Pam Moore: Dedicated educator sees gaps and works to fill them

Year: 2018 – Province: British Columbia

Transcription – Pam Moore-2018 Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education

[Black screen fades up to close-up of woman in interview setting, against a mottled background. Music playing.]

[Caption: Pam Moore, Qualicum First Nation Child Care Centre]

[Pam speaking in the interview setting alternates with voice over accompanied by video of Pam speaking into a microphone behind a podium, addressing fellow recipients and looking at a screen while she speaks, with audience members listening.]

Pam Moore: I believe the educator needs to be passionate, and excited about learning, and that excitedness and enthusiasm will then go to the children. If you follow what they’re doing, they’ll lead you on what they want to learn and where they want to go.

[Pam speaking in the interview setting alternates with voice over accompanied by still photos, as follows: Pam playing a traditional drum; Pam and a group of children mixing a bowl of batter; and Pam and a group of students colouring at a table.]

Pam Moore: When I put together culture kits, I include both Aboriginal and a little bit of non-Aboriginal content. I include toys, games, puzzles, felt stories, books. We also include three activities that the children can do to help enhance the teachings and the learnings within the kit.

[Pam speaking in the interview setting alternates with voice over accompanied by video of Pam speaking into a microphone behind a podium, addressing fellow recipients, and still photo of Pam and a group adults and children on top of a pile of gravel. Everyone is wearing hard hats and the children are digging with shovels.]

Pam Moore: There needs to be enough for the children to do, inclusive for all children to be able to participate. Not only do you have your indoor environment for the children, outdoors is equally important for bringing Mother Earth teachings to the children. I think that’s very important as well. We use technology in our centre in a minimal way. We use digital cameras for capturing moments. I believe with the age group we work with, that children need to experience the world. They need to be hands-on. They need to have that background of understanding of what is the world and how do they fit into the world, before they see it in a technological format. I believe experiencing the teaching prior to going to a digital format is very important for this age group.

[Cut to still shot of exterior of Qualicum First Nation Child Care Centre.]

Pam Moore: That’s how they’re learning. They need to experience their world.

[Cut back to Pam in the interview setting. Pam speaking alternates with voice over accompanied by video of Pam speaking into a microphone behind a podium, addressing fellow recipients.]

Pam Moore: Think outside the box. I mean, that seems very cliché, but do what you’re passionate about. Follow the children’s lead. Be creative and, again, be a risk-taker. I wanted to bring culture to other programs, so I said, ‘Okay, how can I do that?’ That’s how it all evolved by just coming up with an idea and saying, ‘Okay, that’s what we’re going to do.’

[Fade to black.]

[Cut to white screen, with the Government of Canada FIP followed by the Canada Wordmark.]

Certificate of Excellence Recipient

Pam Moore

Qualicum First Nation Child Care Centre
303 Salish Way
Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1Z5

Telephone: 250-757-8092
Website: Qualicum Child Care Centre

 

Type of setting: Child care centre for children ages 2 to 6 years

In the field for more than 30 years, Pam Moore has played all the roles there are to play in early childhood education. Now, she manages an on-reserve program for a First Nation, having built it up so attendance is near capacity and ensuring quality care by hiring more staff and professional resources.

Philosophy of care

Pam forms warm, caring and responsive relationships with children to help them develop trusting bonds with safe adults and learn to express emotions appropriately. Through her Aboriginal Culture in the Community program, Pam encourages all children's interest in and participation with Aboriginal culture, and teaches respect for difference.

Support of child development

  • Shares Aboriginal culture using handmade kits that include toys, books, felt stories and activities on Aboriginal themes (Coast Salish; Music, Dance and Circle); acts as cultural advisor to schools, daycares and family programs that borrow the kits for a month at a time to share with children
  • Secured access to Aboriginal speech and language therapist who works with the children at the centre once a week and connects with parents to help them continue improvements at home; engaged an outreach worker and elder to bolster culture content in centre programs
  • Excels in helping children improve their behaviour and in supporting parents as they work to overcome obstacles and provide a consistent approach
  • Pilot tested Aboriginal speech therapy program and is featured in its training videos; these have been used in four provinces for more than 15 years

Involvement with parents, families and the community

  • Is tireless in her efforts to bring Aboriginal culture to the community by attending countless events and working with community groups to share cultural and art activities
  • Responds to needs of families: the Words on Wheels bus now brings early years programs to two Aboriginal communities each week; the after-school care centre Pam is spearheading—including securing $500,000 in government funding—will provide 24 new spaces for working families
  • Created a network for early childhood educators interested in incorporating Aboriginal content into their programs; holds annual professional development workshop on this topic at centre
  • Received 2010 Child Care Award of Excellence from the B.C. Aboriginal Child Care Society

Rave reviews

"Because of her passion and dedication to sharing Aboriginal culture, thousands of children—both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal—are more accepting and feeling more accepted, are more knowledgeable of their own culture and the culture of their peers, have more understanding and have a positive sense of self."

Nominator