About the “Coota International Literacy Enhancement Research Pilot Program”
The first goal of the. “Coota International Literacy Research Enhancement Pilot Program,” is to establish relationships with youth in middle school grades and libraries in Dublin, Ireland by a book exchange and reading selected books that will seed cultural understanding and appreciation. The second goal in this pilot project is to seed writing clubs for further development of an international friendship among youth in school. As research material is gathered through the establishment of reading clubs in the targeted city of Dublin, plans to expand will be researched for stronger relationships with schools and libraries. The basis for this pilot literacy project is the commonality found in the Irish and the African American Struggle for Civil Rights. That dates back to the Great Irish Famine and the America Civil War during the 19th century. This literacy pilot through reading and writing will spark critical thinking on the importance of culturally appropriate communications. The third goal is to establish literacy as an essential tool for not only becoming a productive person, able to fully contribute and compete in today’s global economy; but also for more effective and culturally appropriate communication. The “Coota Experiences” is the lead collaborating project doing outreach to the Grove Hall branch of the Boston Public Library to assist with the research. The fourth goal is to develop a strategy that will produce new readers to the libraries. The books chosen and program material will be well suited for middle schools and after school programs. and the selection of libraries for the first principled initiative that is multi-dimensional in its development with in-put from parents, caretakers, community developers, court officials, police, educators, artists and youth who are not just the targeted group, but as participants in the project’s development through the systemic periods of evaluation.
In an idea world (and according to textbook cases) the read-to-learn and the learn-to-read concepts certainly holds true and yet, one of the areas of interest and concern is when the textbook concepts do not hold true. In many urban areas, especially in Boston’s inner cities where there are large numbers of under served youth there is a profound lag in literacy and cultural enrichment programs that have the potential to spark these youth interest in reading. The not knowing about this human endeavor or the closeness during specific times of these two People causes undue strife and hate today, bordering on not knowing. The remedy for hate is love and loves spouts understanding. The history is there for all to learn through books.
Unfortunately, in the middle school level and definitely in the high school level most teachers do not have the training to teach older students how to read. Therefore students rarely progress after grade 3 in reading if they are indeed behind, not because it is impossible but often the teacher's area of expertise is not in reading/corrective reading, but more on teaching to the test that are administered throughout the school year as opposed to doing extra work in literacy arts/cultural enrichment.
According to the Center for Collaborative Education (CCE), the middle school years are viewed as “turning points” in the development of children. In focused, but limited, research we found that our readers are excited about our core book, “Coota and the Magic Quilt” and “Coota and the Challenge” relate to their themes of triumph over adversities, love, unity, death, life and freedom. In preparation for an international youth reading strategy, “Coota and the Magic Quilt” has a Spanish translation with a Teacher’s Guide that can assist educators where Spanish is a first language. “Coota and the Magic Quilt” with the Teacher’s Guide specially written by Dianne Christine Yarborough provides major understanding of the humanistic themes in the book.
The second book in the planned Coota Trilogy, “Coota and the Challenge” is about a relationship that begins during the turn of the 20th century between two men, an African American and the other Irish, recently from Ireland and living in Boston, Massachusetts where they each worked for a while as long shore men. They experience social barriers together and become friends, but later leave each other. Their descendants will meet many years later and will be strangers who become friends through exchanged gifts their ancestors made. It is a powerful story about history, human relationships and triumph over adversity.
The publishing of “Coota and the Challenge,” makes for a pair of powerful self-published books that are being received with a lot of favorable comments from its readers including educators, parents and youth. The books will challenge youth and older readers to think critically and spark discussions about the importance of respectful culturally appropriate communication, to build their vocabulary and to learn about American history and human struggle. These two books both have themes that are consistent with preparation for standard test for students in the areas of social studies, cultural diversity appreciation and grammar.