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“Although only at the halfway stage, we have already seen improvements in the students based on their exam results and overall performance. This is especially critical for the students writing the SEA exams next year. The Arrow training utilises technology in an interactive way and incorporates the students’ own voices, which makes it even more effective and interactive. They are excited and enthusiastic to learn…”

These comments were made by Principal Jamila Ali-Khan, of Point Fortin ASJA Primary School, in a Newsday feature which was published in Tuesday 16th July.

You can read the full article via our website:

https://www.arrowlearn.com/post/asja-atlantic-team-up-to-help-pupils-via-arrow-foundation

“Twenty-five students from Point Fortin ASJA Primary School are benefiting from an interactive literacy intervention made possible by a partnership between Atlantic, the Arrow Foundation and the Ministry of Education…”

Read the full article by Newsday via the link below ⬇️

https://www.arrowlearn.com/post/asja-atlantic-team-up-to-help-pupils-via-arrow-foundation

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There are loads more testimonials of The A.R.R.O.W. Programme from parents and teachers over on our website, head to the link below to have a look! 🌟

https://www.arrowlearn.com/testimonials

Teaching in one way means children inevitably get left behind…

That's why differentiation and inclusion is SO important if we truly want our children to succeed.

ARROW has been running workshops supported by Shell Trinidad, for the parents and teachers of children who attend East Port of Spain schools. They are intentionally designed for educators and guardians alike to teach in a differentiated way.

How do we identify children with dyslexia, sensory disorders, and those who are suffering from trauma, to then be able to include them in a learning system that appeals to their uniqueness and individuality? This question is explored and discussed throughout the workshops, with the aim of inspiring and providing information on alternative ways of teaching in our educational systems.

During one workshop, many parents noted that they could identify their children in the traits of sensory-seeking behaviours, and dyslexia that were described and detailed by ARROW co-director Cornelia Bonterre. This understanding and discussion is a vital step for normalising the neurodiversity that exists in schools here in the Caribbean, thereby allowing for creative and tangible new ways to teach, that suit the diverse needs of all our students.

This year's WDSD 2024 featured guest speaker, Nicole Flynn, and DSFN Director, Lisa Ghany were on CNC3's The Morning Brew earlier this week.

The duo discussed the importance of World Down Syndrome Day, and achieving inclusion for those with Down syndrome and other disabilities by Ending The Sterotypes. Nicole's expertise as an internationally recognized advocate and Lisa's leadership at DSFN made for an engaging conversation spotlighting disability rights.

Check out the full interview https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3618654468451530

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It's World Downs Syndrome Day!

As we recognise, appreciate and advocate for all of those with an extra chromosome today, it's the perfect opportunity to talk about the ways we can intentionally and tangibly make our educational, social and home spaces more inclusive of people with a variety of learning abilities…

People with Down Syndrome can experience learning difficulties to varying degrees - it does NOT mean they are incapable of learning new things, but it is instead an opportunity for educators and parents to be creative in finding alternative teaching and communication methods.

This can look like incorporating welcoming and inclusive language and attitudes into school and social spaces and embracing multi-sensory learning techniques. 🚀📖

Let us know any ideas you have for a more inclusive educational environment and society down below ⬇️

With the ever growing neurodiversity in our school populations, it is as important as ever to be aware of and to address the diverse needs of children, which are inseparable from their ability to achieve academic success.

At A.R.R.O.W we understand the power and importance of understanding and nourishing the whole child. Alongside implementing the A.R.R.O.W. programme in schools across East Port of Spain with Shell Trinidad, A.R.R.O.W. has also been delivering workshops to teachers and parents from the region.

The workshops are rooted in developing an awareness of the many different aspects of a child, other than their intellectual capacity - the physical, emotional and spiritual make-ups of all of us have a huge part in determining academic success.

With every child learning and functioning differently, we cannot expect high performance in the classroom without considering these diverse needs…

The workshops are specifically designed to encourage teaching and learning in a differentiated way, and are led by ARROW co-director Cornelia Bonterre.

"If there is a glitch in the wiring of the motor planning system, new skills do not easily move from conscious control to automatic control. If a child's brain and body are not planning and executing together, they use up a lot of cognitive energy trying to figure out how to physically interact with their environment."

Want to learn more about motor skills in children and how to spot a child who may be struggling in this area of development?

Head over to our website to read an article that breaks it all down, with tips on how to support children with these difficulties through targeted activities ⚽️ 🎯

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Motor Skills in Children + Games to Aid Development! In our last article, we dove into the importance of experiences that aid in a child's development, and the ways that we can design games for them, particularly those with neurological difficulties, that target specific areas of their development, that will equip them for life.Tara Delaney explains t...

"The state of flow; a mental state often referred to in psychological research where an individual experiences joy, creativity and total motivation and involvement in what they are doing."

Read the full article on our website on the way a state of flow is the optimal space for learning, and how we as educators can harness it in the classroom!

https://www.arrowlearn.com/post/student-engagement-in-the-classroom-and-how-we-can-improve-it

The A.R.R.O.W. team working have been working with students from San Souci, Grande Riviere and 11 more schools across the Northeast coast of Trinidad 📚

This project is generously sponsored by Woodside Energy who we have been working with for the past 2 years, to help improve the literacy of 275 students in this region. Since the beginning of the year, ARROW has been continuing to work with Standard 2’s and 3’s, who have been engaging with the A.R.R.O.W. programme for 3 years! The photo above was taken at the end of January 2024 at San Souci Primary.

With the programme, students have been receiving individual attention using the A.R.R.O.W. software and A.R.R.O.W. tutors, which will improve numeracy, literacy, arithmetic, grammar, reading and spelling skills.

The A.R.R.O.W. programme’s power technique lies in the effectiveness of utilising the self voice. It involves students recording themselves speaking, then listening back to the recording as they complete written exercises at their own ability level. But what is it about the self-voice that proves to be so effective? 📢

Dr Colin Lane, the founder of the ARROW programme recognised through his one-to-one work with children in the 1970’s that there was a unique relationship between learners and their recorded voice.

The basic notion that we usually think in the sound of our own voice became significant when combined with the motivation to enhance literacy among learners with different abilities.

Thee's a full write up on the self voice, over on our website! Click the link below to have a read ...

https://www.arrowlearn.com/post/the-self-voice-technique-why-is-it-so-powerful

With the new year well upon us, it is a great time to establish new routines, and further encourage our children and students to read more, and most importantly ENJOY it…. But what are the benefits of reading for leisure?

There are MANY, not only in the sphere of literacy, but also through wellness and personal development. Alongside obvious literacy improvement - empathy, identity and relations with others are also nurtured and built upon when a child has access to a book they thoroughly enjoy spending time with.

Have you noticed any changes in your child or student, since they have engaged more with recreational reading? What book was the instigator?

Happy New Year from the A.R.R.O.W. Foundation 💥💥💥

2023 was extraordinary, we are so grateful for the means to reach so many children, and help them along their educational journey.

Children learn differently, and we continue to be a voice to this alongside a proud mode of support as an alternative learning style - for so many students who tend to fall behind in our education systems.

In 2023 the A.R.R.O.W. programme reached an estimate of 45 schools, working with over 2000 students in Trinidad and Jamaica. In 2024, we’re so ready to reach even more! 💥

None of it would have been possible without our generous partners and sponsors Shell Trinidad, Woodside Energy, Atlantic, European Union in Jamaica, Jamaican Ministry of Education, Royal Bank and Energy Chamber.

We’re truly excited for all the continued and new collaborations and partnerships this year will bring!

“I loved the stories that were read to us, and I feel inspired. I’ve been learning a lot and I feel a lot more confident." 🌱📖

This was a comment made by Amiya, a standard four student of Chinapoo Government Primary School. She was ecstatic about the opportunity to hear stories, read by local authors at her school back in July.

The read aloud initiative by Shell Trinidad and The A.R.R.O.W. foundation focused on bringing literature alive by having local authors read their work at schools in the East Port of Spain region - where the partnership is focused.

Have a read of the full article published by Trinidad and Tobago Newsday detailing the event, via the link below..

Authors read to East Port of Spain students! This article was published in Trinidad and Tobago Newsday newspaper on the Tuesday 4 July 2023. You can also find it on their website here: https://newsday.co.tt/2023/07/04/authors-read-to-east-port-of-spain-students/ Since launching their literacy training partnership in October 2022, Shell Trinida...

"Students shoot ahead with Reading..." 📖 🚀

Have a read of a recent article published by Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, about the Literacy Day Extravaganza that unfolded on 19 October, funded by Shell Trinidad.

"Held under the banner ‘Reading Rockets to Space’, the initiative used space-themed exhibits and activities to engage the students and encourage them to read and learn"

Head to the link below to read the full article!

https://www.arrowlearn.com/post/students-shoot-ahead-with-reading

Shell T&T Community

Literacy Day Extravaganza 2023 funded by Shell Trinidad and produced by The ARROW foundation was a thrilling experience for one particular eight-year-old student of Gloster Lodge Moravian School 📖 ⬇️

“I take part in the ARROW training at school, and it is helping me to read and learn better. I had a lot of fun today and I also learned many new things. I had a great time with my friends, and I wish that every child in the world could be here today to experience this.”

Literacy Day Extravaganza 2023, which was made possible by Shell Trinidad saw over 250 students embark on an adventure in reading and learning at NAPA (National Academy For Performing Arts) on Thursday 19 October 📖🚀

The event marked the second annual Literacy Day funded by Shell Trinidad and produced by The A.R.R.O.W. Foundation, where students from East Port of Spain came and enjoyed a day full of celebrating the joy of reading; complete with storytelling, and free books for each child at the Shell hosted 'Book Land'!

We are thrilled to share with you a testimonial from Hokett Baptist Primary School about the successful implementation of the A.R.R.O.W. programme. Thanks to the partnership between Shell Trinidad and The A.R.R.O.W. Foundation, we are able to provide a multisensory learning experience to a number of students in the school (as well as many others in multiple schools across East Port of Spain) - working to significantly improve their literacy skills.

We invite you to check out our website for more testimonials from this project, and see the positive impact that education can have on the future of Trinidad and Tobago. We believe in the importance of educational intervention and are committed to providing brain-based learning systems to help students engage and learn.

Motor Skills and language are so very influenced by each other - that is why a HOLISTIC and well rounded learning routine is so ideal!

Head over to our website to read the full article where we break down the links between movement and literacy 🏃🏽‍♀️📕

https://www.arrowlearn.com/post/the-link-between-literacy-and-movement

Our A.R.R.O.W. summer camp embodies this approach, where children partake in outdoor activities, exercises and games activities alongside completing an 8 hour programme.

The collaboration between Shell Trinidad and The A.R.R.O.W. Foundation has been ongoing since 2022, and involves us working in primary schools across East Port of Spain to improve students literacy skills through the multi-sensory A.R.R.O.W. programme 📚

This testimonial was submitted by teacher Mrs. Beena a Joseph-Sammy from Our Lady of Laventille Primary School.

You can find more testimonials from schools across East Port of Spain on Our Website.

“We know that our schools are faced with widening literacy gaps, compounded by learning losses during COVID-19. We also know that low literacy can be tied to behaviour problems in the classroom, low self-esteem and ultimately low employability later. The size of the gap requires alternative approaches, and we are excited to see the results from these schools, before rolling out to more schools in Jamaica.” Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams expressed.

Head to the link below to read the full article featured in The Gleaner newspaper, detailing a new project A.R.R.O.W. is at the centre of - benefitting 7,000 students from six high schools across Jamaica.

https://www.arrowlearn.com/post/education-ministry-gets-eu-support-for-literacy-programme

Just over a week ago, the A.R.R.O.W. team headed to Jamaica to help improve the literacy levels of students in six high schools across the country, through the use of the multi-sensory programme - head to the link below to read the full article from Jamaica Observer, published on May 04 2023.

https://www.arrowlearn.com/post/literacy-rates-expected-to-leap-with-arrow

Self esteem, and the motivation to LEARN is a key benefit of the A.R.R.O.W. programme, alongside improving reading and spelling skills. An abundance of testimonials from teachers who witness this in their students further exemplifies just how important this is to nurture, in order for them to improve academically.

Head over to our website to read more recent testimonials from schools throughout East Port of Spain - funded by Shell Trinidad- which have incorporated the programme.

https://www.arrowlearn.com/testimonials

We held a brilliant Read Aloud Programme in THE SHELL Trinidad funded East PoS primary schools last month, but what is the benefit of reading aloud, and why did we think it was important to carry out? Take a look at the list below for some quick insights!

✨Development of a STRONGER Vocabulary

✨INCREASED attention span

✨Opportunity for BONDING between the child and the parent/ educator

✨Development of good LISTENING HABITS

✨Building of strong COMPREHENSION and thinking skills

✨Quicker learning of SIGHT WORDS

The Read Aloud Programme took place in schools across East Port of Spain such as Morvant New Government Primary School, Rose Hill Government Primary School and Chinapoo Government Primary School, and involved story tellers such as Shurla Blades (pictured) and Asif Cassim read their books to a group of 25 or more students at a time.

Take a look at some of these insights into Dr. Colin Lane, the founder of the A.R.R.O.W.. programme, who developed the multi-sensory approach in the UK in the 1970's and onwards. His passion and dedication to the literacy intervention programme and utilizing it to help improve literacy skills in learners if all abilities is evident through the significant results his learning system continuously produces.

Want to hear more about our project with SHELL Trinidad in the East PoS Schools?

Head to the link below to read the full article that featured in Trinidad Guardian early last month.

https://www.arrowlearn.com/post/arrow-foundation-shell-help-east-pos-pupils-with-literacy-skills

Rather than a typical long-term remedial class, A.R.R.O.W. is an intervention programme.

That means its priority is to BOOST literacy levels in learners by being tailored to each individual student. Having completed an 8-10 hour programme, students are equipped with a greater ability to retain information and a greater confidence in themselves going forward!