Choctaw Language
District Staff
Isaac, Zonie
Choctaw Language Resource Assistant
|
King, Donovan
Choctaw Language Assessment Coordinator
|
Thompson, Roseanna
Choctaw Language & Cultural Integration Program/Annopa Tikbishtiya DOE/ANA Project
|
Elementary Schools
1.
Certified Choctaw language instructors teach 30-60 minutes a day to the
PreK-3rd grade students in the Choctaw language classroom. The Choctaw
Language Curriculum is used in these classrooms. Other certified Choctaw
language instructors within the school serve as substitutes when the
instructor is out.
2. The same grades, PreK-3rd, are provided language integration and cultural activities in their own classrooms, with the instructional aide, for their grade level also.
3. The other classrooms (4th-8th) are served by instructional aides and language instructors to teach the Choctaw language and culture using the Choctaw Curriculum Guide and the "hilha unit" (dance unit) for the year. Lessons plans are to be revised as needed by the grade level language instructors and instructional aids for each grade level.
4. Each Choctaw Tribal elementary school will ensure that 100% of the Choctaw children receive Choctaw language and culture classes at least 30 minutes (preferably 50 minutes including afterschool time) a day for four to five days a week by:
1. Teaching Choctaw language/ culture in the After School Program any time from 3:00-4:20pm four days a week, including homework guidance for 15 minutes in English and Choctaw Monday to Thursdays.
2. During the regular school period, one period of Choctaw language class is taught 30 minutes, four to five days a week totaling 150 minutes a week, minimum.
Most PreK-3rd grade children receive Choctaw language class 30-60 minutes a day from one certified language instructor per school, with two language instructors for Pearl River Elementary. Other grades continue with the 30 minute instruction for regular class and 20-30 minutes for the After School Program.
Handouts
Bogue Chitto Elementary
| Conehatta Elementary |
Pearl River Elementary | Red Water Elementary |
Standing Pine Elementary | Tucker Elementary |
The Choctaw Department of Schools incorporates the teaching of the Choctaw Language and Culture in the Choctaw Tribal School System which encompasses six elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
The purpose:
- Choctaw language maintenance and restoration for our Choctaw children
- Preservation of our Cultural ways by continuing to teach the Choctaw children about the various aspects involved, using the newly developed Choctaw language curriculum- Chahta Annopa Ist Ayikhana I Hina Oshi and other resources available.
The
Choctaw Tribal School System believes that every Choctaw child
attending our school system has a right to be taught their native
language. Efforts have been made to meet their rights by providing an
opportunity for all students to learn the Choctaw language by creating
the AnnopaTikbishitya
project through grants from Administration for Native Americans and the
Department of Education, under the Choctaw Language and Cultural
Integration Program/ Department of Schools.
Choctaw Central Middle School
Choctaw Central Middle School has an average of 160 students who receive Choctaw language classes comprised of:
1. Choctaw language class with a Choctaw language instructor, for 30 minutes per grade, Monday to Friday. Choctaw language and cultural integration is provided by instructional aide Elijah Ben and other instructional aides as needed.
2. One Chorus/ Choctaw languge class with a Choctaw speaking teacher or language instructor 15 minutes daily from Tuesday-Thursday. Choctaw language reading and writing activities are to be provided.
3. PE/ Choctaw language and history class with a Choctaw speaking language instructor for 15 minutes daily from Monday-Thursday. Lesson plans will include oral and written storytelling and role plays in the Choctaw language.
4. Integrating Choctaw language with reading class 15 minutes a day, 3 days a week.
The
classes will use floating instructional aides or a classroom for
students to rotate, when space is available. Topics will include
language and cultural dance units which will be modified by the
instructional aides for each grade level.
Choctaw Central Middle School
Elijah Ben
Choctaw Central High School
Freshmen and sophomore students, with exceptions for some juniors and seniors that transferred in and have not taken the language classes, will be receiving Choctaw language classes in one of the two elective Choctaw language classrooms. These two Choctaw language classes are taught as 1/2 credit courses throughout the year to all 9th and 10th grade students 55 minutes daily with two Choctaw language instructors for five days a week of one semester.
Choctaw Central High School
Glenda Bell
Farrell Davidson
Tricia Hickman