Reading is
a skill that needs to develop early with children. Be it the simple Amar Chitra Katha or the Harry Potter, all of them do one thing,
they engage the children. They are the source of imagination, creativity and
knowledge. The added bonus? A fantastic vocabulary. Whether one reads them in
the mother tongue or English, books are the primary loyal friends one can make.
Books are not merely the saviors during times of boredom, they are also what
will motivate one to cultivate interest in academics.
Paperless
society is a total myth. The modern society has seen the acceptance of gadgets
and tablets that replaced books. But there is also a sect of people who have
held on to books dearly. Haven’t we experienced the familiarity of the hold,
the turning of the paper and the smell of the new book are all the little
package that come with reading. But to feel this and impart this sense of
shared feeling, it is high time we start educating our children, the importance
of reading.
While all
of us do emphasize its role in the later years, we definitely have missed out
how to get this started with children. Some of the best schools in Bangalore,
have understood the importance of this and have materialized their ideas.
Mission: Reading
Teachers
of the IB schools in Bangalore have taken up this small mission to motivate
children to read. Here is how it becomes effective.
Share
experience: Share your reading experiences with them.
Tell them what you have gained from reading certain book. Recommend them some
books and weave stories around it interestingly, in a way that will want them
to read it,
A Read-Athon: Sounds new? Basically, get your students to
re-read their favorite books and ask them to tell others about it. Invite
children and parents and let them intervene and ask how a particular book is
interesting. Let them give their opinions. Promote an environment for a healthy
after discussion.
Book Clubs: Hold book clubs in your school and let the
students socialize around reading. Let the students interact around texts and
let them challenge each other to take up books and explain it to others. Most
of all, allow them to share the books with each other. This will become a fun
activity and will also enhance their articulatory and comprehension skills.
Invite Authors: You could invite small authors to speak to
them. Ask them to read their book and encourage them to interact and question the
author. This way, the students will understand what reading between the lines
actually mean.
The way ahead
The way
ahead is a way that will be filled with experiences and knowledge gain. The
simple act of igniting the mission can ignite several minds to reading. One of
the most under rated pleasure is the pleasure of reading. It takes you to a
world of imagination and a world of different kind. Give them access to this
world. Make way for reading, and the other elements of learning will make way
for itself.
