30 October 2010

Improving reading habit in the classroom

The presence of reading materials does not feature as an important idea in most schools .This is mainly due to the following factors:
•Most teachers lack the intiative and creativity to start a library in the classroom.
•generally schools in the third world countries lack funding to set libraries in the form of PDAs or other electronic gadgets let alone to buy library books.
•teachers do not be recognised by school adminstration and other stakeholders to buy the reading materials that are essential in the classroom as not being priortised.
Reading is a skill need to be developed for the child to form a habit which shall be significant in the learning process.The child can achieves writing ,speaking and listening skills.Reading facilitates accessibility to world events and can improve academic success.It provides a way of learning which results in change and development .Because of these merits brought by making use of regular reading habit,it is therefore necessary to provide a reading facility in the classrooms.Since learners are tasked to variety of subjects ,they need supplementary information they get from their teachers and and various reading sources through their own extensive and intensive reading. A rich library would go a long way towards helping learners in this respect.
Teachers should realise that once a child learns to read ,a new world has been openned in imagery and will read extensively to quench the thirst of knowledge through extensive reading.Since this resource are not adequate it is the duty of the teacher to be very resourceful by scrounging for appropriate reading material to make a classroom library.Every effort must be made to have materials for all subjects available.
The library should have the following characteristics, it should be inviting and should be accessible.The available books should be attractively displayed on easily accessible stands.The setting facilities should be comfortable for the child to read properly and enjoy reading.
The library should have materials such as novels ,both in English and other vernacular languages of children.The reference books must be available to suplement information on Geography ,Science and History and Dictionaries.
The old and current magazines and newspapers compiled into booklets perhaps on cartoons,jokes,court cases,disasters and other developments or events taking place around the world.
The works produced by learners such as poems ,stories and rhymes.The booklets produced by the teacher such as maps ,chart ,pictures and models.
Pupils are geared to be responsible and honest by making use of the library whilst their teacher is not around or during their spare time.They are also being organised to be responsible for others and care of public property ,as well as reflect self-discipline.At the same time the child is being trained in the art of research.
It is also possible to set aside one period per week that could be used for library purposes.Here the children select books and sit quietly while reading .The teacher when planning fortnight tests should include information from library so that pupils would be motivated to always go to library to read.If the school in accessible to the internet useful information from the web pages is important to be available to children.
However it is important to monitor children when surfing the net so that they can be protected from adults pages.
Children should have a small notebook which they use to record new words.This will boost their vocabulary.
Pupils who finished their assigned work can be given the greenlight to go to the library so that they can not disturb others who are still busy doing the assigned work.This cuts down on idleness and may substitute extension work. Parents should be asked to plan their children 's library in consultation with their teacher.It may be necessary to have occational discussion periods when pupils are given an opportunity to discuss what they read from the library.
Creating a library will definitely cultivate children's reading interests.

No comments:

Post a Comment