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When Rotarians in the Antigua Sundown Club became aware that kindergarteners learning to read needed a boost in their phonics development, they called their long-time partners at Lehigh University to see what could be done to help. Lehigh staff member and Bethlehem Morning Star Rotarian Bill Hunter, who has taken his students on a dozen service trips to Antigua & Barbuda, was referred through Rotary connections to Dr. Debbie Matz, an experienced reading specialist. Through a financial collaboration between both Rotary clubs, Dr. Matz traveled to Antigua with the Lehigh group in 2022 to begin a pilot program by making classroom observations, engaging in inquiring conversations with teachers and principals, and facilitating a professional development session at one of the targeted primary schools. A need for additional instruction in phonemic awareness was determined and an appropriate and affordable supplemental curriculum was selected for kindergarten reading instruction. Following a successful first run, both Rotary clubs again sponsored Dr. Matz’s travel to Antigua in May to expand the reach of the pilot program by training Kindergarten teachers and principals in foundational early literacy skills and the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness program at two of the targeted primary schools. |
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