The COVID-19 is a unique pandemic that led to the closure of schools. As educators, we had a need to stay connected to the learners as well as develop a reading culture focused on the three main languages taught at school i.e English, Kiswahili & French. This gave rise to the Raising Readers program- an evening reading program that takes place every week in an effort to build and promote a reading culture in our learners.
The reading program focuses on nurturing a learner’s listening and comprehension skills.
We facilitate student learning and imagination online by sharing colourful pictures, engaging stories by our best readers. There is an emphasis on drawing language patterns and simplifying complex concepts for students.
During these sessions, our learners are taken through a guided reading session that tests both their listening and comprehension skills. Once the reading is done, the learners go through a series of questions to gauge their understanding.
Each learner is then given an opportunity to answer questions and the rest of the class would appreciate their classmate through some snaps. This is also a great way to boost the learner’s confidence in the classroom.
It’s a joy to see students smiling curiously through the stories and participating fully. We look forward to hosting more of these events where we can promote a reading culture in our young ones from an early age.