Navajo Head Start Makes House Calls for Kids, Parents

Head Start teacher Rebecca Yazzie brings education home to Ethelene Begay and her family in rural Ojo Amarillo.

Yazzie is one of six “home visitors” in the Navajo Nation’s Shiprock district. She and her colleagues journey once a week to 60 remote homes, teaching young children and teaching parents to teach.

The home-based option, which Head Start offers nationwide, exists throughout the Navajo Nation. Head Start also operates 156 classrooms on the reservation and has existed there for 36 years, said Charles Pahe, director of Head Start for the tribe in Window Rock, Ariz. Parents can choose either option. Children ages 3 to 5 are eligible.

For three years now, Yazzie has visited Begay, 28. First, she helped her learn to cope with a hearing-impaired daughter. Now that the two older children are in elementary school, Yazzie visits Kendrick Castillo, Begay’s 4-year-old son. The baby, Tabitha, often watches.

On one recent visit, Kendrick cuts out pieces of fluorescent orange paper and pastes them over the poster-sized letters of his name. This teaches him about the shapes of letters and, over time, will teach him to recognize his name in print.

Kendrick sits at the table learning to lace, zip and button.

On the wall behind him is his very own bulletin board, covered with shapes and cutouts of his hands.

Each visit lasts 1 1/2 hours. Yazzie asks about homework and family issues before the lesson begins.

In the first month of her visits with a family, Yazzie models teaching techniques. Later, the parent is encouraged to step forward as the child’s primary educator.

Begay has long since stepped into the role. Today, she slips puppets over her fingers and sings a counting song. “Five little monkeys jumping on the bed. . . .” As each monkey falls off the bed, Kendrick yanks another Velcro monkey face off his mother’s hand.

“He’s more into it now,” Begay says. “Last year he wouldn’t do it.”

In her neighborhood behind, there is an early childhood development center where teachers could do the teaching.

But, Begay says, “I want to be closer to my son and do it myself.”

How much Navajo language is used in the lesson is up to the parent. Kendrick has learned Navajo words for colors. Sometimes his mother gives directions in Navajo because he understands better.

Ethelene Begay’s goals for Kendrick go way beyond preparing him for kindergarten.

“I want him to be proud of who he is,” she says, “and not [be] afraid to say what he feels.”