Numeracy Development at the Maskwacis Cultural College

Library

Manisha KhetarpalNovember 21,2014

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Flow of Information

• Creating awareness about early numeracy skills development

• 35 participants from emergent literacy to adult literacy

• 6 community partners

• Presenter Dr. Ozlem Cankaya

• Topic: How culture impacts numeracy

• Share strategies, skills and resources

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Event Focus

• Basic Numeracy Skills

• Home numeracy experiences and role of parents and caregivers

• Why numeracy knowledge before Grade 1 is very important?

• Which numeracy skills children should master in early childhood?

• How to teach numeracy concepts for parents, caregivers and emergent literacy practitioners?

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Basic Numeracy Skills

• Perceiving quantity

• Rote counting

• Object counting

• Cardinality principle

• Arithmetic with concrete objects

• Recognizing number symbols

• Connection between: quantity, number symbol and word

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Community of Partners

• Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research• Maskwacis Libraries• Maskwacis Cultural College• Ponoka News• Pipestone Flyer• Ermineskin Communications• Community volunteers• Participants: Early Childhood Development (ECD) students,

Sociology students, Headstart staff, Literacy staff, ECD faculty, parents, numeracy coordinators, teachers, journalists, children and librarian

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Welcome by MCC President

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Presenter Dr. Ozlem Cankaya

Dr. Cankaya is an early childhood development expert in literacy and numeracy development. Her research focused on the effects of language, culture and home experiences on the acquisition of early literacy and numeracy skills.

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Language and Culture Connection

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Pathways to Mathematics

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Benefits• Event increased borrowing of books and resources in the

homes of Maskwacis community members• 5 Library in a Box checked out• 200 books distributed• Mathcatcher Cree stories and other resources shared by

the presenter• Literacy group wants to bring their participants for a field

trip to the library on December 4th

• All participants mentioned that they learned skills to support formal and informal numeracy experiences

• Participants more confident in teaching numeracy skills at home and their organizations (emergent and early literacy)

• An social opportunity to bring people together and to start a conversation

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Literacy coordinator taking resources for the Samson program

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Sandra Denney and her niece taking resources for their families

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Alberta Curriculum

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Journalist Margaret Chegwin sharing ideas about Alberta Curriculum with Dr. Cankaya

Checkout Math Catcher for Numeracy Stories in Cree

14http://mathcatcher.irmacs.sfu.ca

Volunteer opportunity to distribute books

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Feedback from a participant

Bev Teske-Greene, Literacy Coordinator, Samson Human Resources

“The presentation was very informative. I know that I’m more geared towards literacy. I feel better about using math as well.”

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Feedback from a participant

Teri Foureyes-Awasis, Numeracy Coordinator, Miyo Wahkohtowin Education Authority

“ I really enjoyed it. I think this information needs to be addressed to the community. What I learned is that if we want our children to be good in numeracy then we as a community need to support it. Example: Parents. We need to strengthen the foundations of math if we want our children to excel. How can we build a house if we don’t have a solid foundation. We need support from parents, community and education.”

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What I learned

“Today, I learned how important numeracy is and I have an important role working with young children 2-4 year olds. I knew it was valuable, educating young children in all areas of development. I learned so ways of providing numeracy experiences. It was a valuable presentation. After today, we will do more on numeracy with our children.”

Beatrice Laurreen Ermineskin, Ermineskin Head Start (Source: Feedback forms at the end of the presentation)

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More community feedback

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Feedback about Library in a Box and Reading Program

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Event participants borrowed not just numeracy resources

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Numeracy handout

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If you need a copy of this handout or the presentation then please send an email to mkhetarpal@mccedu.ca

Community of Learners

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Children listening to the presentation

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Parents taking home ideas for math skills

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Numeracy Awareness and Resources

• Awareness about numeracy series via posters, event card and social media, in the newsletter

• Presenter on November 21, 2014

• Electronic copy of the handouts and presentation distributed to participants after the presentation. If you need a copy contact Manisha Khetarpal at mkhetarpal@mccedu.ca

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