2009 9 -YEAR PROGRAM Guide to Implementation Cree LANGUAGE and CULTURE Grades 4–5–6 2009 Alberta Education Cataloguing in Publication Data Alberta. Alberta Education. Learning and Teaching Resources Branch. Cree language and culture : 9-year program guide to implementation, grades 4–5–6. ISBN 978–0–7785–6433–1 1. Cree language – Study and teaching (Elementary) – Alberta. 2. Education – Alberta – Curricula. 3. Cree language – Outlines, syllabi, etc. 4. Language and education – Alberta. I. Title. PM989.A333 2009 497.323 For further information, contact: This resource is available on the Alberta Education Web site at Alberta Education http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/progr Learning and Teaching Resources Branch am/aborlang.aspx. 8th Floor, 44 Capital Boulevard 10044 – 108 Street NW Copies of this resource are available for purchase from Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5E6 the Learning Resources Centre. Order online at Telephone: 780–427–2984 in Edmonton or www.lrc.education.gov.ab.ca or telephone toll-free in Alberta by dialling 310–0000 780–427–2767 in Edmonton (toll-free in Alberta by Fax: 780–422–0576 dialling 310–0000). The primary audience for this resource is: Teachers (cid:22) Administrators Students Parents Several Web sites are listed in this resource. These sites are listed as a service only to identify potentially useful ideas for teaching and learning. Alberta Education is not responsible for maintaining these external sites, nor does the listing of these sites constitute or imply endorsement of their content. The Crown and its agents, employees or contractors will not be liable for any direct or indirect damages arising from the use of any of these sites. The responsibility to evaluate these sites rests with the user. Note: All Web site addresses were confirmed as accurate at the time of publication but are subject to change. Copyright © 2009, the Crown in Right of Alberta, as represented by the Minister of Education. Alberta Education, Learning and Teaching Resources Branch, 8th Floor, 44 Capital Boulevard, 10044 – 108 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 5E6. Every effort has been made to provide proper acknowledgement of original sources. If cases are identified where this has not been done, please notify Alberta Education so appropriate corrective action can be taken. Permission is given by the copyright owner to reproduce this resource for educational purposes and on a nonprofit basis, with the exception of materials cited for which Alberta Education does not own copyright. Permission is also granted for sharing the electronic files via network capabilities at the school or jurisdiction level. Acknowledgements Alberta Education gratefully acknowledges the many teachers, school authorities, groups and other individuals who contributed to the writing and/or provided suggestions, feedback and language validation over the course of the development of the Cree Language and Culture Nine-year Program Guide to Implementation, Grades 4–5–6. Learning and Teaching Resources Branch staff involved in the development, production and distribution of this guide include: Joan Engel Director Greg Bishop Assistant Director, Resource Development Delores Pruden-Barrie Resource Manager, Aboriginal Language and Culture Alan Chouinard Assessment Manager, International Languages Shauna Ewen Resource Manager, International Languages James Hamilton Resource Manager, International Languages Wai-Ling Lennon Resource Manager, International Languages Kim Blevins Document Production Coordinator Helen Czar Copy Editor Dianne Moyer Desktop Publishing Liliya Pantelyuk Desktop Publishing Esther Yong Desktop Publishing Sandra Mukai Copyright Cree Language and Culture 9Y Guide to Implementation (4–6) Acknowledgements / iii ©Alberta Education, Alberta, Canada 2009 iv / Cree Language and Culture 9Y Guide to Implementation (4–6) 2009 ©Alberta Education, Alberta, Canada Table of Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................... iii Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................... 1 Message to the Teacher .................................................................................... 1 Cree Worldview ............................................................................................... 2 Cree Values ...................................................................................................... 4 Nêhiyaw Pedagogy ........................................................................................... 6 Oral Tradition ................................................................................................... 7 Protocol with Kihtêyâyak (Elders) ................................................................... 7 Language Variation .......................................................................................... 8 Using This Guide ............................................................................................. 9 Chapter 2: Teaching and Learning Cree Language and Culture ................... 11 Communicative Language Competence ........................................................... 11 Developing Cree Language Competence ......................................................... 12 Teaching for Cree Language Competence ....................................................... 12 An Effective Cree Language Learning Environment ....................................... 15 Suggested Teaching and Learning Strategies ................................................... 16 Combined Grades in the Cree Language and Culture Classroom .................... 17 Chapter 3: Planning for Instruction .................................................................. 19 Why Plan? ........................................................................................................ 19 Sample Planning Procedure ............................................................................. 20 Areas of Experience – Themes ........................................................................ 21 Key Elements of the Year Plan ........................................................................ 21 Developing Unit Plans ..................................................................................... 25 Developing Lesson Plans ................................................................................. 28 Global Task List ............................................................................................... 28 Planning for Balance ........................................................................................ 29 Reviewing ........................................................................................................ 31 Chapter 4: Classroom Assessment and Evaluation ........................................... 33 What Is Assessment and Evaluation? .............................................................. 33 Cree Approach .................................................................................................. 34 Types of Assessment ........................................................................................ 36 Assessment and Evaluation Strategies ............................................................. 38 Chapter 5: Grade Level Samples ........................................................................... 43 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 43 Integrate for Efficiency and Motivation ........................................................... 44 Two-page, Four-column Format ...................................................................... 44 Grade Level Samples for Grade 4 ..................................................................... 47 Applications .............................................................................................. 48 Language Competence .............................................................................. 98 Community Membership .......................................................................... 152 Strategies ................................................................................................... 194 Cree Language and Culture 9Y Guide to Implementation (4–6) Table of Contents / v ©Alberta Education, Alberta, Canada 2009 Grade Level Samples for Grade 5 .................................................................... 203 Applications .............................................................................................. 204 Language Competence .............................................................................. 256 Community Membership .......................................................................... 316 Strategies ................................................................................................... 366 Grade Level Samples for Grade 6 .................................................................... 375 Applications .............................................................................................. 376 Language Competence .............................................................................. 432 Community Membership .......................................................................... 494 Strategies ................................................................................................... 540 Appendices ............................................................................................................ 1 Appendix A: Specific Outcomes Chart Grade 4 .................................................................................................. A–1 Grade 5 .................................................................................................. A–13 Grade 6 .................................................................................................. A–27 Appendix B: Vocabulary and Classroom Expressions ................................ B–1 Appendix C: Planning Tools ........................................................................ C–1 Appendix D: Graphic Organizers ................................................................. D–1 Appendix E: Assessment Blackline Masters ................................................. E–1 Bibliography .......................................................................................................... 1 vi / Table of Contents Cree Language and Culture 9Y Guide to Implementation (4–6) 2009 ©Alberta Education, Alberta, Canada Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter Summary Message to the Teacher Cree Worldview Cree Values Nêhiyaw Pedagogy Oral Tradition Protocol with Kihtêyâyak (Elders) Language Variation Using This Guide Message to the Teacher You are about to explore, with your students, the beauty and diversity of the Cree language and culture. The Cree people are the largest First Nations group in Canada, with over 80 000 Cree speakers. A significant number of Métis also speak Cree. Cree-speaking people are spread over a vast geographic area, so there is a remarkable diversity in the language. Any language spoken over a large area develops regional differences in pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. Adaptations of the language materials in this Guide may need to be made for your community. Your students need to be aware that Cree speakers have political and economic advantages, both at regional and national levels, in being able to communicate in more than one language. Cree is also now accepted at several Canadian universities and colleges for second language entrance requirements in certain faculties. Cree Language and Culture 9Y Guide to Implementation (4–6) Chapter 1 / 1 ©Alberta Education, Alberta, Canada 2009 Encouraging authentic voices in the classroom is crucial to the success of this language program. Whenever possible, use Elders and other community Cree speakers to enrich the language learning. Having students interact with other Cree speakers helps students bring their language knowledge out of the classroom and into the realm of communication. Language learning and retention takes place through using the language. Students need to hear, speak and communicate in the language to maintain the language. Therefore, it is important to involve parents and community resources to build a supportive relationship for Cree language learning. Most of all, as a teacher, model using Cree as much as possible. Please familiarize yourself with the important information in this introduction. It will help you implement a successful Cree language and culture program in your classroom. Cree Worldview Ka-kî-kiskêyihtêtân ôma, namoya kinwês mâka aciyowês pohko ôma ôta ka-hayayak wasêtam askihk, êkwa ka-kakwêy miskêtân kiskêyihtamowin, iyinîsiwin, kistêyitowin, mîna nânisitotâtowin kakiya ayisîniwak, êkosi ôma kakiya ka-wahkôtowak. Realize that we as human beings have been put on this earth for only a short time and that we must use this time to gain wisdom, knowledge, respect and understanding for all human beings, since we are all relatives. – Cree proverb The Cree, Nêhiyaw, worldview is not a polarized view but a holistic view. It is not this or that, it is this and that. It holds that all life forms are interconnected and that life is sacred. Human beings are not at the top of a ladder but are one part of a sacred circle. Emotional, physical, mental and spiritual realms are not separate but are recognized as part of the whole. Traditionally, responsibility within the Nêhiyaw culture primarily involved contributing to the well-being and success of the group—the family, extended family and community. Leadership was developed through service to the community; cooperation and helping others was crucial to survival. Traditional Nêhiyaw culture still revolves around the connection to Mother Earth and the relationship with family and community. The concept of Mother Earth in the Cree worldview not only encompasses the land but also all of the animals, minerals, rocks, plant life and all of its interconnectedness with humans. Cree people do not use the products and materials of Mother Earth as commodities, but instead regard them as relatives and treat them with utmost respect. 2 / Chapter 1 Cree Language and Culture 9Y Guide to Implementation (4–6) 2009 ©Alberta Education, Alberta, Canada