Trained as reading mentors

A new local project called Tales from a Dilly Bag will be launched at Mingaletta Aboriginal Corporation on Friday, November 25, at 11am.

The project trains Stage 3 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from Umina Public School as reading mentors to assist other children in preschools and playgroups.

The project will see Year 5 and 6 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students from Umina Public School read stories with children at the launch and create a craft activity that goes along with each story.

"These skills and understandings, developed during the early childhood years, are needed as the foundation for learning to be literate," said Beachside Family Centre facilitator Ms Debbie Notara.

"Children often build a foundation for becoming literate as they talk with others and storybooks are shared with them."

The program was made possible by the contribution of $750 from Peninsula residents Jayne and Peter Mote to purchase the Tales from a Dilly Bag kit.

The kit contains culturally appropriate story books, lesson plans, craft materials and a camera to record the progress of the project.

"This donation from the community has allowed Umina Public School students to take part in Tales from a Dilly Bag - a project which is also running in a number of other schools across the Central Coast," said Ms Notara.

"It is very powerful when an older child works with younger children in modeling reading skills and the fun that can be had with activities around books."

Mingaletta Aboriginal Corporation would be the first group where the school students visit and work with young Indigenous children in their area.

Next year the project is expected to include visits to Umina Child Care Centre, Umina Kids Klub Preschool and Deep Water Care and Learning Centre.

Media Release, 9 Nov 2011 Debbie Notara, Beachside Family Centre