Moe in Tofino

Dear Readers,

You know that warm happy feeling you get when you connect with an old friend?  I was wrapped in that  warm and fuzzy feeling  last month.  Moe the Mouse, asked me to join him and a few of his friends in Tofino B.C., for an education  get -together he was organizing.  

 I gathered my favourite children’s books, my trusted forest animal stuffies, (they all begged to come) and my enthusiasm for the important role that early literacy/language plays in our shorter friend’s lives.

And “Bing Bang Boom”- I was Tofino Bound!

 

When I arrived, I noted that  my good friend, Moe the Mouse, was strategically seated in an obvious place of honour and distinction in the participant’s circle.  Turns out Moe was the Keynote speaker for this event , the VIP, and the primary conference coordinator!  

I knew Moe had made it big in the field of early language development and was pretty busy on the the educator’s speaking circuit, but I had no idea he had accomplished so much in the last few years!  

The conference format was  a kind of “think tank”.   Moe asked his friends from across Canada to  plan -forward thinking,  creative strategies to support his important work with young children.

 

The circle of participants included early childhood educators from all over Vancouver Island, every one of Moe’s ELFs  (early language facilitators), speech-language therapists, community grants coordinators, behavior experts, his program coordinators, various supporters-aka Moe Champions- like myself, his financial associates along with his “peeps” from B.C. Aboriginal Child Care Society, and  of course, Moe’s, ever present and constant campaigner, his god-mother and my friend, Anne Gardner.

 (I won’t list Moe's  entourage of forest friends. Turns out they heard through the forest news chatter of the event and quietly joined the circle when no one was looking.)

Moe and his  friend ,Lorraine, guided the conversations and collaborative planning tasks over three sun-drenched October days.  The dedicated group hardly took a break... well that is not quite accurate...we  enjoyed  gourmet meals, boat rides and evening strolls on sandy beaches in between work sessions.

The work that was accomplished was recorded on chart paper that wall- papered our meeting room.  New curriculum directions, funding strategies and  renewed commitments around promoting and sustaining all of Moe’s good works, are just a few of the outcomes that came out of this extra-ordinary event.  I met new friends and left inspired and energized. 

I am writing to you, dear readers, to share some of my latest early literacy fun-filled adventures ideas and new stories that were realized as a result of the energy and enthusiasm generated from r the Moe gathering. 

However, before I get to all that,  will you allow me to give you some background information on my good friend Moe, the Mouse? I think it will help explain my enthusiasm and creative energy for the little guy.  And when you get to know Moe, he might inspire you in your work with our shorter friends.

When I first met Moe the Mouse, back in the early nineties,  he was just a little bit of a young pip-squeak.  He was so small, I didn’t notice him at first.  My friend, Anne, and I were visiting Joe Martin on Echachis Island, just a short boat ride from Tofino. 

Joe was  a great person to visit because he was a consummate story-teller.  While Joe was sharing a traditional story about a hummingbird,  I noticed a tiny young mouse hiding under  a pile of cedar bark shavings scattered on the floor.  (Joe  liked to work on his new cedar dug-out  canoe while he shared stories).

   

This curious little mouse seemed to have a real interest in everything Joe was up to.  I remember first thinking the mouse  was  watching the chips of wood fly from Joe’s adze, as they probably would make great stuffing for a mouse duvet.  (You know how west coast mice love to be cozy and comfy especially when the winter rains start pounding on the carving shed roof.)

But the more I watched, it was obvious this mouse was  was not only listening to Joe’s story, but he was understanding every word!    

Anyway, I was formally introduced to Moe the Mouse a couple of months later. 

Laterra, Cosy Lawson’s four year old daughter, did the intros.  Apparently Moe and Laterra are best buddies! (I couldn't help notice that the  little tiny mouse squeaked with delight every time Laterra looked at him.)

Over the years, Laterra and Moe  were inseparable.  They laughed together, paddled in their  canoe together, and played hide and seek until the sun set on the west coast beach that was their home. 

Anne, and Cosy kept me up to date on Moe’s accomplishments over the years.   

 Moe loved little kids and had heaps of shorter friends.  He blossomed into  a natural born teacher and has friends all across Canada.  He has a way of encouraging even the most reluctant and  shy child  to try new sounds and difficult words.  He is  so gentle and sweet that kids try their hardest because they love him so much.  

Moe is  also  famous as a knowledgeable mouse who knows traditional teachings.   Turns out he had learned all of Joe’s family stories and could tell them almost as well as Joe Martin himself! He was also considered a knowledge keeper of Ojibway traditions-thanks to  Cosy’s  father, Steve Lawson.

So that pretty much brings you up-to-date.  Now I will try and give you a thumb-nail sketch of some of the activities that Moe and I have been up to over the last little while.   If you can use the ideas or want more details, just email me  at:  dklockars@shaw.ca.  

Moe and Donna are Invited to Quw’atsun Territory to talk about Early Literacy/language Learning

This invitation was certainly timely because Moe and I were  pumped and super- keen to share our enthusiasm with twenty-five early childhood educators.  The group was so happy to see  Moe the Mouse, as they were already devoted fans.Even though I wasn’t the star attraction, the teachers were receptive to many of my ideas.   

Moe is very excited to be joining the staff at the Quw'utsun Centre in February for a Moe the Mouse refresher course. 

Here is a picture of one of my friend at the Aboriginal School in Nanaimo.  When I explained how Moe is "crazy" for books and has a special burrow just for his books, my friend  decided to write a tiny book for Moe.  The whole class got into filling Moe's Book Burrow.  WOW!  Moe you really are lucky to get all those tiny books.  Will you share?  Have you ever thought of starting a Moe, the Mouse lending library.  A library would  help make the  Forest a strong community.   

Moe is a great travelling partner.  I take him with me every time I go to play with my shorter friends.  Two year old Jack, adores Moe, and even though he has a hard time getting out what he wants to say, Moe always listens carefully.  They have fun practicing all the  animal sounds together and have fun playing outside together.

Well, dear reader, I have babbled on far too long.  Perhaps you will check in later and find out more of our latest and greatest visits.  Moe, is a big hit, even with the primary kids at the Ecole Hammond Bay! 

And if I may, I want to acknowledge all the hard work that went into the planning and implementation of the fabulous First MOE Gathering in Tofino.   I met the most talented group  of early childhood educators who inspired me with their brilliant play-based acumen.   I also met the folks who work tirelessly behind the scenes to promote aboriginal education at it's finest level.

Thanks to all the workshop participants for sharing.  Your ideas were a springboard for all sorts of fun times. 

In friendship,

Moe and Donna

P.S.  If you have not met Moe or would like to learn more about his work just contact the B.C. Aboriginal Child Care Society or email Anne Gardner annegardner@shaw.ca.