Literacy for Dominican-Haitian Youth in the Batey

The 2021-22 school year was a challenging year due to the aftermath of the pandemic. Despite this, Yspaniola was determined to move forward with its idea of starting to serve 3 and 4 year olds in its pre-school programme, with the aim of starting the literacy process at an earlier age.

Thus, during the years 2021 to 2024, Yspaniola implemented the phonics method and its steps in the pre-school programme, with the aim of developing firstly phonological awareness, which is the basis of language, and secondly reading comprehension, e.g. through reading time. In general, during these years different types of activities were carried out such as:

-Relating the letter with a picture
-Writing the letter that begins with the picture
-Rhyming
-Letter and syllable dictation
-Forming and reading high frequency words
-Independent and guided reading
-Reading with pictograms

The decision we made in 2021 to begin serving the youngest children was key to the fact that now our group of students who have been with us for 3 years have developed their reading and writing skills, which provides them with a more solid foundation to start first grade in public school.

This achievement fills us with pride and satisfaction, while also motivating us to continue supporting the children, adolescents, and youth of Batey Libertad so they can reach their full potential. Thank you for being part of it.

Our literacy program constantly explores new teaching strategies and games to inspire children to continue progressing in reading fluency. While we utilize the books available in our learning center library, we also seek innovative methods beyond traditional approaches. This comes after ensuring students have mastered all the phonemes of the method.

Acquiring new vocabulary is an essential aspect of fluency development. When done through games, we enhance their vocabulary and stimulate brain development and imagination.

Jenga is among the favorite games of children aged 8 to 12 in Batey Libertad. This game involves stacking wooden pieces to form a tower, with each player taking turns removing a piece and placing it on top without causing the tower to collapse. Engaging in this game aids in developing skills such as concentration and fine motor skills.

The strategy devised by Yspaniola teachers involves adding words to the wooden pieces. Thus, the challenge doubles as players must not only remove a piece without causing the tower to fall but also read the word on it. Our children exude enthusiasm and enjoy playing "word Jenga."

Following the game, teachers gather the children in the classroom to review the new words they've encountered. These words are written down and illustrated, reinforcing their meaning.

Witnessing our students' progress brings us immense joy, but above all, we are driven by their joyful and motivated learning experiences. We extend our gratitude for your support in making this possible.