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Family, Friend, and Neighbor School Readiness Literacy Project
American Indian and African American School Readiness Project
A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ALL NATIONS IDIAN CHURCH AND THE EARLY CHILDHOOD RESOURCE AND TRAINING CENTER (ECRTC)
By Sameerah Bilal-Roby
A pilot project was launched in the Phillips Community in 2008 designed for American Indian parents, child care providers’ grandparents, uncles and aunts, reaching 50 children. Transportation, books, snacks, field trips, library visits, take home activities and visits, assessments, adult training classes, were available at no cost. Instructors are skilled and certified working with families and children three days a week 3 hours each. This year an added element will be the Ojibwe language.
The intention of the project is to help parents, extended family members and the community to be aware of the skills their children need to be successful in school. We want the community to be aware “this is not a day care”, but a project which is designed for adult participations and mentoring with the child in their care, focusing on best educational practices. Research shows a great start in school begins with the confidence of child self-assurance and the belief that they can be successful in math, reading and writing. Children with healthy social/emotional development are likely to be successful throughout their formal school years.
2009-2010 the School Readiness Project will offer two separate programs. Morning classes will be held for the African American Community specifically designed around language, culture, tradition and values. Afternoon programs will be held for the American Indian Community to ensure that culture; language, beliefs and values are sustained and honored.. Both programs specific focus is education and skill building priming children 0-5 for school.
If you would like to take part in this free project, please contact Louisa Cox, Lead Program Coordinator at 612/721.0112 Extension 113 or email louisa@ecrc1.org
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