Cultivating a love for reading among children is the key to setting them up for a successful future. In celebration of World Read Aloud Day (4 February) and World Read Aloud Month, that is commemorated throughout February annually, local learners from Wellington joined in on the activities.
In the words of the famous American poet Maya Angelou: “Reading aloud to children is a gift that will last a lifetime”.
Gabriella Human, a teacher at Bergriver NGK Primary, says on Wednesday (4 February) she worked with her multi-grade Grade 3 and Grade 4 learners.
“We had a reading activity, where learners read aloud using different emotions and took turns ‘reading into the microphone.’ The atmosphere in the classroom was joyful, relaxed, and engaging.”
She says the learners enjoyed reading aloud thoroughly and were very excited. Human added that all the grades participated in the activities.
“Learners laughed together and showed more confidence while reading aloud on the microphone. They almost couldn’t wait their turn. By pairing a Grade 3 with a Grade 4 learner, it helped them share their understanding about the stories they read. It also helped them answer basic questions about comprehension that were given to them to ask. The when, why, who comprehension questions.”
The Departement of Basic Education have shown their full support to the cause of reading aloud to children.
“Read Aloud Month is an annual initiative aimed at extending the reach and sustained impact of World Read Aloud Day by promoting daily read aloud practices throughout February. The campaign functioned as a national call to action, mobilising schools, families, communities, and civil society organisations to actively contribute to the development of children’s language competencies, imagination, and enduring engagement with reading,” the department said in a statement.
“This year represents a landmark moment in South Africa’s literacy and inclusion agenda, with the campaign unveiling its inaugural World Read Aloud Day story developed in South African Sign Language (SASL) by Sign Language Education and Development (SLED). The story has been systematically translated into the country’s remaining eleven official languages, reinforcing a multilingual and inclusive approach to literacy promotion.”
Furthermore the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) encourage learners and their parents to the WCED’s virtual library to find a variety of eBooks and resources. Here is the link to the library: https://wcedeportal.co.za/wced-eportal-online-library
