Call for Proposals 2014-2015 - Education Partnerships Program (EPP) and First Nation Student Success Program (FNSSP)

Call for Proposals 2014-2015 - Education Partnerships Program (EPP) and First Nation Student Success Program (FNSSP)

The Harper Government has joined with First Nation parents, teachers, leaders and other interested First Nation stakeholders on the development of a First Nations legislative proposal. The Harper Government has been consulting with First Nation groups to ensure First Nations have the same opportunity to succeed in their education as all Canadians, and to implement the principle of First Nation control over First Nation Education.

On October 22, 2013 Minister Valcourt wrote to more than 600 Chiefs and Band Councils across the country. First Nations and provincial leaders, as well as other interested stakeholders, were provided with a copy of Working Together for First Nation Students: A Proposal for a Bill on First Nations Education to be shared with their membership for their consideration and feedback. The draft legislative proposal for First Nations education would establish the structures and standards necessary to ensure accountable education systems on reserve.

In Economic Action Plan 2012, the Government committed to investing $100 million (Strong Schools, Successful Students Initiative) over three years to help ensure readiness for the new First Nations education system outlined in the legislative proposal, support early literacy and to strengthen relationships with provincial school systems.

The Government recognizes the important role of regional education organizations in the delivery of education support and services. We are pleased to announce the Call for Proposals for 2014-2015 as part of our ongoing efforts to support readiness towards proposed education legislation.

This 2014-2015 Call for Proposals will prioritize proposals which address the Structural Readiness component found in both the Education Partnerships Program (EPP) and the First Nation Student Success Program (FNSSP) National Program Guidelines. This will allow First Nation education organizations to strengthen their organizational capacity for the delivery of educational services to First Nation schools.

Furthermore, priority will be given to applicants that have or wish to implement the Education Organization Planning Tool. For those organizations that have completed the Education Organization Planning Tool, the results of the tool and / or Capacity Development Plans should be submitted as support documentation.

Effective November 1, 2013, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) is accepting proposals, in accordance with the eligible activities and requirements described in the National Program Guidelines for EPP and FNSSP. Please note the deadline for proposal submission is midnight on January 15, 2014.

Under the FNSSP, existing program components (School Success Plan, Student Learning Assessment and Performance Measurement) will continue to be supported through this call including early literacy initiatives. Eligible activities will continue to be supported under the EPP Partnership Establishment including the negotiation and drafting of tripartite agreements (Memorandum of Understanding) and under the Advancement stream for the development and implementation of joint activities. 

The EPP is an opt-in proposal-based program that supports the completion of tripartite education partnerships where they already exist, provides impetus for more joint activities, and seeks to strengthen the readiness of First Nation organizations for the delivery of education services to First Nation schools. The program concludes on March 31, 2015.

The FNSSP is an opt-in proposal-based program that supports First Nation education organizations (kindergarten to grade 12) in developing and implementing three interrelated components: school success plans, student learning assessments and performance measurement. These three interrelated components in turn help educators to plan and make improvements in the three priority areas of numeracy, literacy and student retention.

Proposal Submission

Please refer to 2014-2015 National Program Guidelines for the EPP and the FNSSP for further details regarding the eligible activities and the Education Organization Planning Tool.

The proposal template will be made available through the AANDC Services Portal. If you do not have access to the AANDC Services Portal, please contact your regional office.

This Call for Proposals includes the following documentation required to prepare your submission:

EPP Guidelines and FNSSP Guidelines: Key information about the program including components, eligibility and proposal submission for fiscal year 2014-2015

EPP and FNSSP Frequently Asked Questions: Questions and Answers for the eligible activities for fiscal year 2014-2015.

Education Organization Planning Tool: A planning tool that provides a step-by-step approach for organizations to conduct a self-assessment to inform long term planning for the delivery of education supports and services.

http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1383920387133/1383920482724

Understanding how children learn to read (shared reading and storytelling)

Milburn used techniques such as face-to-face interaction with infants and linking stories to events in children's lives when reading to them.

She studies emergent literacy — the foundational skills that enable children to begin to read and write — such as vocabulary, storytelling, and letter and sound recognition.

"Shared reading" is one way adults can build literacy in all kids, while limiting risk for those who face major learning challenges. Parents and teachers can learn to engage children in conversation with open questions and responsive statements, rather than reading books cover-to-cover. This interaction can enhance a child's understanding of and ability to use language.

http://news.utoronto.ca/literacy-secrets-understanding-how-children-learn-read

Classroom Resources

Classroom Resources

This page has lots of information about First Nations, Metis and Inuit culture! Whether you are a student in need of help with your homework, or a teacher looking for fun and exciting ideas for your classroom, you have come to the right place!

You will also find more stories and resources in Multimedia.

Be sure to check out our Publications Catalogue as well. It has lots of cool stuff that we'd be more than happy to send you – for free!

 

http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1302868012055/1302868605384

Online self-assessment tool for people who are interested in assessing their English as a Second Language (ESL).

Welcome...

The CLB-OSA is an online self-assessment tool for people who are interested in assessing their English as a Second Language (ESL). These tests are based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and will assess your language proficiency in reading and listening.

Register...

When you register to take the tests, you will be asked to provide some personal information which may be used for statistical purposes only. Your personal information will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared with any other parties.

Before you begin...

Once you begin each test you will be given 60 minutes to complete all of the sections. When you have completed the test, the computer will generate an approximate benchmark range which will appear on your screen. Please keep in mind that this result is unofficial. These results are for your information only and will not be shared with any other parties.

 

http://clb-osa.ca/home

Listening skills

Ah, listening, the neglected literacy skill. I know when I was a high school English teacher this was not necessarily a primary focus; I was too busy honing the more measurable literacy skills -- reading, writing, and speaking. But when we think about career and college readiness, listening skills are just as important. This is evidenced by the listening standards (1) found in the Common Core and also the integral role listening plays in collaboration and communication, two of the four Cs of 21st century learning (2).

So how do we help kids become better listeners? Check out these tactics for encouraging a deeper level of listening that also include student accountability:

Strategy #1: Say it Once

Repeating ourselves in the classroom will produce lazy listening in our students. If kids are accustomed to hearing instructions twice, three times, and even four times, listening the first time around becomes unnecessary. Begin the year by establishing that you are a teacher who rarely repeats instructions and this will surely perk up ears.

Of course you don't want to leave distracted students in the dust so for those few who forgot to listen, you can advise them to, "ask three, then ask me."

Strategy #2: Turn and Talk

One way to inspire active listening in your students is to give them a listening task. It might look like this, "I'm going to describe the process of _________. I will pause along the way and ask you to turn to a partner and explain to them what you heard." You can ask students to take turns talking each time you pause, and meanwhile, walk around observing their conversations (also allowing you to check for understanding).

Strategy #3: Student Hand Signals

Asking students to pay full attention and indicating that they will follow this with a non-verbal signal is a wonderful tool for sharpening those listening skills. It can look like this: "I'm going to read a former president's statement about why he believes war is sometimes necessary. When I'm finished, you will share your opinion by holding up one finger if you agree, two fingers if you disagree, and three fingers if you are undecided or if you have a question." This strategy allows whole-class participation and response. It's also a favorite for kids who are more on the shy side, giving them a "voice."

Watch how hand signals encourage active listening (3) in a fifth-grade classroom.

Strategy #4: Pay Attention, Pause, Paraphrase

Children need structured opportunities to restrain themselves from speaking in order to keep their attention on listening, especially when working in groups. Try this strategy:

1. When students talk in pairs or small groups, assign one speaker at a time only (they can number off).
2. Ask all others to listen fully to whoever is speaking and to avoid formulating a response while the other person talks. Tell them to simply listen that is all. (This is a difficult task even for adults!)
3. When the person stops talking, the other takes a breath before she speaks and then paraphrases something her partner just said: "You believe that...." "You aren't sure if....".
4. After paraphrasing her partner, she can then follow that with an "I" statement: "I see what you mean...", "I'm not sure I agree...".

Discussion sentence starters are a helpful tool for students as they learn this new way of having a conversation. It's also incredibly helpful for students to see this in action. Ask a couple of students to model it for the whole class or have an adult visit to partner with you.

Strategy #5: Creating Questions

If your students are listening to a speech, watching a documentary clip, or hearing a story read aloud, break it up by stopping a few times and having students write a question or two about what they just heard. This way, students actively listen for any confusion or wonderings they may have -- this takes a high-level of concentration. It's important to provide models for this since we are typically trained in school to look for the answers and information rather than to focus on what is not understood or is still a mystery.

Motivating Words

Good listeners are both rare and valued. It's important to share this with students, and to also share the fact that people who really listen -- make eye contact, show interest, and restrain from cutting others off in a conversation -- are easy to like and respect.

Here's also a few quotes to present to students and/or post around your classroom:

"If speaking is silver, then listening is gold." -- Turkish saying

"I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention." -- Diane Sawyer, newscaster

"One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say." -- Bryant McGill, author

 

 

http://www.edutopia.org/blog-five-listening-strategies-rebecca-alber

Media Literacy Week Nov 4-8

MediaSmarts and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) are pleased to announce that marketing and consumerism will be the focus of Canada's eighth annual Media Literacy Week, to be held November 4-8, 2013.

The official theme of the week: "What's Being Sold: Helping Kids Make Sense of Marketing Messages" , will encourage educators and parents to talk to children and teens about the marketing they encounter on a daily basis.  

http://www.medialiteracyweek.ca/en/101_whatis.htm