Reading Assignment Part B

Resources to support educators in establishing a vibrant reading culture that honors indigenous ways of knowing.

I am in the process of investigating how to create a vibrant reading culture in schools that honors and shares indigenous ways of knowing. More specifically, I would like to find digital resources that will help create this vibrant reading culture. Below I have compiled a list of 5 resources, the first 2 of which I feel help give teachers some important background knowledge on inclusion and incorporating some indigenous ways of knowing into their school/library/classroom. The third resource shares ways of using digital technology to establish a reading culture. The final 2 resources are examples of engaging resources that could be used to spark curiosity and interest in students to pursue further investigation of indigenous culture or as a means of sharing some aspects of our rich, local indigenous culture.

1) Dupuis, J. K. (2019). What happens when you create a culture of respect, trust, and innovation in school library spaces? Canadian School Libraries Journal, 3(2).

What happens when you create a culture of respect, trust, and innovation in school library spaces? – Canadian School Libraries Journal

·       In this article, author Jenny Kay Dupuis speaks to the important role school libraries have in creating a space that is inclusive and establishes a safe place for indigenous people to see their culture reflected in literature. She shares a very thought-provoking account of her own experience in libraries as an indigenous youth and her desire to see indigenous people accurately and currently portrayed in books.

2) McAuley, A. (2009). Knowledge Building in an Aboriginal Context, V35(1) Winter 2009, Alexander McAuley. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 35(1).

Knowledge Building in an Aboriginal Context | Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology (cjlt.ca)

·       This journal article looks at creating a “knowledge-building community” in a classroom using computer-based research of different indigenous peoples. Students in the classroom chose their own group of indigenous peoples to study, used classroom computers to conduct research, and collaborate with peers to find other information and deepen their understanding. Students were very engaged in the project.

3) Flanagan, E. (2015, November 29). Using Technology to Develop a Reading Culture [web log]. https://www.erintegration.com.

https://www.erintegration.com/2015/11/29/using-technology-to-develop-a-reading-culture/

·       The author of this blog stresses the importance of providing students with many opportunities to share the books they are reading and the books they love with their classmates and community. She outlines two web-based resources/apps to support teachers in creating a reading culture using digital technology: PicCollage and PhotoPeach. Both look really engaging and user friendly.

4) Davidson, S. F., Norton, B., & Doherty, L. (n.d.). Indigenous Storybooks. https://indigenousstorybooks.ca/#.

https://indigenousstorybooks.ca/

·       This website offers a collection of open access online books that can be translated into many different indigenous languages. The books that currently exist on the site are reading levels 1 and 2. There is also a resource section that provides access to authentic indigenous stories that can be listened to in various indigenous languages and read along with by children or adults.

·       This is a video showcasing what Indigenous Storybooks is all about:

5) Fpcc. (n.d.). FirstVoices. https://www.firstvoices.com/.

https://www.firstvoices.com/

·       This website is a repository of audio recordings of 34 indigenous languages. It is administrated by the First Peoples’ Council of Canada. It can be used in the classroom to share local indigenous words. I think it would be a really engaging way to teach students about indigenous culture and the importance of their oral traditions.

During this process of searching for resources I stumbled down many “rabbit holes” and found the process inspiring to say the least. There are so many exciting and innovative resources out there, it is endless. I struggled to keep my count to only 5 resources, but have documented many more on Symbaloo for future reference. I am excited to continue this process of finding the most engaging and inspiring resources for students. I am even more excited to use these resources that I find in my classroom next year. 

In Will Richardson’s (2012) book Why School? he suggests that sharing your learning and your learning process with students is a powerful part of learning itself. He states that we can be “people who model their own learning process, connect to other learners as a part of their day, and learn continuously around the things they have passion for.” I love this concept and I hope to share this current learning process with my students in the upcoming school year as we pursue passion projects and inquire into those things that spark our interest.

• Richardson, W. (2012). Why School?: How Education Must Change When Learning and Information Are Everywhere. TED Talks.