Linden Avenue, Victoria, BC, V8V 4G7, phone: (250) 388-7225 or fax: (250) 386-8330 and a copy will be sent in the mail. We would like to have all evaluations completed by September 15, 1998. The Bulletin's next editorial will report the findings from this evaluation. There are plans for a more extensive evaluation of the Literacy Materials Bulletin by the Centre for Curriculum Transfer and Technology. Our intent in this initial evaluation is to receive feedback, but not be a burden to our audience.

The Literacy Materials Committee is sad to say goodbye to Brenda Giles who has been on the committee since 1992. She has done a wonderful job of representing the learner point of view. Arlee Schmidt of Douglas College has agreed to replace her. Joyce Cameron, an instructor from Douglas College and known to many of us for her role in Learners Talking to Learners, is also joining the committee. Nancy DeLury of the College of New Caledonia has resigned from the Literacy Materials Committee because of other commitments. Debbie Booth-Johnson of the Victoria READ Society is going to replace me as a committee member and Evelyn Battell of Malaspina University-College will become the chair of the Literacy Materials Committee in September.

The committee appreciates the able assistance of two guest reviewers: Arlene Wells wrote the review for Making Connections: Literary and EAL Curriculum from a Feminist Perspective and Kim Isles, an instructor from Heiltsuk College in Waglisa, wrote part of the review for the Straight Forward Math Series.

Helen Thomas