The VITAL Project - An Introduction

A common bond for many of the primary/elementary grade literacy programs that exist, or have existed, in Newfoundland and Labrador is the role of the teacher. It has been generally understood that while the desire to teach may be "born", the ability to teach needs to be "made". It is much like a seed. Given the right conditions, that seed will grow and bear fruit. Without the right conditions the seed remains just that -- a seed. Consequently, we hope that through this on-line professional development web site we can meet the challenge of helping teachers of primary grade learners to "grow" in their abilities related to literacy instruction. In addition, with the increased abilities and competence of each teacher, a more confident and able learner will also "grow". This is our hope. This is our goal.

Teaching is such an awesome job. I think this piece by Leah Becks is a great reminder about who it is all for …

The Star Polisher

I have a great job in the universe of occupations. What do I do? I'm a "star polisher."

It's a very important job. If you want to know how important, just go out at night and look at the stars twinkling and sparkling.

You see, I'm a teacher. The stars are the children in my class. My job is to take them in - in whatever shape they come - and shine and buff them and send them out to take their places as bright little twinkling beacons in the sky.
They come into my room in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they're bent, tarnished, dirty, crinkly and broken. Some stars are cuddly, soft and sweet.Some stars are prickly and thorny.

As I buff, polish, train and teach my little stars, I tell them that the world cannot do without them. I tell them they can do anything they set their minds to do. I tell them they can be the brightest, shiniest stars in the sky and the world will be a better place because of them.

Each night as I look at the sky, I'm reminded of my very important job and awesome responsibility. I go and get my soft buffing cloth and my bottle of polish in preparation for tomorrow and for my class of little stars.

The main objective of the initial phase of the VITAL Project is the development of an interactive web-based PD program for K-3 teachers. The focus would be on the creation and implementation of on-line micro-workshops in the area of literacy assessment and reinstruction. The main target population would be teachers who are responsible for students that have been identified as being "at-risk", or those students who have already demonstrated an "aliterate" level of language abilities. The development of this web site would be the responsibility of Dr. Marc Glassman, with Ms. Debbie Toope, Literacy Specialist, Avalon West School Board (AWSB) and Ms. Linda Doody, Primary Programs Coordinator, Vista School Board (VSB), providing input into the basic content information of the site.