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Borrego Springs is a rural and isolated community in the middle of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. With the exception of a very small market, liquor store and library, all major services and amenities are a minimum of 1.5 hours away.
The pre-school and elementary school are 87% Hispanic, 56% English Language Learners and 87% Title 1 (free and reduced lunch). Parents work in agriculture or as housekeepers and waitresses in the golf resorts. The majority of our Title 1 families live in one of three trailer/mobile home parks; the Ocotillo Oasis Trailer park is 17 miles outside of Borrego.
A recent survey of elementary school families found that over 25% of families have less than 10 books in the home. Even more startling is the amount of time spent watching TV versus time reading together as a family. For many of our parents, language and literacy are not understood as the vital foundations for future academic success.
In addition, our isolated location makes it extremely difficult for young people to attend post-high school classes. The lack of a reliable car, the cost of fuel, strong family ties and the topography of the land often prohibit them from leaving Borrego.
The Oases of Literacy Grant will allow three of our promising para-professionals (pre-school teacher, bilingual aide and a parent leader) to attend a one day training hosted by the Latino Family Literacy Project. After this training, each will be equipped to teach a 10 week curriculum (Toddlers, Pre-school, Grades K-3) to parents on how to share books with your child, how to develop language as you read, how to to use questioning as a means to stimulate conversation and vocabulary development. Trainings are held regularly throughout California and dates are posted on their website.
Parent classes will be held at the Borrego Springs Elementary School or in one of the trailer park's "club houses". The goal is for each para-professional to teach 2- 10 week courses to a maximum of 20 parents and coordinate a lending library of age appropriate books. The books are included in the budget. All 6 classes will be taught in the current school year, 2011-2012.
Budget:
Training for 3 - (each @ $200) $600
Lending Library - (1600 books) $3000
Mileage @ 55.5/mile - $ 150
Stipend to teach 2- 10 week classes each teacher
($25/hr + 30 min.prep X 3 teachers X 2= @$375 each - $2250
Total Budget $6000
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