The CARE Project (Collaborating About Reading Engagement) launched this September on the Sunshine Coast.  A team from each elementary school attends the sessions, including Primary, Intermediate, Support Services, Aboriginal Education, and Reading Support Teachers and Principals. Monthly meetings are held to develop a network for sharing values, mindsets and strategies of collaborative reading supports across our district. Primary and Intermediate teachers in the project each receive 2 half days of release time per month for collaboration time to support reading practice.

Through the CARE Project, educators in the district have been able to participate in some wonderful professional development to support the student literacy. 

Faye Brownlie led a session on reading assessments in October, and each time school teams participate in the CARE project we provide time for teams to plan for reading assessments.

Teachers had a chance to examine the factors that influence reading enjoyment and to purchase outstanding, new books in the November CARE Project meeting and in an after school ‘Supporting Readers’ session with Vancouver Kidsbooks.

Infusing learning with indigenous literature and knowledge was the focus of the January CARE Project session.  Our district Aboriginal Support Team described the collaborative work they do to support teachers and students.  Terri Mack from Strong Nations Publishing then highlighted stories and strategies that build community and teach culture.  The district supported elementary school teams in purchasing literature to support indigenous ways of learning in the classroom.

Many of the teachers and StrongStart facilitators in the district were able to learn about ‘Multiple Paths to Literacy’ during a full day with Miriam Trehearne on the district professional development day in February.  In March, an amazing session titled ‘We Are All Connected’ with Adrienne Gear was offered. Books from both authors have been purchased for staff at all schools. 

If you have questions, feel free to contact me (Kirsten Deasey) at kdeasey@sd46.bc.ca or 604-741-5787.