Reading- The key to learning

Reading- The key to learning

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. As a 21^st century teacher and parent, I feel it is very important to develop a habit of reading in early childhood.

I still remember my school days when we used to have a library period once in a week. That day used to be a treat for a book lover girl like me. When our class teacher walked in with librarian madam and a bag full of books, we used to be super happy. That day we used to get a chance to choose a story book and enjoy it for a week. Along with this, I was lucky enough to get few teachers who were passionate about reading and books that always motivated us to read good books and increase our knowledge in various areas.

On the other hand at home, my parents always encouraged me to read by bringing new books, asking me to discuss and write about it, visiting books exhibition and libraries and so on. That helped me to find the most loyal friend- book!

Now a days there are numerous options to introduce ourself to huge set of data and knowledge. As there is increase in electronic devices like computers, laptops, i pads it takes more effort to take a child to the world of books. It is now a joint venture of school teachers and parents who need to make well directed efforts to create interest in reading.

Here I would like to share one such appreciable exmple of a reading program conducted by Oslo International Schoo situated in Norway. I find myself lucky enough to experience this program as a parent as well as a teacher of primary school kids over last few months.

In order to create interest in reading in young students as well as to develop the essential reading skills, various activities are conducted in this school on regular basis.

1. Trade book system- In this program, everyday a child is allowed to choose a book from a specifically assigned difficulty level. Child is expected to read that book at home and parents are supposed to write the comments about the reading session at home. This book is returned back to school next day. In this way, the reading records are mentained throughout the academic year. As every child get to choose the book he/she want to read, kids are happy about it and even we are happy because the child is reading the boooks which is appropriate for his/her learning level at that time.
2. ORT- Oxford Reading Tree is a highly standardised program that includes several levels of reading based on age, skills and vocabulary. All the kids in classroom are pre assessed and put into specific difficulty levels of reading. Every week class teacher choose books and associated worksheets for every child and on a spcific day of a week, two consecutive lessons are assigned for reading program. Kids are grouped as per their reading proficiency levels and teachers, assistants and even some of the enthusisatic parents help in guided reading to make a small group to provide individual attention. During this, kids get to read the book and solve some worksheets. Ten the same book is given home on that weekend and then child is supposed to practice reading that book with parents and then parents write their comments and ORT reading records are returned back to school .
3. Book fair- Every year school arrange the book fair event with the help of parent volunteers that gives the kids one more opportunity to go shopping on their own wish but the choice is only the books again.
4. Book week- Every year school takes a great initiative to invite some famous writers who interact with students and followed by couple of activities throughout the week. This is a fun experience for kids and of course encourage them to read.
5. Book exchange program- Once in an academic year, students are asked to bring one of their used but good condition books and exchange it with other classmates that helps t o inculcate the reading and even more values in the young kids.
6. Liabrary Period- Once in a week every class has a library period where librarian reads a story book for kids and then kids choose one of the story book to take home for a week. Here kids choose books ranging from bedtime stories to fiction, novels, art and craft books, horror, history, informative books and so on. Kids really get to explore the treasure of wisdom. As young minds are learning to flip than click, this is the most beautiful investment of time in the worlds one of the best places i.e. Library

At the end, I would just like to conclude that books are really keys to wisdom and I believe that it's our turn as a parent as well as teacher to handover these to our new generation which will open a variety of precious gateways of knowledge in their future.

©Shruti Bhide-Hinge

23-03-2017