Literacy Day 2009 found the Barbados Association of Reading manning a booth at Barbados’ Literacy Fair. The fair was organized by the Ministry of Education in Barbados. Local bookstores such as Days Books and the Cloister Book Store, as well as private book purveyors, set up colourful and engaging booths and enjoyed a brisk trade from the hundreds of visiting primary school students.
Deanne Kennedy, one of the storytellers, told me she thoroughly enjoyed herself in her storytelling booth. She was scheduled for part of the day but so many kids ended up at her stall that she spent the whole day spinning stories. The enchantment of huge sparkling eyes and childlike wonder was too magical to abandon.
Among the other attractions was a Lesson Tent which demonstrated lessons in reading for both teachers and their students and a Performance Stage for kids to sing and dance and recite poetry.
The purpose of our booth was to raise awareness of the Association and its objectives. We also highlighted the benefits of membership and displayed a number of books and journals published by the International Reading Association. Among our giveaways were pamphlets on various issues in reading. Nearly 80 adults signed on to our email listing, expressed interested in joining the Barbados Association of Reading and took membership materials for themselves and others.
At our booth visitors also wanted to talk about literacy issues. One young teacher needed to liaise with a speech and literacy professional; another shared his frustration at being an adult with dyslexia. All of the discussions highlighted the need for the B.A.R. to continue with its advocacy role and developing a professional directory in order to put literacy professionals directly in the path of those who need their expertise. We will be working on deepening the connections made at the fair with not only individuals but other organisations working in the field of literacy.
Next year, we will also be selling IRA books and materials since teachers were disappointed that they could not buy the materials we were displaying. We will also have to discuss how to entertain kids at our booth so that their teachers have more time to browse our materials and share concerns.
The B.A.R. would like to express its appreciation to members Sharon Rouse, Jasmine Maloney, Gracelyn Wiles, Ann Fergusson, Undine Shorey, Sandy Kellman and Wendy who worked hard all day at the booth. Special thanks to all those kids who agreed to remind their teachers to JOIN THE BARBADOS ASSOCIATION OF READING.
Deanne Kennedy, one of the storytellers, told me she thoroughly enjoyed herself in her storytelling booth. She was scheduled for part of the day but so many kids ended up at her stall that she spent the whole day spinning stories. The enchantment of huge sparkling eyes and childlike wonder was too magical to abandon.
Among the other attractions was a Lesson Tent which demonstrated lessons in reading for both teachers and their students and a Performance Stage for kids to sing and dance and recite poetry.
The purpose of our booth was to raise awareness of the Association and its objectives. We also highlighted the benefits of membership and displayed a number of books and journals published by the International Reading Association. Among our giveaways were pamphlets on various issues in reading. Nearly 80 adults signed on to our email listing, expressed interested in joining the Barbados Association of Reading and took membership materials for themselves and others.
At our booth visitors also wanted to talk about literacy issues. One young teacher needed to liaise with a speech and literacy professional; another shared his frustration at being an adult with dyslexia. All of the discussions highlighted the need for the B.A.R. to continue with its advocacy role and developing a professional directory in order to put literacy professionals directly in the path of those who need their expertise. We will be working on deepening the connections made at the fair with not only individuals but other organisations working in the field of literacy.
Next year, we will also be selling IRA books and materials since teachers were disappointed that they could not buy the materials we were displaying. We will also have to discuss how to entertain kids at our booth so that their teachers have more time to browse our materials and share concerns.
The B.A.R. would like to express its appreciation to members Sharon Rouse, Jasmine Maloney, Gracelyn Wiles, Ann Fergusson, Undine Shorey, Sandy Kellman and Wendy who worked hard all day at the booth. Special thanks to all those kids who agreed to remind their teachers to JOIN THE BARBADOS ASSOCIATION OF READING.
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