Families were treated to a night of journal-making at Dr. S.E. McDowell Elementary in Shawville on Thursday night, thanks to a new initiative from the Western Quebec Literacy Council (WQLC).
The event was the first held at the school as part of the organization’s Family Activity Club series.
WQLC volunteer and organizer Carolyn Hibbs said the idea is to give families an opportunity to practice literacy activities that can be enjoyed together.
“They are doing an activity where they are practicing reading or writing or math, but it is an activity where they are not reading a book,” she said.
Hibbs said the organization previously hosted similar activity nights in Gatineau, and found that the best outcomes were when families were given the materials to be creative together.
“We give them tools, and they get to do whatever they want with them while they are practicing reading and writing,” she said.
On Thursday evening, journal-making materials were provided free of charge, including markers, pencils, and scratch-and-sniff stickers participants used to customize and adorn their journals.
Laura Palmer was there with her two kids, and said they heard about the event online and decided to come check it out.
“It sounded kind of interesting,” she said. “It’s always a fun way to learn how to involve literacy in different ways.”
Owen Thomas said he is going to use his journal to track his hockey progress this season with the U13 Shawville Lions.
“Hockey stats and hockey games, and also goals,” he said of what he intends to put in the journal, and added that his goal for this year is “to become a better hockey player.”
Hibbs said they will be holding these events every month, and encourages more people to check it out.
