Purpose:
Centre of language and literacy is run by the Department of Education and Youth of the City of Reykjavik and implemented in co-operation with the Mother Tongue association. The main purpose of the centre is to implement policy and develop practices on language and literacy, second language learning and active bilingualism by supporting teachers and staff in pre-schools, primary schools and after-school activities. The centre is directed to everybody involved in the education process – students, parents and employees in pre-schools, primary schools, after-school centres, as well as other specialists. Teachers obtain counselling, advice, courses, cross-cultural training and support on how to work specifically and meaningfully with migrant pupils. The role of facilitators is to support preschool teachers and other employees to build up a rich language and literacy environment in all preschools in the city. They also support primary school teachers in making study programmes that work best for mixed language groups. Facilitators are also educators for all employees in both pre-schools and primary schools.
Stimulus: Due to the consistently rising number of migrant families in the capital of Iceland and the difficulties that students, parents and teachers experience with this increase, the Department of Education and Youth initiated the project “Centre of language and literacy”. The project is a follow-up to, and part of, the Education and Youth Department’s action plan in literacy policy and policy on multicultural education and leisure entitled “The World is Here”.
Process: The centre covers that policy’s emphasis concerning the teaching of Icelandic as a second language, active bilingualism and co-operation between parents and schools. To unite the aims of the aforementioned policies, the department included mother-tongue teachers and language facilitators as team members.
The impact of the action was planned to be reviewed by the Department of Education and Youth in 2019.
Impact: The expected impact is to improve teachers ability to work meaningfully with migrant pupils.
Key reference documents: http://reykjavik.is/sites/default/files/ymis_skjol/skjol_utgefid_efni/fjolmenningarstefna_uppsett_enska_n.pdf
