The project Lítil skref á leið til læsis (“Small Steps Toward Literacy”) received the Icelandic Education Award at Bessastaðir this week, honored as an outstanding development project in language stimulation and literacy.
The initiative is a collaboration between Borgarhólsskóli, Grænuvellir Preschool, the School of Education Development Center at the University of Akureyri, and physical therapist Natascha Damen. Its aim is to strengthen early literacy through closer cooperation between school levels, strong parental involvement, and professional input from a physical therapist.
The project will result in a practical guide for teachers, offering a framework and ideas on how to build effective collaboration across school stages, engaging teachers, parents, and children in the process.
“We are extremely proud of this project, and the award brings both recognition and motivation to continue building on the professionalism that has grown through this work,” says Þórgunnur Reykjalín, principal of Borgarhólsskóli.
She adds that success depends on teachers’ creativity and their enthusiasm for creating learning environments that inspire students’ interest in literacy, letters, and the world around them. “The collaboration between teachers and school levels has been exceptional, and the staff has put great effort into trying new ideas. We will use this recognition to continue growing and developing strong educational practices,” she says.
