So Many Books, So Little Time!
R.M. Lewis-Barnett
TPF Team Spotlight
Turning Point’s Book Club initiated by the wonderful Resident Monitor (RM) Lewis-Barnett. The book club’s aim is to increase the amount of reading the residents are doing and improve their reading comprehension skills, English language, and communication skills as well.
Using what she learned in the social psychology class that she recently completed; RM Barnett has found that the book club has become its own kind of therapy. “It’s a creative space where the residents not only learn and have fun discussing the books being read, but it’s one of the classes that allows them to have a quiet focus, which can at times be challenging for our guys” states RM Barnett.
RM Barnett went on to share, “While many of our residents have excellent reading skills, we occasionally have a few that find reading comprehension a difficulty, but our book club allows everyone at any reading level to participate.”
RM Barnett helps them with pronunciation and context. She also follows up with English language activities, focusing on things like learning and identifying the different parts of speech, spelling, compound words, comparisons, and reading comprehension etc.
As the library is very small, donations of books and reading materials are very much appreciated. Just recently, residents and staff alike were very grateful to receive a large donation of books by the Philipsburg Jubilee Library.
Generally, there is only a single copy of each library book, so each member of the Turning Point Book Club will read a separate book.
Each week residents meet and share an update about what’s going on in their books. RM Barnett also spends time finding short, inspirational stories that each resident will take turns reading aloud and then they discuss and answer questions about the stories.
Residents were provided journals where they can jot down their reflections and make note of words, with which they aren’t familiar. Then within the group a large vocabulary chart is used so that they can all learn new words together.
So far, the resident’s favorite book has been The Count of Monte Cristo. The next book is The Prince and the Prodigal.
“What has been the most surprising, is how interested the residents have been in the book club. Most of the guys here can read very well and they enjoy the class. I can see that they look forward to it, as their assignments are always done and from time to time, the guys will come to me and ask things from the book they don’t understand.”
Education is extremely important at Turning Point. As such, Turning Point staff and residents alike are strongly encouraged to continue their education in whatever way that’s possible. Some attend classes or workshops in person while others enroll in courses online.
“It is our belief that education, when applied, can benefit every aspect of our lives. When our staff continue to learn and grow, so does our organization” stated Turning Point’s Director & Senior Counselor, Dr. Tasheena Thomas-Maccow.