Activity B

School system

The residential school system had a negative impact on Aboriginal learning. Tutors will have an opportunity to explore the legacy of these schools and the ongoing challenges many Aboriginal learners experience in the educational system. Since this can be a hot topic for Aboriginal people, be sure tutors understand the negative impact of residential schools and how they could work with a learner who attended the schools.

You may want to read Chapter 9 in Adult Literacy Tutor Training Manual, published in 1996 by the Regina Public Library. It has a very good discussion on the legacy of the residential school system.

Group work, discussion

Materials and equipment

Flip chart and markers

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

  1. Divide into groups to discuss the questions listed below. Have someone in each group record comments from the discussion.
    • What is the legacy of residential schools?
    • Have Aboriginal students been successful in the public school system?
    • What changes need to be made?
    • What should schools teach?
    • Should all students be treated the same?
  2. Have the groups share their discussion with the larger group.

Activity C

Effective learning

Some strategies are particularly effective with Aboriginal learners. Tutors should become aware of those strategies and be encouraged to use them with their learners. This will help tutors to be more effective in their tutoring. To help tutors working with Aboriginal learners, two resources are especially useful. The Adult Literacy Tutor Training Manual published by the Regina Public Library has some great activities to use in working with Aboriginal adult literacy learners. Empowering the Spirit II, by Mary Elliott et al., will help tutors develop effective lesson plans.