University of Minnesota
The Institute of Child Development has provided the home for the Laboratory School since 1925 and has a long history of supporting research, academics, and outreach programs in early childhood. The language nest program will be overseen by PI Sheila Williams Ridge who has been supporting or directing the Laboratory School since 2010. Sheila has a deep understanding of culturally appropriate early childhood education. Other collaborators include Šišóka Dúta, a Dakota Language Teaching Specialist from the University of Minnesota and Anke al-Bataineh, a Phd in Endangered Languages Pedagogy, Professor of Language Teaching Methods specializing in student-centered pedagogy, and 5th year learner of Dakota language.
1) Dakota immersion, content-based, nature-focused preschool curriculum Parent-focused language curriculum 2) Credit-earning opportunities for college students at and in connection with the language nest 3) Full-day and half-day immersion preschool programs, especially aimed to serve University of MN Dakota families, but also serving the wider community 4) Evaluations of both objective and subjective impacts of the program across a range of factors at the individual, family, community, university, and language levels 5) A reflective report on how the program will continue to evolve based on experiences and stakeholder input during the first two years
Public University