Linking storytelling to literacy

The Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) has once again partnered with the Ministry of Education in contributing to the improvement of teaching and learning.{{more}}

A workshop, dubbed “Storytelling: A Pathway to Literacy Acquisition” was organized for kindergarten teachers of 30 selected schools and took place at the VINSAVE conference room on Tuesday, September 9.

BNTF representative Sophia Danzine, in her brief remarks, advised the participants that it was their duty as educators to help each child to develop his or her potential. She cautioned the teachers to assist children to learn rather than “judge their inability to learn”.

Danzine ended by saying that the knowledge gained by the participants should give them a good foundation on which they would build the pathway towards excellent literacy skills.

Facilitator Gwenette Cambridge, senior education officer with responsibility for Early Childhood Education engaged teachers in a discussion on how the art of storytelling can be integrated into all subject areas. Since this is another strategy that can enhance the teacher and learning experience in the lower grades, the teachers were enthused as they each used one word to create an “on the spot story.” In their group work presentations teachers presented teaching lessons, explaining how the story “The Magic Fish” would be used to teach Language Arts, “Jack and the Beanstalk” could be used to teach Science, “The Gingerbread Man” could be used to teach Mathematics, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” could be used to teach Social Studies and one group created its own story to teach Life Skills. The Ministry of Education is extremely glad that BNTF is committed to all aspects of education and looks forward to its continued support.