Today, 8 September, is International Literacy Day (ILD). UNESCO has given literacy the prominence of an annual day since 1967. International Literacy Day 2020 has a focus on Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond with a focus on the role of educators and changing pedagogies.
https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/literacyday
The Foundation for Learning and Literacy joins with UNESCO ‘to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society.’
Our first Foundation touchstone mirrors the UNESCO call:
A fair and equitable society depends upon every citizen being able to read and write. Being able to read and write gives people equal access to information, employment, enjoyment and further educational opportunities.
The 2020 ILD theme prompts us all ‘to reflect on and discuss how innovative and effective pedagogies and teaching methodologies can be used in youth and adult literacy programmes to face the pandemic and beyond. The Day will also give an opportunity to analyse the role of educators, as well as effective policies, systems, governance and measures that can support educators and learning.’
Please visit/revisit and also forward to colleagues, the link to the Foundation for Learning and Literacy’s website and see what new resources for educators and for parents are available to support the ‘innovative and effective pedagogies and teaching methodologies’ needed now and beyond COVID-19.
The patron, co-conveners and committee members of the Foundation for Learning and Literacy acknowledge and appreciate all educators during the challenging times we are facing in our schools and communities. We know teachers make the difference in supporting students at every stage of schooling to be successful readers and writers. They make this difference by knowing their students well, by having deep knowledge of literacy and by knowing their pedagogies well. And we know that teachers are more effective when they are supported well. The Foundation for Learning and Literacy is here to support teachers to make that difference in children’s and young people’s lives.
Let’s celebrate and support our students and our educators on International Literacy Day 2020.
