New Educational Materials

This year, the library has been enriched with a wide range of new educational materials. The children’s enthusiasm and curiosity have been wonderful to see — and that kind of engagement is exactly what we aim for!

We were able to purchase wooden materials that offer a richer sensory experience and greater durability compared to the cardboard materials we had previously worked with. To further protect and extend their lifespan, we applied a coat of spray varnish — a task happily taken on by our new young assistant. A true hands-on experience!

Geoboards

For the first time, we were able to purchase 30 identical sets of the same activity (geoboards), enabling our librarian to bring them to the classroom so that every student in the group can work on them at the same time. As noted in previous reports, teachers are not always accustomed to incorporating teaching materials into their lessons, which is sad. The geoboards have been a discovery for teachers and students alike, sparking great enthusiasm and helping children stay focused. The result: meaningful learning and progress.

“They focus so much that you don’t hear a peep, they practically hold their breath when they are working on the geoboards! They are very effective.”

Our Librarian

Dionisia has also used the geoboards to motivate some of the most challenging students, conditioning access to them on active participation in flashcards and exercises — with encouraging results.

DOMAN-FILADELFIA Program

Flashcards: We designed and printed 800 large, beautiful word cards featuring text in red to maximize visibility and support early reading development — a significant upgrade from the handwritten cards we had been using until now

We also researched, designed, and printed several sets of illustrated information cards on animals from the Colombian Caribbean coast, covering mammals, reptiles, birds, and aquatic creatures.

The large, vibrant pictures have proven to be a powerful engagement tool, capturing the children’s attention and motivating them to focus. One moment stood out in particular: Eber Davian, a 2nd grader, had been somewhat distracted during a session, but after Dionisia finished presenting the Aquatic Creatures cards, he eagerly called out, “Show them again, miss!” Dionisia moved on with the planned activity, but his attention and focus for the rest of the session were remarkable.

Classroom Collaboration: Our librarian works closely with three teachers across preschool, 1st, and 2nd grade classrooms.

She has been mostly involved with the preschoolers, nearly every day. Her sessions include word cards, videos, and illustrated bits of intelligence cards — this semester covering farm animals, regional wildlife, modes of transportation, and geometric figures. She also leads the children in a variety of educational games and activities.

Her contributions have meaningfully strengthened the reading program, with all teachers reporting positive results. So much so that the new principal has asked her to extend her support to 6th grade — a group that is significantly behind across the board. Starting this second semester, Dionisia will work daily alongside their teacher, using flashcards and cognitive exercises to help them catch up. A very promising development!

First Grade: Jeniseri, the new first grade teacher, has expressed a keen interest in learning and applying the Doman-Filadelfia method with her students. Having observed the stronger retention of words and concepts among students who benefited from this approach the previous year, she was eager to receive formal training — and we have since enrolled her in a course, on which we will report in the second semester.

Her classroom comes with real challenges, however. With 38 students, the group is very large, and a number of them display quite disruptive behavior — at times walking out of the classroom and back in, pulling the attention of the other children away. We are working closely with Jeniseri and the principal to find the best path forward.

“This library is the best place in the whole school. … And in all of Ararca!”

Security Guard and Parent