Occasionally, the perfect blend of technology, creativity, literature and craftsmanship emerges when there is a passion for learning, teaching, and innovation. Despite ongoing skepticism towards innovative methodologies, certain projects prove otherwise, highlighting the significance of dedicated teachers who invest in their students’ potential.
This unique approach was embraced at IES Nicolás Estévez Borges in Icod de los Vinos, where students in the ESO fourth-grade bilingual programme collaborated to create their own English storybook, incorporating concepts from various subjects under the guidance of their teachers.
This initiative is part of the esTEla programme, sponsored by the Government of the Canary Islands, aimed at facilitating the educational transition between Primary and Secondary levels. Transitioning between educational stages can be challenging, particularly for students in public education due to significant changes. Hence, the focus is on a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that spans the students’ academic journey.
Effective collaboration and coordination among schools within the district are crucial to achieve this objective. In the case of IES Nicolás Estévez Borges, which admits students from three local schools, the teaching staff met weekly during the academic year to plan activities, observe classes, share ideas, and identify common ground.
Simultaneously, the students in the 4th ESO bilingual programme were tasked with crafting an English story encompassing a theme of their choice, blending elements of the past and present in a light-hearted narrative.
Throughout the term, various text types were explored, ideas were refined, culminating in a week-long writing session with the support of teachers and the Storybird platform – an online application offering a vast image library for story illustrations.
The anthology titled ‘Our Story Book’ comprises 34 imaginative stories, including themes like a boy’s aspiration to be a superhero, daring adventures to retrieve a lost pet, Pedro’s dream of becoming a footballer, and the tale of Bloom, the lonely elephant – each penned by the young authors themselves.
The idea to bind the stories in a traditional artisanal manner originated from the English teacher, who oversaw both the correction of texts and the crafting process. The objective was to revive the age-old craft, utilising materials such as paper, fabric, rubber, scissors, and folders, showcasing the artistry and precision synonymous with GerArt in La Orotava.
An important milestone was reached when the students and teachers visited CEIP Emeterio Gutiérrez Albelo to share and narrate their illustrated stories, engaging with the younger audience who warmly embraced their creativity and storytelling.
Today, they will visit CEIP Julio Delgado, followed by CEIP Campino, where another memorable and heartening encounter between young writers, readers, and educators is anticipated to take place before the week concludes.
