We created digital and in-person training workshops to train teachers on how to educate children about undocumented migration and encourage critical thinking. The curriculum compliments our book and includes reading games, creative writing exercises, and interactive story-telling. Our curriculum is underpinned by the philosophy of education expert Marta Sastrías de Porcel. She stated, “play is the best vehicle to help children fall in love with reading.”

Our games help children to view reading and writing not as obligatory competencies but rather as a source of fun and an opportunity to awaken imagination and self-expression. In Central America, the misconception that children should only be taught factual knowledge limits creative thinking, adaptability, and critical judgement.

Covid-19 times

To meet our expansion goals and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed a digital version of our teacher training workshops using Moodle, one of the most popular education platforms in Central America. Our digital platform allows us to reach teachers across geography without the need to set up complicated on-the-ground implementation plans.

The digital platform mirrors the in-person teacher training experience and preserves the playful spirit that makes our programming fun and participative. Each module includes an instructional video, implementation manual, and student course materials to enable teachers to replicate lessons with their students. It features a private portal for teachers to track progress and receive feedback.

In our newest iteration, teachers only need limited connectivity to save the lessons, and can then complete their modules offline and submit their results once they have connectivity again. This will amplify our ability to reach teachers and schools in the region’s most remote areas. We also engage teachers through weekly check-ins on Zoom and host storytelling video contests to build community through social media.

Our goal is to effectively reach as many teachers as possible, overcoming geographic and technology literacy barriers to support Central American public schools adopt more modern education tools and platforms.