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So, just last week I was paddling hard, and getting nowhere fast. With a deadline fast approaching, I was extremely concerned that this time, I may just not make it to the finish line. I had a vision of these professional days being a complete and utter waste of time for my colleagues.
I can happily report now, that the days were amazing – exhausting, but amazing. The group of teachers were so professional, that I left each day, feeling extremely confident, that the teaching of reading at this school, was in very capable hands. Their enthusiasm for teaching, their genuine desire to ensure that the children in their care, are nurtured, challenged and, most importantly, taught, was contagious.
The most humbling part of the days, was hearing how their children were engaging with, and learning to read, through the BORN2READ readers. It is quite amazing to think, that the characters that have been a major part of my life, and the lives of children who visit my learning studio, have now been embraced wholeheartedly, by another cohort of young readers.
We also shared strategies that we used, to best teach children how to read. The overwhelming consensus was that no matter what your style of teaching, or the time that you teach reading, or the strategies that you favoured, it was essential to engage the children in the process of reading, every single day, and the skills of reading had to be taught explicitly.
So now after the stress leading up to the event, I can breathe a long sigh of relief and feel the serenity that comes when things turn out just right. But have I finished the long list of things? Of course not, and guess what, the list has just gotten bigger as a result of these days. But you know what? Tonight, I am not thinking about what I need to do before my Christmas Eve deadline. I am taking a break, and appreciating the fact, that I am not alone in my quest to teach each and every child to read. I have a back-up team!
Until next time,
Best wishes,
Katrina
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