PAST EVENTS
THE ANNUAL READING CONFERENCE
Since 1988, TTRA has organized an Annual Reading Conferences for educators, disseminating information on the latest research and best practices in different aspects of the teaching of reading. Members of the Association, renowned reading coaches from the region as well as from the United States and New Zealand have delivered presentations to the nation’s teachers. In these conferences, presenters cover a range of topics related to:
· Assessment and Evaluation
· Reading Remediation
· Content Area Reading
· Making a Difference in Reading and Writing
· Moving from Struggling to Fluent Readers
· Brain Based Learning with a Focus on Literacy
· Reciprocal Teaching and Best Ever Literacy Survival Tips
Our most recent conference was held at the Port of Spain City Hall Auditorium in April 2019 on the topic: Successful Practices in the Teaching of Comprehension and Vocabulary. Our competent members delivered the content.
TEACHING OF READING PROGRAMME
TTRA has designed and continues to administer a Certificate Course in the Teaching of Reading. The UWI Open Campus delivers the Course in conjunction with the Trinidad and Tobago Reading Association whose members provide the expertise in tutoring the program. This programme has been in existence since January 2001. Hundreds of the nation’s educators have been able to enhance their skills in the delivery of literacy instruction.
This is a programme designed for practising teachers and mature individuals working in the field of education with a special interest in the subject Some of The objectives of the programme are -
· To outline major stages and strategies which characterize the reading process.
· Employ a range of instructional strategies to facilitate the development of students’ abilities
· Select and employ a range of assessment techniques to monitor students’ development as readers.
· Describe major challenges encountered by students in Caribbean linguistic contexts
· Design and evaluate instructional materials for use in teaching reading.
READ TO ME PROJECT
Our Read to Me Project involves visits to maternity clinics to educate mothers on the value of early home based literacy. Literacy Kits are distributed which include books for reading with baby, and a guide to various activities in which parents can interact with their children to boost early literacy.
ICT INTEGRATION AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT
Currently, a number of our members are teachers within the education system and they have seamlessly made the transition from face to face instruction to online synchronous and asynchronous teaching as a result of the global pandemic. They are adept at several online platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom and Google Meet to name a few and have wide knowledge of the different sites on the World Wide Web that enhance the literacy skills of students.