Early childhood educators complete international literacy course

The teachers successfully completed a recent literacy intervention programme, dubbed ‘Read Right from the Start’, geared at delivering improved outcomes for children in the sector.

The project resulted from a partnership involving United Way of Jamaica, the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), and the United States (US)-based Rollins Center for Language and Literacy at the Atlanta Speech School.

“This programme is a testament to our collective commitment to improving the quality of education in Jamaica, by empowering our teachers with the skills and knowledge, foster solid language, literacy skills, and we are creating a strong foundation for our children’s future success,” said Project Manager at United Way, Kerry-Lee Lynch, during the recent graduation ceremony, held at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters in St. Andrew.

The project was geared at increasing the capacity of teachers within the early childhood sector to deliver effective learning programmes and providing conducive and inclusive classroom spaces for all children.

“It has helped us as teachers to broaden our knowledge, and we are super excited, and we will go back to our schools, build on the weak areas, and keep strengthening strong areas,” Michelle Hanson, a teacher on the project, told the graduation ceremony.

For another teacher, Gloria Pennant, “This amazing training has changed my life, and it will far transcend the classroom. Going on so many platforms, learning and navigating the various platforms enriched the cohort for better outcomes.”

Sasha-Ann Robinson said she got great results from the training and returning to the classroom, “I will be using it, and impact the children with good knowledge.”

Carrol Blake Bailey said as early-childhood practitioners, completing the course has empowered the educators to build a “strong foundation for the future of the education system in Jamaica”.

“We are blessed with the privilege to continue pursuing at our leisure, and we are truly thankful for the partnership. Your guidance has empowered us as teachers to continue reaching out to every child entrusted in our care, holistically,” she told the audience.

The Manchester-based Mandeville Infant School was awarded the top participating school, and teacher at the institution, Britney Harshart, told JIS News that they learned “so many new things from the programme”, and children entering the school will be the beneficiaries.

Participants in the programme were selected by the ECC, and they had to complete three courses – Transforming Story Time, Meaningful Conversations, and the Power of Language, two of which were required for the teachers to graduate.

The trained teachers are now expected to implement the ‘Read Right from the Start’ methodology in their classrooms to bridge the literacy gap, with increased access to practical tools and resources to utilise in their day-to-day interaction with their students.

Three schools – Alley Infant, in Clarendon; St. Michael’s, Kingston, and Martin’s Infant, St. Mary – got special attention under the project.

“To date, a one-to-one sensory room with a Dutch door for individual therapy has been established within each classroom and will be outfitted with the necessary sensory and learning resources and furniture,” Ms. Lynch told JIS News.

Public Relations and Administrative Manager at the CHASE Fund, which provided some of the funds for the course, Hilary Coulton, said the programme was a “real return on our investment”.

She said the involvement of the agency in the early childhood sector is “deliberate”, and during the last financial year, $50 million was donated to early-childhood institutions across the island.

“We long determined that beyond the facilities, success of the early childhood education sector rests on the quality of educators. We are creating a brighter future for all children, by bridging the literacy gap,” Ms. Coulton said.

For Chief Executive Officer of United Way Jamaica, Taneshia Stoney Dryden, early-childhood education is a mission.

“You are change-makers, and now armed with enhanced skills and as guardians of the children, protect them, advocate for them, and be that safe haven where dreams take root,” she told the graduates.

The United Way was established in 1985 to fulfil the need for a sustained system for mobilising resources for the private voluntary sector.

It is an autonomous non-profit private voluntary organisation (PVO) and registered as a charitable organisation under Section 2 and Section 17 of the Charities Act and is also an affiliate of United Way Worldwide.

The mission of the Early Childhood Commission is to build an integrated and coordinated delivery of high-quality early-childhood programmes and services, which provide equity and access for children zero to eight years within healthy, safe and nurturing environments.