Friday, March 23, 2012

AY2011/12 Semester 2 Sessions 1-3 :)

Hello there! We're back! :D How's everyone?

It's been a great 2012 for YRS so far :) Not only have we held 3 sessions of YRS for our children so far, we have also just had our volunteer get-together where we had pizza, played games and htht-ed!

With one of our kids!

At the get-together: "The pizzas look nicer than us!"

This semester, YRS has revamped the syllabus of the mass sessions. Every session, there will be a short skit depicting a certain social behaviour/interaction acted out in front of the children.

For instance, in session 1, our focus was on 'Getting Along' -- the plot being a pair of brothers fighting over a game because of each brother's unwillingness to share.

Session 2 -- You Cannot Get Whatever You Want

Session 3 -- Honesty

Watching the skit!

After the skit, the children would be split into smaller groups for group discussions on whatever they had seen earlier.

Volunteers leading the discussion...

Pausing for a picture!

Over at YRS, we definitely believe that building character and integrity is just as important as learning your ABC's! :)

Speaking of ABC's, after the mass sessions are our usual reading sessions with the children. It sure is satisfying for us to know that these weekly sessions will go a long way in helping the children develop their language skills -- and of course when they thank us after the session!

Everybody's hard at work~

"You got it!"

We can't wait for the next 5 sessions, the consolidation party and of course, the outing that will take place at the end of the semester!

Here's a picture from our get-together to end off the post!

"Want some pizza?"

Toodles for now,
YRS x

~Yishun Reading Stars~ 12:45 AM

Welcome!

About YRS

Yishun Reading Stars (Social-skills Training And Reading for Students) (YRS) is a program which aims to enhance every child's social and reading skills. The children are aged between 8-11 years old and are referred by the Educational Psychologists from the Student Centre. Some of them have limited exposure to English in their home environment, while others may have learning difficulties. YRS hopes to equip the children with some basic strategies to help them deal with their emotional needs. More importantly, we want the children to realise that they are SPECIAL in their own ways!

*Do note that we have blurred the children's faces to protect their privacy. However, we still hope that our entries will give you a good idea of what we do!

Activities

YRS usually carries out 12 sessions every academic semester. Each session is tailored to themes with a primary focus on promoting social interaction.

We devote half of every 90 minute session to Guided Reading, where volunteers attach themselves to a child and read a story to, or if possible, along with the kid. The focus is on helping the kid to improve his/her oral and reading comprehension of the story, so that the ultimate goal of independent learning through a love for reading may be achieved!

Besides the regular sessions, we organise camps and outings for the children too! :)

Quotable Quotes

"As we lead the children through the Guided Reading session, it really touches the heart to see them improving bit by bit, especially when they remember words that were taught the previous session" - Laura Lye

"Yishuners are really a team that cares about helping these kids and no matter how much time we put into volunteering for Yishun Student Care Service, it’s all worth it." - Tay Ming Hui

Volunteering

Our current season will be running from 25 February 2011 to June, with a 3-week break in between from 19 April to 6 May due to exams.

The satisfaction from being able to mould and shape a kid's future is priceless, and only when you personally experience it can you then understand it, so come on down to YRS to shape a child's future today!