Today, we continue our observance of National Literacy Day. This year the theme is Promoting responsible expression: Literacy for integrity, empathy and respect.

Basically, it is how communicate and gain meaning.

Literacy is essential to our achieving success in school, obtaining a job, taking care of ourselves and making society better.

This year’s theme highlights the importance of improving society by being responsible with our expressions (oral, written etc.).

It reminds us that as literate individuals, our expressions should enhance, repair and advance our relationships and by extension our nation. 

This is crucial to remember because if we are not careful, our expressions can quickly crumble and damage any bond or connection.

Our expressions should be empathetic, respectful, honest and encouraging.

We should not only consider WHAT we say but HOW we say it and consequently, WHEN to say it.

To sum it up:

“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.”
― Kofi Anan

“It is beautiful to express love and even more beautiful to feel it.”
― Dejan Stojanovic

#ResponsibleExpression #LiteracyMatters #PMSPride

Sources: Alberta Education https://education.alberta.ca/literacy-and-numeracy/literacy/?searchMode=3; Ford Foundation https://www.fordfoundation.org/news-and-stories/big-ideas/with-four-freedoms-four-responsibilities/with-the-freedom-of-speech-the-responsibility-to-listen/

In support of our sporting activities, our Powerful Words from A-Z series is highlighting words beginning with F that describes our athletes.

See how many of these words you can use as we reunite for Sports 2025.

At some point, when you are reading and you come across an unknown word, you have been told – “break up the word”. Which being translated means – divide the word into syllables.

But what is a syllable and why is it important to understand how to “break-up the word”.

Syllables are units of spoken language in which one vowel sound is heard. Consonants may come before or after the vowel sound. In some instances, a syllable may not contain a consonant.

The vowel sounds govern how the word is split into chunks. Knowing about vowels and their sound (short and long) is essential to identifying a word, whether the word has one syllable or three syllables.

The ability to chunk words into syllables helps us as readers to pronounce or decode words. It provides us with clues to the way the vowel may be pronounced in unfamiliar words.

Beginning today and over the next few weeks, we will explore ideas that guides syllabication.

Today’s Takeaway – Every single vowel or vowel combination (e.g. /ea/ or /oo/) shows a syllable, except for the final ‘e’.

Here are some examples:

Around – a/ round

Careless – care/ less

Valentine – val/ en /tine

Optimistic – op/ ti/ mis/ tic

Communication – com/ mu/ ni/ ca/ tion

Multidimensional – mul/ ti/ di/ men/ sion/ al

Application

Practice chunking as you pronounce our our Powerful Word for this week:

#LiteracyMatters #BreakItUp

References:

Cooper, J. D., Robinson, M. D., Slansky, J., & Kigerm N. D. (2015).                           

Warrican, S. J. (2012). The complete Caribbean Teacher: Literacy. Pearson