Math Corner: Attention Grade 4 & 5 math students!
Reading and math intervention software
Training program seeks Aboriginal writers to develop new show
Partnership fuels $36 million scholarship programs
Math Corner: Attention Grade 4 & 5 math students!
Dear students and teachers:
Starting this issue we will publish preparatory questions for the Math Contest organized for First Nations reserve schools.
We recommend to start working on these questions if you plan to participate in the Math Contest. The solutions to these questions will be published in the next issue of Native Journal.
Send your answers in! We will publish the names of the winners. Please note that we will not consider the answers without detailed solutions.
For more details about the Math Contest and what you can win, visit www.nativejournal.ca, September 2007 edition, Education section.
Yours, Elder Wiseman
(NOTE: OCTOBER 2007 PRINT EDITION HAD ERRORS, PLEASE USE COPY BELOW.)
Question 1: There are 36 feet and 15 heads in the farm of Mr. Stonechild.
How many horses and chickens are there?
(A) 4 horses and 10 chickens;
(B) 3 horses and 12 chickens;
(C) 3 horses and 8 chickens;
(D) 6 horses and 10 chickens
Question 2: The smallest whole number greater than 100 is:
(A) 99.9 (B) 999 (C) 990 (D) 999.9
Question 3: The perimeter of a square is 16 cm. The length of one side of this square is:
(A) 8 cm (B) 32 cm (C) 64 cm (D) 4 cm
Question 4: Which is equal to 5?
(A) 10/5 (B) 25/5 (C) 5/5 (D) 1/5
Question 5: How many prime numbers are between 7 and 17?
(A) none (B) 2 (C) 4 (D) 3
Question 6:
Find the missing number: 80 – 60 = ? – 200
(A) 220; (B) 400; (C) 250; (D) 300.
Please mail, fax or email your solutions and comments to
Dr. Arzu Sardarli,
Phone: (306) 790 - 5950 ext. 3338; Fax: (306) 790 - 5993
Email: asardarli@firstnationsuniversity.ca
Mail: First Nations University of Canada
1 First Nations Way, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 7K2, Canada
By Simone Chisholm
“Did you know that some of the hottest sectors for job growth in Northern Ontario include health, education, information technology, service industry, trades and tourism? It pays to know where the economy is going and you can reap the benefits by getting the skills that will make you ready for the job market.”
David Foot, demographer
“In the next five to ten years, there will be opportunities everywhere. We forecast the creation of over two million jobs in the next five years because of economic growth and the need to replace older workers.”
Christian Dea, a socio-economic analyst at Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
We have all read articles discussing the retirement of baby boomers and the subsequent job openings. Unfortunately, many of today’s business plans concentrate on immediate and short term survival and ignore long term growth, retirement of personnel and competition for a shrinking skilled labour force.
Workforce succession planning is a relatively new business term that compels the employer to take inventory of the skilled staff needed today, tomorrow and in the future. All businesses want growth. If you are projecting two to ten percent growth over the next three years, do you have the staff available to get you there? Do they currently exist? How much competition do you have for this skilled workforce? Are you able to effectively recruit? Has it become increasingly difficult to recruit? Are your recruitment problems a result of your geographical area, the industry or both?
As a student, employee or employer, how are you preparing yourself for the worldwide skilled labour shortages, both current and upcoming? There has never been a better time to plan for the future. Take inventory, locally, nationally and globally, of what you can do today to secure a better outlook for your children, yourself and your businesses. Success does not come without preparation. A well thought out plan is the foundation to positive results.
Contact North can provide you with access to the skills training that you may need to take advantage of current and future job opportunities. Contact you nearest Access Centre for our fall course guide or visit us on www.contactnorth.ca.
The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians and Mr. Edward J Cross, Kahnawake's Director of Education, have announced construction of a new high school at Kahnawake.
“I am pleased to announce that Canada’s New Government is contributing nearly $10 million towards construction of a state-of-the-art school at Kahnawake,” said Minister Strahl. “We hope that by the 2008/2009 school year the doors will be open, and Kahnawake students from grades seven to 11 will keenly gain the skills and knowledge that matter in the new facility.”
Accompanying Minister Strahl at the event was the Honourable Michael M. Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada and the Minister responsible for Greater Montreal.
“The new Kahnawake Survival School is the final project from a Kahnawake education facilities rebuilding perspective. The new facility provides current and future students with the opportunity to obtain their secondary education within the territory of Kahnawake, with curriculum adapted for our unique cultural needs, all within this beautiful new facility. We appreciate INAC’s significant financial contribution towards the project,” said Mr. Louie John Diabo, Project Manager.
The new 6,000 square metre Kahnawake Survival School will include laboratories, computer rooms, a library, a gym, a cafeteria and rooms for specialized services like art and wood-working. It replaces the school’s current facilities, which include 15 buildings of varying ages and quality. The school hopes to open its doors to Kahnawake students from grades seven to 11 in time for the 2008/2009 school year.
The architecture of the new facility was inspired by symbols contained in the oral history of the Mohawks, but also includes many contemporary designs for energy efficiency, such as geo-thermal heating and cooling.
The Mohawk community of Kahnawake is located 10 km southwest of Montréal, on the south shore of Lake Saint-Louis.
Reading and math intervention software
By Eric MacInnis, B.Ed. M.Ed.
Helping struggling students to catch up in reading and math is a challenge faced by many educators and computers can be key in addressing this challenge. As a former classroom and Special Education teacher in a K-12 school, I know this first hand!
If your school has modern computer equipment, Academy of Reading and Academy of Math from AutoSkill are two award winning Canadian software resources well worth considering. These resources are found in over 1,000 Canadian schools (K-High School Modified) and adult educational settings and more than 2,000 within the U.S.
Academy of Reading software is designed to complement a school’s existing reading strategies and requires only three to five 20-40 minute training sessions per week per targeted student. Content in Academy of Reading ranges from most basic Phonemic Awareness concepts up to high school level Vocabulary and Passage Comprehension.
Academy of Math requires similar student training time and incorporates an approach that can help even the most struggling student achieve core math fluency. Academy of Math includes content from the most basic math learning objectives, through to concepts required for academic high school entrance.
When students begin working in Academy of Reading or Academy of MATH, they enter a simulated classroom to complete a placement test that is used to determine each student’s ITP (Individualized Training Program) by subject area.
Once an ITP is in place, everything is automated within the program. That is, the software will introduce one skill at a time (no skipping around permitted) with an animated tutorial; will interact with students and intervene when necessary, and will maintain a variety of school, class and student records and reports that may be printed at any time.
To help keep motivational levels up, each student is presented with simulated trophies, printable award certificates and unique simulated collectable cards that may be reflected on the included classroom posters. For older students enrolled into the Academy of Reading, high interest/low vocabulary life skills' comprehension content has been included in the program.
Implementing AutoSkill software is a straight forward process with educators using the software requiring only a single online training session before they are ready to get started. Also, AutoSkill is currently offering 50% second product discounts on combined Academy of Reading/Math license purchases.
For more information please visit www.autoskill.com.
Training program seeks Aboriginal writers to develop new show
Responding to market-need, the National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI) in association with Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) has redesigned NSI Storytellers to develop above-the-line Aboriginal broadcast talent. Aboriginal writers eager to learn the craft of writing television drama are encouraged to apply at www.nsi-canada.ca. Working individually and as a group the selected candidates will create six scripts for a half hour daytime serial that may go into production for broadcast on APTN.
Deadline for applications is Monday October 15, 2007, 4:30 p.m. Central Time.
Up to five writers will be chosen based on submitted writing samples, an ability to work as a group, a strong desire to work in the Canadian television industry, and a willingness to commit to the program. Training for writers commences in fall 2007 and will span a seven month period. The second phase will provide training for directors and producers in spring 2008. A separate call for applications for this phase will be issued in the new year.
Writing participants will learn the basics of narrative writing and develop storylines and series arcs for the project. As with all NSI programs, training will be intensive and delivered by industry experts.
“The National Screen Institute prides itself on providing market-driven training. Our decision to restructure NSI Storytellers was based on the need for more television content from Canadian Aboriginal writers, directors and producers," says Susan Millican, NSI CEO. "APTN is a natural fit to help hone this craft and possibly showcase the results.”
“NSI has a stellar reputation for delivering well-trained above-the-line graduates from its programs,” said Jean LaRose, APTN Chief Executive Officer. “To have the NSI Storytellers curriculum based on an APTN program concept, with a real chance of going into production for broadcast, helps to fulfill our mandate of presenting programming by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples.”
The program is managed by Brandice Vivier-Burns.
NSI Storytellers is made possible through the generous funding of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, NBC Universal and CHUM.
The National Screen Institute - Canada, with headquarters in Winnipeg, is Canada's oldest nationally-recognized film and television training school. The National Screen Institute helps emerging writers, directors and producers bring their stories to life to share at home and abroad. Its market-driven programs have led to employment for National Screen Institute graduates by giving them a competitive edge - according to the latest National Screen Institute Alumni Survey, 97% of respondents are working in the industry.
September 1, 2007 marks the eight-year anniversary of the launch of the first national Aboriginal television network in the world with programming by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples to share with all Canadians and viewers around the world. APTN is available in over 10 million Canadian households and commercial establishments with cable, direct-to-home satellite (DTH), telco-delivered and fixed wireless television service providers. APTN does not receive government funding for operations but generates revenue through subscriber fees, advertising sales and strategic partnerships. APTN broadcasts programming with 56% offered in English, 16% in French and 28% in Aboriginal languages. For more information, please contact APTN at (204) 947-9331 or toll-free at 1-888-278-8862, or visit the website at www.aptn.ca.
Partnership fuels $36 million scholarship programs
The Victoria Foundation and The Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society have partnered in managing and awarding scholarships from $36 million in endowment funds established by the Province of BC.
“We are very pleased to partner with the Victoria Foundation in the administration and stewardship of our scholarship funds,” said Mike Apsey, chair of the Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society. “With support from the Government of British Columbia, the Society has quickly increased the number and value of its scholarship programs.”
The funds provide scholarships to students attending public post-secondary institutions both throughout the province and internationally. To date, the Society has awarded over $1.2 million in scholarships.
“Working with the Scholarship Society builds on the province-wide impact the Victoria Foundation has,” said Tom Burley, chair of the Victoria Foundation. “Helping students succeed by providing access to funds for continued learning is an investment in all our futures.”
Under the partnership, the Victoria Foundation will administer and coordinate the Society’s five scholarship programs. These programs are for transfer students, Aboriginal students, international education, study abroad, and general educational opportunities.
To find out more about the funding available or to make a donation to these funds, call the Victoria Foundation at 250-381-5532.