Monday, April 27, 2009

a love for reading

I found out that there was a Shopaholic movie out only a week ago; I don't get to see many advertisements. When I heard about it, I immediately made a timeline as to when I could see it (movies are one of my new found favorite first world activities). My sister, Carly and I had a very serious obsession with the series when we were in University.

I figured I could find time when I am in the capital in two weeks time for a literacy conference at headquarters. Then I ran into my buddy Mjama and he had just got a visit from his American mother, who brought him a few movies. So I watched Confessions of a Shopaholic a bit ago.

I totally annoyed my host-sister Lungile reminiscing about my love affair with the books. Lungile is a big reader, so totally got it! I now feed her a chapter book a day, very healthy grade 5 habit. I proudly steal (liberate) books from wherever I find them, my school libs or friend's libs. She giggles when she reads, I love it. One of my favorite things is to see young children laugh when they are listening to a story read by educators in home-language or like Lungile have something to read alone. So into the moment they irrupt with emotion. When I am observing educators and assisting in the classroom at my one school, I can be discouraged for most of the morning but once the educator grabs a book to read to the learners and their smile finally turns on, I am back in the present and happy to be a part of their day and its learning.

Grade 1 Educator, N.V. reading to learners

Recently, in searching my comp for old education files, I discovered a most talented Tess Leyser's paper about read-alouds. It reminded me how very valuable the skills I am teaching educators here are. The first skill I teach educators during one-on-one sessions is reading to their learners. Unfortunately, I don't find that flashing research helps to influence educators. Instead, the educators and I discuss why reading can be valuable and what resources we have available to us. I have gained their faith and trust, although I may be 30 years younger and 30 years less experienced than them. They humor me and attempt my peculiar requests and perform fabulously. My encouragement and continued review reassure them and we have another success story.