Do you point to the words when you read with your child?

This is Episode 6 in our Reading Readiness Series, and it focuses on a foundational skill: print awareness.
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Print awareness means understanding that printed words carry meaning. It’s the knowledge that we read from left to right, top to bottom, and that words are made up of letters.
You can nurture this awareness every day by:

• Letting your child hold the book
• Pointing to words as you read
• Encouraging page-turning
• Noticing print on signs, menus—even cereal boxes

These simple habits build familiarity and confidence—key ingredients for reading success.
Let print become part of your everyday moments. It’s a small shift that leads to big growth.

Does your child have trouble following directions or sitting for a story?
This is Episode 7 in our Reading Readiness Series, and we’re focusing on a skill that often gets overlooked: listening.
Before children can become strong readers, they need to be able to listen, focus, and follow along. If a child struggles with listening, they may also find it difficult to process stories and understand what they read.
You can help build listening skills through simple, playful activities:

• Games like Simon Says
• Two-step directions like “Touch your nose, then hop once”
• Shared storytime with gentle reminders to listen

Start small, be consistent, and make it fun. Strengthening listening now lays the groundwork for reading success later.

Why are nursery rhymes and silly rhyming books so important for reading?
This is the fifth video in our Reading Readiness Series, and it shines a light on a fun—and powerful—early literacy skill: rhyming.
Rhyming helps children hear patterns in words, which is a building block for recognizing word families like cat, hat, and bat. These patterns make it easier for kids to decode new words when they start reading. But that’s not all—rhyming also boosts memory, listening, and prediction skills, all of which support reading comprehension.
So pull out a rhyming book, read it aloud, and enjoy the rhythm and repetition.
You're not just having fun—you’re building a reader.

The Mirror of the Classroom: Reflecting on Growth and Impact

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spent time with Dr. Williams and the educators in this year’s mentorship group. We reflected on resilience, classroom culture, and how far they’ve come in 2024-2025 — while sharpening their vision for the year ahead.

Is your child learning letter names—or letter sounds?
This is the fourth video in our Reading Readiness Series, and it focuses on a critical early literacy skill: understanding letter sounds.
While letter names are useful, what really builds a foundation for reading is knowing the sounds each letter makes. For example, the letter B makes the /b/ sound. Recognizing this sound helps children begin to blend sounds into words—an essential step in learning to read.
You can support your child by making sounds a part of everyday life. Try pointing to letters in books, on signs, or in toys and asking, “What sound does this letter make?” That simple question encourages sound recognition and boosts reading readiness.
Shift the focus to letter sounds, and watch your child’s reading skills begin to grow.

Can your child clap out the beats in a word or hear the first sound in “banana”?
This is the third video in our Reading Readiness Series, and it highlights a key early literacy skill: phonological awareness.
Before children can read words, they need to hear and play with the sounds in them. Activities like rhyming, clapping out syllables, and noticing beginning or ending sounds might seem simple—but they’re powerful. These fun, sound-based games help build the brain pathways needed for decoding words later on.
Play a sound game today—it’s building reading skills in disguise.

Did you know that every conversation with your child helps prepare them to read?
This is the second video in our Reading Readiness Series, and it’s all about the power of language.
Talking to your child builds their vocabulary, helps them understand sentence structure, and strengthens their ability to make connections—all of which are essential for reading. Simple conversations in the car, at the store, or during playtime all make a difference.
Describe what you’re doing. Ask them to explain things back to you. These everyday moments are building blocks of literacy.
Talk, listen, and explore language together. It all counts.

Does your child know the alphabet—but still seem unsure about reading?

This is the first video in our Reading Readiness Series, where we explore what it really means to be ready to read.

Reading readiness is more than just knowing letters. It includes listening skills, vocabulary, sound awareness, and a love for stories. If your child enjoys being read to, plays with sounds, and shows curiosity about books, they’re already on the right path—even if they haven’t started reading yet.
Reading is a journey that begins long before the first word is read. Pay attention to their curiosity and the conversations they start—that’s where reading truly begins.

This evening I had the opportunity to join Shanna Grant on her show - The Spiritual Oasis. We had a great chat about Raising Resilient Children. 

Last week I had the opportunity to spend some time with the women of the Anglican church Woman (ACW) within the Diocese of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands at their annual ACW Conference under the theme - "Women of Strong Faith; Enlarging Our Territory." During my time with these lovely ladies, we looked at "Stretching Towards Stronger Sisterhood.' In our time together we looked at the joys, and sometimes the challenges of friendships. We also looked at how to be a good Sister-Friend. We are hardwired for connection and special friendships can make all the difference not only in support but also in joys. Here is a little bit from my top 5 list on how to be a good Sister friend. 

1. Show Up. Even in Small Ways
2. Listen to Understand, Not to Fix
3. Celebrate Without Comparison
4. Respect Emotional Boundaries
5. Be Honest with Kindness
6. Don't Just Pray for Her - Pray with Her

Books referenced during my chat:

• Sisterhood Heals by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
• The Awakened Woman by Dr. Tererai Trent
• Daring Greatly by Dr. Brene Brown

Last week we had the opportunity to set up a booth at the A. Louise Garland Thomas High School Career fair. Congratulations to Ms. Paul and her team for an awesome event again this year. Choosing subjects can be challenging and stressful and having an opportunity to speak to individuals working in fields of interest can provide great guidance to students.

We enjoyed speaking to the 3rd from students from Providenciales, North Caicos and South Caicos on the services being offered at Learn and Lead, Educational Entrepreneurship and reaching their potential. Each student that visited us received Study Skills Strategies to help them in their last term and beyond.

As third term kicks off, we are exited to welcome your children back in the Specialized Tutoring Program. It’s also the perfect time to encourage your child to make a fresh, energetic start. After a long second term, this one is shorter — which means getting organized and focused early is key.
Here are a few simple tips you can share with your child to set them up for success:
Set Clear Goals Together: Talk with your child about what they’d like to achieve this term — maybe improving a subject, staying more organized, or preparing for an upcoming transition. Clear, achievable goals can keep them motivated and on track.
Help Them Stay Organized: Encourage your child to use a diary, planner, or app to track homework, tests, and projects. A little organization now can make the quick pace of the term feel much more manageable.
Remind Them It’s Okay to Ask for Help: Let your child know it’s smart — not a weakness — to ask questions when they’re stuck. Teachers appreciate students who speak up early, and it prevents bigger challenges later.
Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge their efforts along the way, not just the final outcomes. Completing a tricky assignment, improving a quiz score, or even sticking to a new habit deserves a high-five!
Stay Positive and Encourage Good Habits: This short term will fly by. Encourage healthy routines like enough sleep, good nutrition, and study breaks to help them stay energized and positive.
With a little encouragement and structure, third term can be a strong finish to the academic year. You've helped them come this far — and with your support, they’ll soar to the finish line!

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have become increasingly relevant topics of discussion recently. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of collaborating with an organization eager to enhance its team's understanding and introduce the concept of Unconscious Bias. During our session together, our focus was on bolstering the team's knowledge of Diversity and Equity to foster a more inclusive work environment.

We delved into complex subjects such as stereotypes and biases, providing participants with the opportunity to challenge their own perspectives and broaden their understanding. This exploration aimed to empower individuals to embrace diverse viewpoints and cultivate a more inclusive workplace culture.

When workshops are harder to schedule, short sessions are a great way to infuse this important soft skills into your already scheduled retreats.

Dear Parents,

As we near the conclusion of Term Two, I wanted to take a moment to update you on some important developments at Learn and Lead.
1.Student Expectation Report: We've had an excellent term with significant progress. Your child’s teacher still has a few more sessions with them until they have to finalize their Student Expectation Report. You can expect to receive your child's report the last week of April. For new students, comments and outlined goals will be provided. In most cases we wait until your child has had at least 6–8 intervention sessions before assessing progress.

2. Easter Break Closure: Learn and Lead will be closed from April 14th and will resume classes the week of April 28th. Please take special note that not all schools on the island have the same Easter Break this year. If your child’s break differs and you are unable to attend classes the week of April 7th, please follow the regular protocol to cancel.

3. Scholastic Book Club: We're excited to introduce the Scholastic Book Club at Learn and Lead! For those familiar with Scholastic Book Clubs from school, this program allows regular purchases to enrich your home library. Leaflets are available at the front desk of the center. Orders will be processed every last Friday of the month. All transactions, including payments, can be completed online. You'll receive a notification once your books are ready for pickup at Learn and Lead. Find out visit www.learnandleadltd.com/book-club
​As always, thank you for allowing us to be part of your child’s educational journey. We wish you all the best for the end of term and look forward to continuing this journey together!
​Warm regards,
Yolande

An inclusive team is a stronger team! When everyone feels valued and heard, innovation thrives, collaboration deepens, and productivity soars.

On Saturday I had the opportunity to work with the Paradise Smiles team. Our workshop was all about cultivating inclusivity. They played, they learned, they laughed and reflected while deepening their understanding of DEI and its role in fostering a positive team dynamic. Soft Skills workshops are a great opportunity for teams to not only learn together but to grow together.

All the best Paradise Smiles!

On Friday I had the opportunity to facilitate a Women's Empowerment Brunch for the lovely women of Waterloo Investment Holdings Limited under the theme 'Dream It, Achieve It: Crafting Our Futures Together.' Our time was spent listening, learning, laughing, reflecting and crafting together. I'm grateful not just for the opportunity not just to facilitate a panel with such amazing women, but also to present on the power of setting intentions, goals and habits to manifest your vision boards into reality.

To foster a love for reading at Learn and Lead and throughout the community, we have launched a Scholastic Book Club. Books can be purchased through the club, with orders processed monthly and due on the last Friday of each month.

You can now browse the latest books and order online. There are hundreds of fantastic Children’s books to choose from, all at great prices! Upon arrival, you will be able to pick up your books at Learn and Lead.

In addition to building your home libraries, Every Book Club purchase earns Learn and Lead 20% in Scholastic rewards to buy more books for our library at the center.
 
For March 2025 - Please place your order online by March 28th.

To place your order, click here, or type the following in to your browser: 
https://world-schools.scholastic.co.uk/learn-lead-educational-cente/digital-book-club
 
Click on either AGES 0-6, 7-11 or 11+ or you can use the search box for specific titles that you are interested in.

Please add the books that you would like to order into your basket. Once you have finished and are happy with your order, please click on your basket in the top right-hand corner of the screen to proceed to the checkout. You will then need to enter your email address and choose a password.
Once you have done this, you can enter the payment details for your order and checkout. Payment is done in USD. 

If you have any questions about your order, feel free to contact me [email protected] or scholastic directly at [email protected].

In the next few weeks, we expect to have leaflets available at the center. In the meantime, please feel free to browse virtual ones and place order with the link above.

Earlier this week we spent some time with staff from the Youth Department. We began with a Proposal Writing Mad Libs that got us all laughing and ready to work together. Although Proposal Writing may not be the most exciting topic, it is a very important one. In our workshop we looked at the different types of proposals and what is needed to make an effective proposal. We also spent a little time on a team building game to reinforce the importance of understanding a task, brainstorming, planning, and working together to find the best solution.

We look forward to conducting a webinar on behalf the Youth Department that is open to the public. 

The Power of Presence - Shaping the Model Mindset. On Saturday March 1st, I had the pleasure of working with the TCI Top Model contestants to explore Personality, Self-Esteem and Public Perception. Below is the press release from TCI Top Model.

THE POWER OF PRESENCE: SHAPING THE MODEL MINDSET

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Tuesday, 4th March, 2025: In the world of fashion and beyond, success isn’t just about looking the part—it’s about owning your presence. How we see ourselves shapes how the world sees us, and our personality, self-esteem, and public perception all play a role in that reality. This past weekend, TCI Top Model contestants and models took a deep dive into these crucial elements, exploring the power of confidence, self-awareness, and effective communication. Through engaging discussions and interactive exercises, they uncovered how the way they think, speak, and present themselves can define their journey—on and off the runway.

Mrs. Yolande Robinson, Education Consultant and Owner of Learn & Lead Educational Center, led an engaging and interactive workshop on Personality, Self-Esteem & Public Perception. She explained that personality is the consistency in a person’s way of being—their unique patterns of thinking, acting, and reacting over time. Self-esteem, she noted, is a person’s overall sense of self-worth, shaped by their beliefs about their appearance, emotions, and behaviours.

Having worked in academia and professional development for over twenty years, Mrs. Robinson emphasised how self-perception influences the way individuals present themselves, ultimately shaping their reality. Participants were encouraged to always project a positive image—through their dress, attitude, speech, listening skills, and awareness of the world around them.

The session was dynamic, with participants being placed into small discussion groups to explore the topic, share insights, and reflect on how they view themselves and how others perceive them. Laughter and thoughtful exchanges filled the room as they learned from each other, breaking down barriers and building confidence in the process.

Mrs. Robinson highlighted that public perception is shaped by the image we project—our body language, tone, and the way we carry ourselves. “The world responds to the signals we give off,” she said. “Be intentional about how you present yourself because perception often becomes reality.”

Of the workshop, Mrs. Robinson stated: “It was a pleasure working with the models and contestants of the TCI Model Contest. In our time together, we focused on the power of personality, self-esteem, and public perception—key elements that define not just a great model, but a confident and influential individual. I wish them all the best as they continue their journey, both on and off the runway.”

Courtney Robinson, Executive Producer of TCI Top Model, stated that: “Understanding oneself is the foundation of success—not just in modelling but in life. A model is more than just an attractive face or physique; they are a brand, a presence, a force. It is imperative that our participants develop self-awareness and confidence, knowing that how they see themselves influences how the world sees them. If there is one message I hope resonates, it is that growth starts from within. The work they put into their personalities and self-esteem today will shape their futures. Talent may open doors, but character and confidence will keep them open.”

The highly anticipated 2025 TCI Top Model Contest—En Vogue, takes place Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Brayton Hall in Providenciales. Event seating goes on sale March 12th, 2025.

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Earlier this week I had an opportunity to work with teachers that are part of this year's Teacher Mentorship program with the Department of Education. Although our sessions are usually designed to increase the skills needed to be an effective teacher in the classroom, we paused to look inward to help teachers reflect on what they need to fill their cups. It is difficult to pour from an empty cup, and as a new teacher, it's important to be intentional on how one takes care of their self. In our session we focused on self-care and resilience and ended by creating vision boards that reflect the joy of teaching. 

I wish all the teachers in the session a great remainder of the academic year and a full and vibrant teaching career!

Over the last couple of weeks, I have had the pleasure of working with a group of staff members from the Office of the Premier & Public Policy. I am often asked which Soft Skills are the most important to target, and although I may have my favorites, they are all so important!

For organizations that are looking to provide more than one training session, there is always the option of choosing the topics that they feel will make the most impact. For this series we focused on the following areas:

• Unconscious Bias
• Building Our Team Dynamic
• Understanding and Resolving Conflict
• Emotional Intelligence and Personal Productivty

Participants enjoyed learning, discussing, debating, and of course laughter. I look forward to working with them again soon. 

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of working with the incredible staff at Edward Gartland Youth Center during my workshop, Stronger Together - Tools for Collaboration and Connection. This session focused on essential soft skills—teamwork, conflict resolution, and effective communication—that are critical for youth workers to succeed in their vital roles.

At the heart of the workshop was the principle of self-reflection: understanding our own strengths and challenges before supporting others. By looking inward, we can create a more supportive and harmonious team environment, which ultimately empowers not only ourselves but also the organizations and communities we serve.
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Together, we explored practical tools to navigate conflicts constructively, communicate with clarity and empathy, and build trust within teams. It was inspiring to see the participants engage so fully, reflecting on their roles and leaving with actionable strategies to strengthen collaboration.