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Dispatch from the Comfort Zone

By Julie Douglas, Family Program Specialist

Last month I rediscovered what it feels like to be challenged to leave one zone of comfort and look for another one.  I was managing a refresher class for 50 men and women who conduct READ from the START sessions for parents around the state. 

One of our activities involved two storytellers, Loretta Washington and Carole Shelton.  Carole told us a touching story of a mother who made simple rag dolls for her children on Christmas.  Loretta demonstrated how to wind yarn and tie it to form a doll.  We were challenged to use yarn, fabric scraps and buttons to create our own dolls.

The reactions to this challenge were enlightening.  Some jumped in with both feet and immersed themselves in the experience.  Others were hesitant, looking to the instructors for guidance and reassurance that they were "doing it right."  Others chose to simply observe.   Here's Blake Travis "learning the ropes." :)

Image of Blake Travis

We were out of our comfort zone.  We were coaxed to try something new.  I had one of those "ah-ha" moments.  Isn’t this exactly what we are asking READ from the START parents to do?  We are asking them to try something new with books and stories.  We are asking them to "see" stories as many-splendored things, and to adjust their behavior to include references to the stories in other contexts.

Changed behavior: one might say "transformative learning."  We all felt that experience as we learned the new task of making a yarn doll.

Here’s what parents are telling us about their own experiences:

"RFTS is good because it helps you think about different ways to get your child interested in reading…not just reading, but discussing."

"Great ideas for expanding and exploring books in an imaginative way."

"RFTS teaches you how to be creative while reading, describing pictures in detail, allowing them to discuss the pictures, and to guess what happens next.  It was AWESOME!"

"A wonderful opportunity to open the imagination of the adult; it shows how fun it is to truly examine the pictures and to discuss the items not usually noticed when 'just' reading."

Learn more about READ from the START! Visit www.readfromthestart.org.

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