An orange goo named ‘Flubber’, a three way garden hose telephone, an African woman made from newspaper and corn-starch and oil? Sounds like a recipe for madness or the ingredients for an amazing, fun and fresh workshop for early childhood educators. Back 2 Basics was its name and interactive learning and innovative education was its game.

Crayons Count, in association with the United States Embassy Jamaica, presented ‘Back 2 Basics’, a free workshop for early childhood educators and administrators held on Thursday, August 29th  9:30-5:00 P.M. and Friday,  August 30th 8:30-1:00 P.M. in two locations – Kingston and Montego Bay respectively.  The event sought to inspire early childhood educators through hands-on sessions in an open and free environment.

Thursday, August 29th saw the Pegasus hotel ballroom being filled to capacity, and we do mean capacity. The session called for 200 early childhood educators but Thursday’s workshop saw almost 360 teachers in attendance. Why such a large turn out? The Back 2 Basics workshop promised interactive and inspiring activities geared towards improving the overall academic performance of students in fun yet stimulating ways. This included an in-depth interactive session on using the Crayons Count tools in the classroom complete with lesson guides and a special guest presenter.

Teachers all lined up to be a part of Back 2 Basics Workshop, Kingston

The ballroom was abuzz with excitement and curiosity with many teachers arriving an hour earlier to be a part of this event. The program started with Welcome and Opening Remarks by Deika Morrison, Founder of Do Good Jamaica/Crayons Count, followed by prayer. Greetings were brought by Michelle Campbell, Acting Executive Director at the Early Childhood Commission,  the Honourable Rev Ronald Thwaites, Minister of Education and the Ambassador, Her Excellency Pamela E. Bridgewater, United States Ambassador to Jamaica.

Deika Morrison, the US Ambassador to Jamaica Pamela Bridgewater and the Ooey Gooey lady , Lisa Murphy in top left photo (left-right). Lisa Murphy and the Minister of Education, Ronald Thwaites in top right photo. Michelle Campbell, Acting Executive Director at the Early Childhood Commission in the bottom photo

Pamela E. Bridgewater, United States Ambassador to Jamaica (left), the Honourable Rev Ronald Thwaites, Minister of Education (right) and Deika Morrison, Founder of Do Good Jamaica/ Crayons Count (bottom)

Shaanii-Grace Robinson, Early Childhood Consultant for Crayons Count had a power packed, colourful and fun activity session that involved in depth use of the tools in the Crayons Count kit. Each of the 30 large tables in the ballroom had all the ingredients from the Crayons Count kit including colored blocks, letter blocks, play doh, crayons, puppets, blank paper, lacing tools, pegs and pegboard sets. Each activity comprised of different ways to use the tools for 3-5 year olds in the classroom. The teachers were the students for the day as they made faces and African dolls out of paper, lined out colored blocks to form the letter ‘A’ and pegs in the shape of the number ‘2’ outlined on pegboards. Simple yet fun was the theme of the session which also included songs and music. A slideshow accompanied the session where Ms. Robinson highlighted that play in early childhood education was the best foundation for success in school.

Time for play! Time for learning!

Teachers hard at play

Additionally, there was a Lesson Competition where a group of teachers had only 10 minutes to create a lesson with the Crayons Count tools and present their ideas to the room.  The teacher with the best lesson was given a full Crayons Count kit for their school while the others received supplemental kits as in the end, everyone was a winner. The end of the competition signalled the start of lunch. The National Baking Company provided snacks and lunch while Wisynco provided beverages.

Prize Presentation to the winner of the Lesson Competition

Then, the moment many did not quite expect but loved; Lisa Murphy, Early Childhood Specialist and Founder and CEO of Ooey Gooey, Inc was on stage. The ‘Ooey Gooey Lady’ as she is known as, was loud, fun and smart. Her unconventional method of teaching and relating to students and teachers drew laughs, shouts of agreements and a deep understanding of what learning is really about. Lisa Murphy highlighted the need for teachers to be more open to play and to using everyday items to create a safe yet accepting learning environment. She spoke about identifying and creating opportunities for learning and utilizing simple tools such as flour, food colouring, corn-starch, paper towels, Ziploc bags, shaving cream, garden hoses and spoons in teaching and meeting curriculum objectives. Her approach emphasized giving students the freedom to learn and try new things.

The amazing ‘Ooey Gooey Lady’ in action

The ‘Ooey Gooey Lady’ had tables set up that emphasized Science and the development of fine motor skills by mixing flour and baby oil, corn-starch and water and other runny, lumpy and smooth substances. One table had baking soda, food colouring and vinegar that focused on Chemistry while another demo table had food colouring, paper towels, paint, paper plates and marbles which dealt with Art. The next station was filled with strangely shaped objects such as plastic PVC pipes, a sack full of beans and other items for painting and printing and the last had tins and grates and hoses that invited questions about sounds and vibrations.

Working with sounds and vibrations

We don’t have to tell you that when it came time for the teachers to get involved and to try out all the activities, that all the tables were flocked. Teachers were painting and banging and building and mixing. A gooey orange mix made called Flubber was the star of the show at one station. It was play time for the teachers and every minute was a success! We have to thank the National Baking Company and the Pegasus Hotel for hosting us in such a lovely ballroom and for being an important part of the workshop on Thursday.

Teachers getting into the fun of things. Painting, mixing and experiencing

Friday, August 30 Back to Basics workshop in Montego Bay at the Sam Sharpe Teachers College was also a success with 150 teachers and teachers in training attending. The Montego Bay session was shorter in terms of time but still powerful. The group enjoyed and learned from each session. In fact, this group presented some amazing pieces. The whole theme of the day was ‘Wow!’ with each creative item that was shown which was facilitated by our very own Shaanii-Grace Robinson. There was even a puppet decked out in full African garb made entirely of newsprint.  Our Lesson Competition had teachers thinking on their feet once again and each was rewarded with supplemental kits.

Supplemental kits being given out at the Montego Bay location

Fun and learning at the Montego Bay location

The ‘Ooey Gooey’ Lady did not fail in presenting a session that inspired and excited. The teachers got a first-hand understanding of how teaching was not only about getting a lesson done but ensuring that their children have the best possible start to their academic journey.

The Back 2 Basics Workshop was indeed a great, big ‘Ooey Gooey’ success and the findings of the over 400 evaluation sheets are proof. Here are just two examples.

Crayons Count wants to thank everyone that made this workshop one teachers will not soon forget. The United States Embassy Jamaica had a major role in the planning and organizing of the workshop and worked around the clock to ensure the workshop ran smoothly and for bringing the ‘Ooey Gooey Lady’, Lisa Murphy to our shores. Fundaciones also receives a great big Thank You for their help with the planning of the workshops and CB Chicken and Rainforest Seafoods for providing the venue and the meals and snacks.

Crayons Count looks forward to hosting more teacher training sessions and workshops. In fact, we already have plans under-way and the future looks brighter and brighter every day. For more photos on the Back 2 Basics Workshop, view our Facebook Album on the Back 2 Basics- Kingston Workshop and the Back 2 Basics- Montego Bay Workshop

The Crayons Count initiative is sponsored by National Baking Co., CB Group, Rainforest Seafoods, Wisynco Group, The Gleaner Co. Ltd. and Fundaciones.

Crayons Do Count!