Literacy Benchmarks

Levels 1 and 2 Literacy Benchmarks reflect the roles adult learners fill in their everyday lives – as family members, community members, and workers. The Benchmarks, therefore, are those general skills, abilities, and attitudes adults need to function in their world. The Circle of Learning is the physical representation of the Benchmarks.

The Circle of Learning

1. Helps to identify indicators of skill, knowledge and attitudinal attainment for each level of the benchmarks;
2. Helps to clarify the degree of skill, knowledge and attitudinal attainment for each level;
3. Helps practitioners understand the required skills, knowledge, and attitudes the learner is to demonstrate;
4. Establishes and articulates the core skills, knowledge, and attitudes at each of the levels so that they are on a continuum of learning;
5. Is a means of documenting formal, informal, and non-formal learning.

The Circle of Learning

1. Draws on the gifts of mind, body, heart, and spirit to create a holistic learning experience;
2. Takes a learner-centred approach to lifelong learning;
3. Is a way for adult learners and practitioners to learn together;
4. Honours the knowledge and experiences that learners bring to the learning environment;
5. Encourages critical reflection on what has been learned; and
6. Respects, affirms, and empowers the learner, his/her family, community, and practitioners.

Instructional content is related to the specific contexts of learners’ lives and is delivered contextually, with the learner identifying what s/he needs to learn.