Gowa: Teachable Moments for Apache Children
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension San Carlos Apache Tribe
Gowa: Teachable Moments for Apache Children provides San Carlos Apache parents/guardians, grandparents, childcare providers, and other caregivers with free resources to help children (ages 0-6) get ready to read.
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Who is this program for?
This program is for all San Carlos Apache parents/guardians, grandparents, childcare providers, and other caregivers of 0-6-year-old children.
Who developed this program?
Faculty from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension are working closely with an advisory board of San Carlos Apache community members to develop this program. See our community advisory board members list.
Why is the Apache word gowa included in the program name?
Gowa represents a home where learning starts at an early age. The advisory board suggested including it in the program name as one goal of this program is to help families make their homes places where learning begins at a young age.
Who do I contact for more information?
To learn more about the program, email GowaTeachableMoments@arizona.edu or reach out to our team:
- Melody Thomas (928) 978-2620 mgthomas@arizona.edu
- Juan Arias (928) 961-2441 juanarias@arizona.edu
- Ashley Dixon (928) 402-8588 adixon@arizona.edu
Activity Time Events
All events are for families with children ages 0-6. For questions, please contact Melody Thomas at (928) 978-2620 or mgthomas@arizona.edu
At-Home Activities
These at-home activities are fun and easy ways to help your children get ready to read. You can do most of these activities as part of your daily routine.
Professional Development
Professional development sessions for early care and education teachers and providers.
professional development resources
Guides for Parents
Listening to Podcasts with Young Children: A Guide for Parents
Podcasts can be a great alternative to watching TV or playing video games. Podcasts are like radio shows, but you listen by streaming or downloading episodes to a phone, tablet or computer. Most podcasts are free. You can listen to them with your children and talk about what you hear.
Read Listening to Podcasts With Young Children
Screen Time with Young Children
Screen time (using any device with a screen, such as a phone, TV, iPad or tablet, PlayStation or computer) has become part of most family's everyday lives. Below are suggestions for how to make screen time a fun learning experience for the whole family.
Read Screen Time with Young Children
Handouts for Early Care and Education Professionals
Five Ways that Children Learn
This handout explains why talking, reading, writing, singing, and playing are important everyday practices that can help children get ready to read.
Community Resources
- Gila County Library District provides children's programs, books and videos, and more to Gila County and San Carlos Apache families. Visit the Gila County Library District website and Facebook to learn more about your local library branch.
- ECARDS Sign up for an electronic library card to access online resources by emailing Elaine Votruba evotruba@gilacountyaz.gov.
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails FREE books to families with young children (ages 0-5). Visit the Dolly Parton Imagination Library website for more information.
- Arizona Story Connections provides a new story each week in English and Spanish. Call (833) 991-2022 to hear each story over the phone.
- Read on Arizona creates communities of practice and collaboration focused on early literacy and support early literacy programs. Read On Communities, including Read On San Carlos Apache Tribe, focus on a collaborative approach to solutions in early literacy. Visit the Read On Arizona Family Engagement Center website for reading tools and resources.
- San Carlos Apache Language Preservation works to save the Apache Language through outreach to families and the community, advocating for Apache Language educational awareness, serving as role models and mentors to early childhood staff/providers, and by engaging Apache elders. Visit San Carlos Apache Language Preservation's Facebook for resources and more information.
- San Carlos Apache Tribe 2022 Community Resource Guide prepared by First Things First, the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporations, and the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Download the San Carlos Apache Tribe 2022 Community Resources Guide.
Gowa: Teachable Moments for Apache Children was developed by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension in collaboration with an advisory board of local stakeholders.
Funding is provided by a grant from First Things First and a CYFAR grant from the US Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.