First Teachers with Mornington Island State School

The First Teachers project was designed to boost reading outcomes for students in the Early Years to give children the best start possible at school. It intended to do this by engaging parents and community members as “first teachers”. Over three years, the project aimed to engage parents and community members in supporting students’ reading success in the Early Years (K-2). Data shows that there has been accelerated growth in reading capability in the target cohort over the time of the project. The project has also embedded a parent/community engagement approach to the teaching of reading. It’s hoped that even were the programs to be altered or cancelled in the future, they would have an outlasting effect of permanently reshaping thinking in this area. One case study that gives hope for the ongoing success of the project is the participation of a young local Teacher Aide at the Kindergarten. She has been involved in the Abecedarian Project in Kindergarten. She loves coming to work and she loves reading with the kids at Kindy. The project has provided her with a skill set that not only improves her students’ learning, but contributes to her own sense of self-efficacy, with all the broad and lasting impacts that may have in the future. A related observation would be that of all benefits of engaging with the Schools Plus Project, the funding is only part of the support provided. The wealth of experience, support, understanding, patience, and mentorship provided by the coach was invaluable to the success of the project.