Vision & Focus



Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre
Draft Action Plan:  “Growing Up to Read”  
Spring 2014   

VISION:       

Young children and their families will participate in positive, culturally rich, research-based early literacy activities.

 

The program will reflect the NAC vision for providing “wrap around services” while families participle in quality early learning opportunities.



Children from all socio-economic groups arrive at formal schooling with strong language & literacy competencies.



The implementing of quality strength-based, elder guided, culturally relevant early learning, will significantly improve graduation rates for Aboriginal students.

FOCUS:                           


What area or issue do you wish to explore?


Raise awareness and participation for our community early literacy projects.



Provide direct modeling for language support through read-alouds and for the very young.



 Parents will be provided with resources to help them promote strong language and early literacy skills.



Provide age appropriate books, pre- writing materials, and interactive toys for the very young.



Investigate providing a family and educator friendly immersion in the foundation document “Qeq College Curriculum Framework”.


QUESTIONS:



1.       Can we provide a forum for promoting family literacy?




2.      Can we facilitate strategies known to enhance young children’s language & literacy development?



3.      Can we provide young children with books & resources that promote an early love of reading?



4.      Will parents feel confident to use quality books as a way to support language development?



5.      Can we promote inter-agency teamwork so that important interventions are made available to all families? 



6.      Can we work to promote Assessment For Learning that is strength based and reflects aboriginal Elders input and guidance?



7.      Will the NAC vision statements for the Aboriginal Learning Centre, the Qeq College Curriculum Framework, the Building Success for Aboriginal Learners/Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement-  2011-2016 documents ,provide the structures and guidance  needed to provide strong community based education that results in improved graduation rates for Aboriginal youth?



8.      Can we recruit and train community volunteers to support literacy learning?



RESOURCES:

  • Location:

Possible sites to investigate:

Nanaimo Boys and Girls Club,

Bayview Elementary Aboriginal Family Welcome Centre

Yet to be determined site/home for the NAC Learning Centre

  • Materials:
Poster to advertise “Growing Up to Read Family Literacy Project

Early Literacy Activity Stations

User Friendly handouts and posters that support early literacy/language development

Building Foundations Rubric checklist

Parent Friendly checklists to help direct positive early literacy learning activities     

Comfortable and welcoming furniture that lends itself to adult-young person reading together

Book bundles or Theme Baskets that support Aboriginal cultural content and outdoor learning

Take home baskets that provide age appropriate resources for each participating family

Copies of all “Foundation Documents” available for viewing

Support materials that might be used for the professional learning opportunities for early childhood educators
                       
  • People:   

Chris Beaton, Executive Director

Nanaimo Learning Centre’s Curriculum Advisory Committee

Donna Klockars /Project Leader

Danielle Alphonse and others interested in promoting the professional learning and collaboration

Mariah Robertson, poster creation

Advertising/ Community Outreach group

Volunteer Community Readers to lead each station

Elders/storytellers   

Public Health \Nursing ,       

Community volunteers who put Literacy Baskets and Theme Bundles together

Speech and Language and Audiology participation


Early Childhood Education student participation

Child and Youth student participation

Nanaimo/Ladysmith SD68


  • Support System: What additional strategies might support your project and help ensure success: 

Newspaper, T.V. Strategy developed for advertising of the event.

Consider placing  poster or article in paper asking for volunteers who are interested in supporting this project. Criminal Record checks and a training session date might be considered.


PLAN:      



1.       First planning meeting: Friday, Nov22, 2013. January 2014 and February 2014. Try for early or mid-March start up.

2.      Fund raising efforts to support Early 2014 start date.

3.      Poster created and distributed

4.      Books and Resources for Kids… (Donna’s Alphabet Stations and Literacy Baskets created for take home.)

5.      Have brochures that promote early language and literacy available for all

6.      Identify those who will read  aloud on a one to one basis promoting the “Three Stories a Day” Song

7.      Use this mini-project to shape bigger ideas such as Hippie model implementation, Training the trainers and meet with sub group to brainstorm Hippie model.

8.       Investigate “Literacy on Wheels” and Pop Up Library for Story Read-Alouds  by  late spring.
9.      In-service opportunities for early childhood educators.  Explore idea of providing professional collaborative learning teams that use the Curriculum Foundation Document as the anchor.  We believe this will be a powerful way to promote academic success for our Aboriginal students.
10.   Where: Sites to be determined by end of Feb 2014

11.    Visit Boys and Girls Club and Chris to introduce Donna

12.   Connect with Laura (SD68) re: possible Bayview location in February.



13.   Support Chris in effort to provide all necessary information for fund raising efforts.



14.   Promotion:, Donna available with Chris and Working Committee to provide information or interviews            .



15.   Complete the physical set up so that the event is welcoming and friendly for Aboriginal families.



16.   Make sure food/refreshments are taken care of. (Thrifty’s to be used as per request of Rotary)



17.   Plan to provide acknowledgement, feedback etc. for all funding sources and recognize work of volunteers



18.   Make sure all protocols are addressed.  Elders gifts, acknowledging territory etc.        




RESULTS: Indicate how you will monitor your progress, what kind of feedback you might collect, and how you will evaluate the results.


  • Monitoring Strategies:

Video, photos and anecdotes to create story or book about our Community of Readers

Feedback form collected from participants and planners

Follow up conversations with Chris regarding highly skilled individuals keen to offer support and or guidance.  (Lynne Hannay and program evaluation early childhood specialist)



  • Feedback: Criteria for Evaluation:

Did we provide evidence that address the set of inquiry questions?

How many families were directly involved?

Did the project provide relevant information to support creation of more Literacy Outreach programs?

Did the project identify and direct families who might be interested in supporting the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre organization and the vision for Aboriginal education.


CELEBRATION: What is the most appropriate way to celebrate your learning and the completion of this project?



Acknowledge and thank the agencies and individuals who provided financial or personal support for the project.



Provide literacy resources such as books, paper etc. for families to keep.



Collect stories and experiences that provide real examples of positive education experiences.  This is what is needed to address the legacy of fear and mistrust around education and education institutions.



Create or share resources created as a result of this project.  These resources will serve as useful tools that educators can use to address and reflect Aboriginal language, culture, history and contemporary issues.



Reflect and build Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre’s presence in the community.



Thank Elders and Committee members for their generous support and dedication


Respectfully submitted by,
Donna Klockars

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