Vow: Stories in action
Salina Khatun, a dedicated primary teacher and the CEO of Kindle Corner, is making waves in her local community of Somers Town through a unique initiative called "Stories in Action." These engaging storytelling afternoons are a part of the Voices of the Water project, where Salina and her team of passionate storytellers ignite the imaginations of young children and their families by immersing them in the world of water-themed tales.
In her own words, Salina reflects on the heartwarming experiences she and her team have had during these sessions: "Creating the drive and passion for reading increases knowledge, undoubtedly – it is the key to success, creating prosperity and riches beyond words. " The "Stories in Action" sessions are not just about reading; they follow the motto, 'Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.' Salina and her team create interactive reading experiences, followed by fun activities and nutritious snacks, nurturing children's love for reading and storytelling.
However, these sessions go beyond the joys of reading; they address a critical issue in their community. Salina points out that reading is a great pleasure in life, but it's a pleasure denied to many children due to various challenges. Some children are naturally shy, while others may be labeled as disruptive. Families with limited resources often lack access to books and might not have the skills to read with their children. "Stories in Action" is here to change that. It offers a space where children from diverse backgrounds and abilities can engage with stories and express themselves. Shy children become more confident, and even the more energetic ones channel their enthusiasm positively. These storytelling sessions also impart valuable lessons about environmental consciousness, inspiring curious young minds to explore topics like water conservation and how water can impact our health and wellbeing.
The environmental theme of water is at the heart of these sessions. The reading list, which includes titles like 'Song of the River', ‘Over and Under the Pond’, ‘The Water Princess’, ‘The Tide Inside’, ‘Once Upon a Raindrop’, ‘Hey, Water!’ and more, explores the wonders of the aquatic world. The sessions have gradually delved into deeper concepts, from the connection between rivers and the sea to the water cycle, water conservation and how we can act on water scarcity amidst the climate emergency. The alignment of these themes with phonics sessions, storytelling sessions and other interactive activities reinforces the importance of early literacy and helps children develop a profound love for reading whilst cultivating an understanding of water.
"Stories in Action" at Kindle Corner is not just about storytelling; it's about building a community of young readers, nurturing their creativity, and spreading the message of environmental awareness. Through the magic of water-themed stories, Salina and her team are transforming the lives of children and their families, one captivating tale at a time. Teaching and learning within the theme of water to local families has been fantastic, from learning about water and how this impacts everyone’s lives to life cycle, to people’s beliefs and values of water, local canals and how they have been used and currently been used.
Regarding diversity monitoring, our feedback forms have thoroughly proven our high success in engaging target demographics. 100% of our general participants were among the BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) groups. The majority of these were Bangladeshi and Somali families and Afghani refugees – groups linked to low reading and academic attainment levels in official statistics. Such high proportions display immediate engagement and progress with our sessions, projecting continuous advancement for these participants soon.
A recent storytelling session (20/12/2023) saw a notable 100 participants, which has provided insight into how we should market and structure sessions moving forward. Over the past few months, we have had an average of 15 children attend sessions each week. Furthermore, we have successfully provided support to relatively deprived families, such as single-parent households, to enhance equality and inclusion within the community. 100% of the participating children were entitled to free school meals, and these sessions provided opportunities to develop and encourage integral literacy skills for young children, in order to create a level playing field for their future. Focusing on sustainable arts and craft (recycling and reusing), reading and phonics, we have created a space that stimulates creativity and passion for reading, and encourages healthy eating and exercise through play. Children and parents integrate at the sessions and are enriched by reading aloud phonics and incorporating this with storytelling. We are therefore on track with our core proposals, already contributing to a more engaged, united and empowered local community
Feedback from parents has been extremely positive. Some quotes include “The sessions are amazing, in particular the engagement and connections with the kids and parents, a warm environment where I feel comfortable.” as well as “Great family event for the festive period. Lots of activities for children all ages and engaging storytelling.”
Planning, preparing and delivering phonics sessions for 0-4 year olds has been a tremendous success this term. The number of stakeholders has increased significantly. Now, moving to a larger venue to accommodate the number of attendees, we are moving to Somerstown community centre.
All our sessions tailored to meet the needs of this very young group, activities draw on the FYES areas of learning. Teaching the theme of water through water play, brushing teeth,diluting water, dissolving powder, mixing powder,washing dolls,animals,sinking and floating different objects.
Kindle Corner sessions benefit, both parents and children, providing volunteer opportunities for youth, adults, senior members and special needs adults and children in our community.
You can discover more about these engaging sessions on their Instagram page, @kindlecornerkids.
Notes from the Garden
I wake to a bright crisp winter’s day. Finally … after weeks of storms ravaging the country.
As the year ends we are reminded of the magic and beauty that our gardens bring, as places to come together and celebrate, even in difficult times. This year it has been challenging not to be taken over by fear and despair, with extreme weather events being mirrored in different ways across the world, from floods to droughts; with the most recent political events; with wars destroying land and displacing entire populations; and with the constant increase in the cost of living creating ever more inequalities between those that have and those that do not.