Literacy Aotearoa Dunedin provides two Men's Literacy Groups to help those wanting to improve their spelling, reading and writing skills.

This is not an ESOL class, so if you are a kiwi bloke and want to improve your spelling and writing, we could be just what you are looking for.

One of the things all the men need to as part of the evening group, is write from a story prompt each week. As most of the men do not have the opportunity to write extensively during their daily activities, our writing time gives them the opportunity to practice the spelling and writing skills they are learning.

One of our story prompts was to write a story containing the following words:

Clint Eastwood, Texas, direction, spurs

We create our own resources spelling and writing resources, based around the book Reading and Spelling Made Simple by Mary Andrew. As we have writing each week from each group member, we can see what gives them trouble and we focus our teaching on this. We design our own information handouts and plenty of exercises and activities to clear up problem areas. As we monitor the writing of our students weekly, we can see how effective our teaching has been and modify our resources accordingly.

We have two reading groups and the resources for each vary. All reading resources are appropriate to the interests of the group. Most are magazine articles or chapters of interest from books at the Public Library or our Literacy Aotearoa library.

The Women and Literacy Group has been running for 5 years.

Two qualified and experienced tutors lead the group, with up to twelve women attending. It meets for seven hours per week, five group hours on one day and a two hour choice e.g. 1:1 or a small group on another day. This enables the women to focus on a particular skill e.g. computing.

We provide an excellent child care facility for our young Mums and lunch is provided.

Women have the opportunity to improve their literacy skills in a supportive and friendly environment. A wide range of subjects is provided and the women are involved in the planning of the programme, to ensure the course is relevant to their lives and needs. As well as offering the opportunity to improve reading, writing, spelling, numeracy and communication skills the Women's Literacy Group also embraces the concept of embedded literacy e.g. learning numeracy skills in the context of craft or cooking.

Visits and speakers are enjoyed e.g. The Community Law centre on making wills and legal rights.

Unit Standard qualifications are offered. This year we have been working on U.S. 1273 Express Own Ideas in Writing. Writing a book review is an option for this unit standard. Click here to read two writing samples. Click here to read about Melissa, one of our learners.

This exciting new course is aimed at helping women develop the literacy skills and confidence needed to make suitable health choices for themselves and their families.

The Women’s Health Literacy Course will run during the day for three hours per week over fourteen weeks. Two tutors will manage the course.  Free child care will be provided and up to eight students will attend.

The course content will cover:

• the knowledge and literacy skills required to make appropriate health choices and to gain an understanding of the health system
• the communication skills necessary for the sharing of health information with providers e.g. your doctor or nurse
• health promoting behaviour
• self care.

Resources will include actual health related materials used by the women in their everyday lives, forms, health information pamphlets, medicine and food labels and health news items.  The course will be supported by visits to and speakers from community health services.

Our Young Mother's Group is fun and friendly. They offer computing skills, reading and writing. Help you children by helping yourself. Free child care provided.