Assignment 1: Evaluation of a Reference Work

Print Reference Materials at Dorothea Walker Elementary

École Dorothea Walker Elementary is a dual track French Immersion school in Kelowna, BC with students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. There are currently 494 students at DWE. Sixty-two percent of students are enrolled in the French Immersion program. The library commons at DWE contains a variety of picture books, novels, graphic novels and non-fiction titles. Although there are approximately, 24,000 books in the DWE library, there are very limited reference materials available for students. According to Ann Marrow Riedling (2019), author of the book Reference Skills for the School Librarian, reference materials can be divided into two main categories. The first includes selections that "furnish information directly", such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, handbooks, biographical sources, and atlases (p.16). The second type of reference materials are sources that indicate places where information can be found, such as bibliographies and indexes.

In the DWE learning commons, there are very few resources, in the print form, that fit under these categories. Dictionaries are kept in individual classrooms and there is a set of Canadian atlases stored in the art room! There are no encyclopedias or almanacs. I was able to locate a couple of handbooks. These titles include, Star Wars Mandalorian Handbook and the Minecraft Guide to Creative.

Biographical selections are more extensive. There are several books about famous Canadians and influential people. The books from the series, "Who Is?" or "Who Was?" are popular among students.

There are no print resources that fit under the second category of reference materials.

PART 1: Introduction of Reference Work

While exploring the DWE learning commons, I came across a box set of atlases produced by Canadian Geographic called "Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada." The box set contains four books which are shown below:

These are beautiful books. This series is a combination between an encyclopedia and an atlas. They are glossy, crisp and colourful. Each book contains images, photos, maps, diagrams and timelines. The first book explains the purpose of the series. In its introduction, Adam Ghandry, from the University of Alberta, says, "Today, re-mapping (and perhaps de-mapping) the places now claimed by Canada allows us to assert ongoing Indigenous presence in our homelands." (2018, p.8) It contains various maps that show how Indigenous land rights and boundaries have changed over time. There is also an extensive section dedicated to Residential Schools. The other books are specific to the three Indigenous groups of Canada: First Nations, Inuit and Métis. They include maps but the majority of the books touch on various topics specific to that culture, such as sports and justice.

PART 2: Evaluation of the Reference Work

Teacher-librarians must consider many factors when evaluating a reference resource for their learning commons. It is important that the reference be relevant, current, purposeful, and be connected to the curriculum.

Here are some questions to consider:

Relevancy:

The Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada is a beautiful collection of books however, they are untouched and unused. Although these books are about a very important part of Canadian history and culture, they are not designed for elementary aged students. According to Scholastic Canada, these books are suitable for students in grade 9 and up and for children who are 14 years and older. Unfortunately, the only use these reference books have received is from teachers or other school staff members hoping to familiarize themselves with Indigenous cultures in Canada.

Purpose:

According to Scholastic, "this four-volume atlas shares the experiences, perspectives, and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. " This project is inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. It explores demographics, environment and culture and includes in-depth coverage of treaties and residential schools. There is also content from over 50 Indigenous writers. The purpose of this reference is to inform and to share the stories of Indigenous people in Canada. 

Currency:

The Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada was published by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2018. It was printed in Canada. As an atlas, this resource is considered current. According to Riedling, "an atlas that is five years old or more portrays enough obsolete information to be considered only for historical purposes." (p. 78) As an encyclopedia, first edition is also considered current. Although the edition number does not indicate currency, this encyclopedia is only four years old. Riedling indicates that a print encyclopedia is updated once per year. However, as there are no other editions of this series available, this does not appear to be the case for these books.

Curricular Connections:

In B.C.'s curriculum, Indigenous perspectives are integrated throughout all grade levels and subject areas. According to the Cross-Curricular Reference for the Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives Curriculum, "the purpose behind this integration is to promote a growing understanding of Indigenous peoples in B.C. that will contribute to the development of educated citizens who reflect on and support reconciliation." (2020)

The ways in which Indigenous learning is integrated throughout the BC curriculum can be found here: Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives in K-12 Curriculum

The Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada is an excellent resource to help the staff at DWE to gain knowledge about Indigenous history and issues in Canada. This atlas is also available in French, and would be an excellent addition to a French Immersion high school. It is not, however, a resource that will support elementary school age children with their learning.

Other Considerations:

There is no question that The Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada is a reputable reference for Canadian libraries. There is no advertising within the pages of the atlases. The publishing company is well known and the contributors include notable leaders within the Indigenous communities of Canada. The layout is clear and functional. The subject coverage is uniform from page to page. Each book contains a table of contents. However, none of the books have an index. Reidling indicates that it is an "absolute necessity" for atlases and encyclopedias to have an index. (p.67) It is interesting that non of the books have one. The bias is clear as these atlases are presented through the lens of Indigenous people. This set of atlases can be purchased from Scholastic Canada for $99.99 or from Amazon for $99.46.

PART 3 : Using a Rubric to Evaluate a Reference Work

Below is a rubric created to assist teacher-librarians when making decisions about purchasing reference materials for their learning commons. This rubric is written more in the style of a "learning map". As such, one must start at "beginning". A mark of "extending" can only be granted if the prior factors are complete. This assessment language is unique to DWE and is used by both staff and students.

Here is how The Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada was evaluated using this learning map (rubric):

Relevancy : Developing

The four part series is a relevant and useful resource for one group in the school community. As it is designed for students in grade 9 and up, this resource can only be utilized by adults in our elementary school. Is there a resource that would be more suitable for all members of our school community?

Purpose: Extending

The purpose of these atlases are clear. They seek to inform and to educate Canadians about past and present Indigenous issues. This reference work is clear, reliable, functional, and covers contemporary issues.

Currency: Extending

The Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada was published in 2018. It is current as an encyclopedia and an atlas.

Curricular Connections: Developing

This resource is an excellent reference for teachers hoping to learn more about Indigenous culture. It is informative. It does not include lesson plans or ideas on how to support children in learning about these issues. Are there other reference works that would support teachers AND students in finding answers to their questions? Are their resources about this subject that are more age appropriate for elementary school students? Are there resources that can be used by our French Immersion population?

PART 4: Searching for Other Reference Options

Option 1: Atlas of Canada

The Atlas of Canada is produced by published by Scholastic Canada. The most revised edition was published in 2017. Each province receives two two-page spreads. These pages are colourful, clear and organized. They also include facts about each province. The three territories do not receive equal distribution in the book as they are all together on one page. There are two pages dedicated to the "first inhabitants" of Canada. (p.14/15) Here, students can find information about where Indigenous groups once lived (see above). The cost of the atlas is $19.79 on Amazon.ca . According to Amazon, this book is targeted for children ages 5-9.  

This reference is more appropriate for elementary school children. It can be used by students in primary and intermediate. It can also be used by teachers. The new edition available was published five years ago and is considered up to date. The layout is functional and clear. This atlas is missing the connections to the BC curriculum in regards to teaching students about Indigenous culture. It does not include contemporary issues regarding this topic. This atlas does not come in a French edition. 

Option 2: Righting Canada's Wrongs: Residential Schools 

Righting Canada's Wrongs is a series of seven books published by James Lorimer & Company Ltd. Publishers. Each book targets issues of discrimination in Canada, such as the Chinese Head Tax, Japanese Internment Camps, the Komagata Maru, and Residential Schools. Each book is a collection of photos, artefacts, quotes, and informative paragraphs. The books are clear, colourful and visually appealing. There are chapters, a table of contents, glossary, index, and timeline. The layout is functional and the subject coverage is uniform. Although these books deal with serious topics in Canadian history, they are appropriate for intermediate students. The books are filled with photos, which help bring the stories being shared to life. 

This series of books would be an excellent addition to the DWE reference collection. They can be used by teachers and intermediate students to support their learning. These books also directly support the BC curriculum. In Social Students, students in grade 5 and 6 will learn:

• past discriminatory government policies and actions, such as the Head Tax, the Komagata Maru incident, residential schools, and internments. (GRADE 5)
• human rights and responses to discrimination in Canadian society (GRADE 5) 
• poverty and inequality issues, including class structure and gender (GRADE 6) 

This resource is appropriate for our intermediate students in grades 5 and 6 and targets the curricular needs of these grades. This resource is also affordable. Each book costs $34.95 and can be purchased HERE. I was unable to find this resource in French.

Other Options: 

As a classroom teacher, I am responsible for teaching my students about Canadian history. I want my students to understand the discriminations that have occurred in our country and continue to occur today. When I found the The Canadian Geographic Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada, I was impressed by the quality of the reference resource. I especially appreciate that it is both an atlas and an encyclopedia. I was hoping to find a similar resource that might meet the needs of the majority of our school population. I believe that the Righting Canada's Wrong series comes close. This resource, in combination with up to date atlases, will provide our teachers and students with high quality reference materials about Indigenous cultures. I am, however, still on the hunt for quality French materials on this topic.

Further Reading: 

Here is a list of resources available from the First Nations Education Steering Committee. There are several picture books that would support primary teachers in teaching their students about Indigenous history and culture. 

https://resources.fnesc.ca/

References:

Florence, Melanie. (2016) Residential Schools Righting Canada's Wrongs. James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers. Toronto, Ontario. 

Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives in K-12 Curriculum. Retrieved from: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/indigenous-education-resources/indigenous-knowledge-and-perspectives-k-12-curriculum

Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. (2018) Canadian Geographic. Ottawa, Ontario. 

Riedling, A. M., & Houston, C. (2019). Reference skills for the school librarian : Tools and tips (4th ed.). Libraries Unlimited.

Scholastic Children's Atlas of Canada. (2017) Scholastic Canada