1. Best Literacy through Ventures Curriculum
By Elizabeth Reeve, MS

2. TimeLine for Joining Basic Literacy with Ventures Things to Keep in Mind
We have 60 hours to prepare the students before the first test
First semester- Units 1-5
Second semester – Units 6-10
New students join throughout the year
Some students will miss class more often then others
All students need to be prepared to take the exam after they complete 60 hours and show gains

3. Best Literacy and Ventures Timeline UNIT by UNIT Preparation Covering the Materials unit by Unit
Each Unit lends itself to the Best Literacy review in different ways
Pages x to xiii shows clear match up for the Best Literacy
Some items take creativity when including them into the units
Reviewing the Best Literacy test items each unit allows for new students and keeping the items clear throughout for all students

4. Units in Ventures
Unit One- Personal Information (Aug-Sept) Unit two- School (Sep-Oct)
Unit three- Family and Friends (Oct-Nov) Unit four – Health (Nov-Dec)
Unit Five- Around Town (Dec-Jan) Unit Six- Time (Jan-Feb)
Unit Seven- Shopping (Feb-March) Unit Eight- Work (March-April)
Unit Nine- Daily Living (April-May) Unit Ten- Leisure (May)

5. Preparation : Know Students and Analyze results
Questions to ask:
1) What was the original question missed?
2) How can I fit this into a lesson?

6. Calendar Provide a Calendar from the beginning of the year.
Discuss the days and months of the year
Have students keep class log and mark the days they are present on a calendar.
Celebrate the Birthdays
Unit One- Personal Information
Birthdays of students and months
Unit two- School
Information about school and important
dates
Unit three- Family and Friends
Important dates on the calendar pertaining
to family and events

7. Food Labels Unit 1 – Personal Information
Discuss lb. and favorite food
Discuss meat= good time to
find out who might not be
able to eat certain foods
Unit 2- Cafeteria and meats at school
Discuss label and packing a lunch
Unit 3- Family and Friends
Discuss having a BBQ for the
family and friends and the label

8. Labels on Clothing throughout the curriculum
Numbers
Bigger or smaller
How much more or less
What other lessons can be developed around this information using the different levels of curriculum?
Unit 1- Personal Information
What size of clothing does the student wear
Unit 2- School
Discuss school clothes and size of clothing
Unit 3- Family and Friends
Buying a clothing gift for their family member
Where to get labels for clothing?
Friends, some stores, and contact
Thrift stores

9. Activity: Put a Label on It
Discuss how this would be utilized at the different levels of the curriculum.

10. Telephone Directory Understanding Abbreviations
Phys vs Doctor
When it comes to understanding
different terms for different
titles, a direct approach instruction
would be good. Take time to explain the
difference to the students. Bring in
examples using both terms during the
lessons.
I need to go see the doctor (dr.) today. While I am at the Physicians (Phys)
Office, I might get medicine.
Where to get
Phone books?
-Best Buy
-Gas Stations
-Contact local phone
company
Unit 1 – Personal Information
Using the telephone directory to locate their own phone number
Unit 2- School
Finding the school information in the phone directory
Unit 3- Family and Friends
Locating information on family and friends in phone directory

11. Relating the Best Literacy test to Teaching Ventures
Our students are eager to learn, but we must first set the ground work for them. Each step will be small, but in the end be an amazing piece of work!

12. Understanding Reading Passages
Listening lessons within the curriculum
Have the students learn to listen as they read to see if things make sense and help them pick out mistakes as they listen
Make up reading passages and have the students pick out the correct word based upon what is around the word in question
Teach the students the difference between plural and singular
Lesson D and E is about Reading and Writing
in each unit

13. First unit pictures
Have student learn to write from the beginning. A sentence can teach a student . Allow the students to feel comfortable making mistakes and receiving feedback. When the student becomes comfortable writing, they will start to notice the mistakes. At first, they will be uncomfortable writing, but soon they will be asking for assistance.
First sentence often received: I need too rit I must learn gramer this year.
Soon it becomes: I want to write and learn grammar this year.
Have the students write about what they see at the beginning of each unit in the ventures curriculum.

14. Activity: Ventures Writing – Came from Ventures Basic
Utilizing the picture, describe how one
might make this into a writing assignment
for the students at the different levels
of the curriculum?

15. Ventures Picture from Advanced I – Book 3 Unit 1
Utilizing the picture, describe how one might make this into a writing assignment for the students at the different levels of the curriculum? How might this help students on the Reading passages part of the test?

16. Reading Signs, ADS, Notices, etc.
Help students pay close attention to details. Often times the students will miss a question due to not paying close attention to details.

17. Role Play with the Curriculum
Have students fill out the blank cards and learn the vocabulary
using the sign-in sheet and the appointment cards. Take turns
being both the patient and doctors office.

18. Reading, Curriculum, and Newspaper
If we don’t help the student learn to read for information, they wont be able to do the basics of our society!! Reading for information is a big part of our curriculum in all units!

19. What is the Material about
What is the Material about ? can you find signage to use during the lesson?

20. Writing for Understanding

21. Checks, Envelopes, and Letters
Basic every day living items. Allow the students to practice using these throughout the different lessons. Pen pal project- Interaction between different classes. Provide the envelopes and allow the students to write to another class. Invite the other classes to a party or participate in a coming event the class is doing. Practice making out checks for different objects in the curriculum.

22. Using Checks and Envelopes within the Units
Unit 1- Personal Information
Discuss where information goes on
envelope
Unit 2- School
Practice sending a letter to teacher
Unit 3- Family and Friends
Send invitation to family and friends
Unit 1- Personal Information
Discuss where the address goes and other personal information
Unit 2- School
Practice writing checks for school Supplies
Unit 3- Family and Friends
Practice writing checks to family and friends for birthdays

23. Our students deserve Opportunity- the Basic Literacy helps make sure we are educating them for the opportunities