Year End Gathering Report

Minutes of Storytelling Meeting 7^th Nov 2018

Caihui started the meeting and presented the agenda.

She also shared that the programme will now be known as PV reads. The English and MTL storytelling group will also be merged in 2019. This will provide a more seamless platform whereby both groups of PVs can come together to share ideas.

She ended her session with a quote : We may not have it all but we have it all together. 

Sharing by Maria (English Storytelling):

She recapped that at the 1^st gathering in 2018, there was no real system but the team has since set up the blog (https://gyps-storytelling.blogspot.com/) – which has all the information on what readers and buddies should take note during the reading sessions.

There was training by NLB in 2018. Going forward, the team will discuss with the teachers on the possibility of having external training for the PVs.

In 2019, It was suggested to have Reading themes that reflects the school’s core values.

Book review : 1 book a term.

Sharing by Verome (MTL session):

She shared that how the PVs have come out of their comfort zone to support the MTL storytelling sessions.

The Malay section is more stable and hopes to influence more Malay readers.

The challenges : Some of the non-MTL students who attend the MTL session have asked the buddies what the story is about as they are unable to understand. Hence, MTL readers can share the books with the buddies so that the buddies know what’s the story is about, before the session.

Verome raised the question of whether there is any NLB training available for MTL readers?

The new librarian is very friendly and approachable. Will she be able to help do crowd control if there is no buddy available?

Sharing by teachers:

Mr Teh & Ms Soh introduced Ms Liya (new librarian) to the team.

The teachers thank the team for their support to the Storytelling sessions. It has been an important programme as some students may not have the opportunity to have parents read to them.

While the MTL session was meant to encourage more MTL readers, the teachers feel that it can also be open to all students. However, the non-MTL readers may not be able to follow the sessions.

So far, the attendance for Malay storytelling session is attended mostly by non-Malay students.

For the Chinese session, the attendance is 50% Chinese and 50% non Chinese students.

After some discussion, the team acknowledges that it is too challenging to have English subtitles for the MTL sessions. The team will explore various options to see which works better.

Feedback and Ideas from members at the Year End Gathering

7 November 2018

10.00 am – 12.00 noon

@ GYPS Library

Members:

1.  Kende

2.  Shirley

3.  Didi

4.  Zu

5.  Hsiao Feng

6.  Beatrice

7.  Caihui

8.  Fanny

9.  Li Yuan

10. Lyn

11. Verome

12. Maria

The feedback and sharing based on 2 topics:

  1. What worked?

  2. What could be better?

Member’s Feedback, Sharing and Suggestions:

What Worked?

No.	Members	Feedback and Sharing
1.	Kende	The readers are more comfortable with the students throughout the program
		The readers are more engaging and interact well with the students
2.	Didi	Love the interaction with the children
		Blessed to be given the opportunity to led the children explore Malay
		Like the opportunity to share Malay’s culture to students from different background
3.	Zu	Reliable system of buddies, help to manage the crowd so readers can focus on reading the story
4.	Lyn	Great experience and good bonding with the GYPS students
		My children enjoy the reading session very much
5.	Shirley	Asking question, explain words, storyline during the storytelling helps to save time
6.	Hsiao Feng	Smooth system of readers
		Buddy’s system is a very good support to manage the crowd
7.	Beatrice	The network between the parents
		The PV growing as one happy family through the program
8.	Caihui	Reader and Buddy System help to run the program more efficient
9.	Fanny	MTL reading session separate the children from different MTL to share the story in English so they can understand the story
10.	Li Yuan	Love to introduce Chinese festive season
		The opportunity to elaborate more about Chinese culture beyond school curriculum
11.	Verome	The smile from the children is precious
12.	Maria	Highly appreciate the great commitment and extraordinary works from readers and buddies for the children as ONE TEAM.

What Could Be Better?

No.	Members	Suggestions and Ideas
1.	Kende	Provide a booklist for Children
		Post the weekly booklist at the Library
2.	Didi	Conversational session with the students after exam
		Provide more dual language books
		More rewards to encourage the students: cookies or candies
3.	Zu	Provide book list from students
4.	Lyn	Theme for reading session (e.g. proverbs, synonyms)
		Recap what the students have learnt from previous sessions. This is can be done in the ice breaker time by asking question about last week session
		Make use of the whiteboard
		MTL buddies need to read the book before the session to help to explain the students from different MTL during the reading session
5.	Shirley	Combine English and MTL chatgroup
		2 Reader for 1 book, especially for thick book. It helps to finish the story and help the children to recall the story from previous session
		She found books from the school library are dirty
		Don’t finish the story and encourage the students to read the book. Provide the book reference number
		Suggest the school to allow mothers to do storytelling for the upper primary school due to lack of father PV
		The storytelling is on the recess time, time when children having their break from lesson so we need to provide relax environment for the students to listen to the story, do not put strict discipline for them to sit quietly and listen, give the students space to move around
6.	Hsiao Feng	Outdoor reading session at the canteen or the outdoor stage
		Invites P5/P6 as readers to give opportunities for the students to develop the storytelling skills
7.	Beatrice	Suggestion for the readers to choose the book earlier
		Involve in the Library Week program
8.	Caihui	Compile the book list
		Reading theme according to the school core value: Honesty, Loyalty, Teamwork, Courage, Diligent
9.	Fanny	MTL reading session separate the students from different MTL and buddy help to share the story in English
10.	Li Yuan	Choose the Chinese story that align with Chinese Textbook
		Read the story from Chinese textbook
		Integrate textbook material, help students to improve reading comprehension ability
		Reader and buddy can discuss and choose book together
11.	Verome	Invite more readers and buddies to join the storytelling team
12.	Maria	1 word message as moral of the story, for example: diligent, write down in the small piece of paper and flash out every time the story talking about diligent and emphasize the word diligent throughout the reading session and at the end invite the students to say the word together: diligent!