How does a teddy bear help a child learn to read?
By Kim Smyth Jacob, Director, Spinoza for Kids

He is a talking bear and Spinoza is his name. Here in B.C., this bear is being used as a learning tool for teachers and parents to help and encourage children as they learn to read. And while the bear gets children excited about reading, he also unites like-minded organizations to work together in their common mission to enhance literacy for children, families and communities.

Spinoza makes learning to read a fun activity when he plays a child’s favourite storybook on tape as the child reads along with the book. Spinoza’s taped messages help children feel good about themselves and build confidence in their ability to learn and grow. For children who are visually impaired, Spinoza comes specially adapted to allow children with special needs to listen to any taped book available through the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).

To date, more than 1,000 Spinoza Talking Bears have been introduced into elementary classrooms, family literacy programs, Native Friendship Centres, and homes throughout the province. Two sponsored programs now enable Literacy BC and its partners each year to bring close to 200 Spinoza Talking Bear Gift Packs to teachers, family literacy coordinators, and children and families across the province.

Panago Learn with Spinoza Program
Sponsored by Panago Pizza, the Learn with Spinoza Program distributed 100 Spinoza Talking Bear Gift Packs to 85 elementary schools and 15 family literacy programs in every BC community with a Panago franchisee. Teachers and family literacy coordinators were given a customized package which included Spinoza the Talking Bear, two audio tapes, his Woodland Friends (puppets), and an activity guide to enhance their teaching techniques. Topics in the guide included mutual respect, caring for the environment, multiculturalism, problem solving, and more.

Literacy Alliance for Children with Visual Impairments
For the first time, a unique partnership has been formed among numerous provincial, national and international organizations that serve people who are visually impaired, to provide support for children, families, and literacy services and programs.

These programs are made possible with the support of TB VetsPanago PizzaCNIB UBC Faculty of EducationQLT Inc.The Vancouver Sun Raise-a-ReaderProvincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI)Greyhound Courier Express International sponsors Hadley School for the BlindAmerican Foundation for the BlindNational Literacy CenterAmerican Printing House for the Blind

Through the financial and pro-motional support of the alliance partners, teachers and families are provided with a customized resource kit designed to help prepare pre-school aged children learn to read using Braille and other literacy tools. Each package contains guides, videos, Braille writing tools, tactile stickers and other resources as well as Spinoza the Talking Bear.

Literacy BC was willing “look outside of the box.” Now, they are using a talking bear “in a box” to establish unique alliances to take new steps in supporting children’s literacy in BC.

For more on Spinoza, go to www.spinozabear.org