Giving children a reading role model in their lives
Since 2003 a team of rostered volunteers has been going into 3 low-decile schools in Lower Hutt to participate in one-on-one reading sessions with children. The children practise reading to the volunteer at a level slightly higher than that at which they were currently reading. The response from the children is enthusiastic. Some of the children get little opportunity for similar reading experiences at home and they really appreciate being able to demonstrate their skills to an encouraging adult.
The schools now say they do not know how they managed without our team.
The benefits
The schools involved, have told us that improved reading is not the only benefit this scheme is providing - these children now have another role model in their lives and someone to discuss what they did at the weekend, how their favourite rugby team is faring, and generally take an interest in them. The schools now say they do not know how they managed without our team.
The volunteers themselves feel rewarded by their tangible contribution to their community. Volunteering has spread beyond Probus members to the Bowling Club, Bridge Club, partners of our Rotary Club members, and even staff and friends of our Rotary Club members. With participation not always possible 100% of the time, there is always a continuing need to attract new volunteers to carry on this most valuable project.
How it started
In early 2003, our Vocational Director attended our District's Leaders-elect Training programme. She observed that a Club in Taranaki was running a Reading Assistance programme in the local low-decile schools with great results. It apeared that in many cases the problem was not that these children were unintelligent but that no-one in their family had the time to spend to encourage them with their reading.
With the support of local Probus Clubs, who provided many of the volunteers, we started the programme in three local low-decile schools: Pomare School, Rata Street School, and Epuni School.
With the support of local Probus Clubs, who provided many of the volunteers, we started the programme in three local low-decile schools: Pomare School, Rata Street School, and Epuni School.
In a nutshell ...
Reader volunteers are allocated to each school. They attend one morning per week for 2.5 hours and listen to, and assist children on a one to one basis with their reading. Each child gets between 10 and 20 minutes with a reader, four readers operating at once in a comfortable room in the school. Schools have differing policies on selecting which children get the assistance but in all, the procedure is the same, with four children being sent from class as the previous children finish. Usually the child reads to the adult but sometimes the adult will read to the child or maybe even share the reading.
The response from the children is enthusiastic. Some of the children get little opportunity for similar reading experiences at home and they really appreciate being able to demonstrate their skills to an encouraging adult.