Reading has always been a hobby of mine. I fondly remember the joy of getting new books and staying up at night trying to finish the story. When I became a teacher I assumed that students would have that same passion for reading that I had. This was usually not the case. At first I thought that maybe there were too many other alternatives to reading which resulted in the disinterest. While this was true for some students it was not the reality for all. Closer investigation revealed that there was a much deeper problem, that of literacy problems.
With no training in the area of literacy assessment and instruction I generally felt helpless when teaching these students. Added to my frustration was the concern I felt for these students as literacy , in my view, is essential to everyday life. The worst case, which brought the reality of the reading problems faced by our students,was a 16 year old student who had difficulty writing the alphabet! Therefore, when I heard about this programme, I jumped at the opportunity to learn how to help students like the 16 year old, to bring the joy of reading to those who have lost it or have never experienced it and to work with other teachers who I know experience great frustraton and helplessness when working with such students.
I hear you Trumanne. Technology is a wonderful thing. Many have said that our students are products of a technological age, so that reading has lost its appeal. Perhaps this is true, but sad to say I believe I utilize many technological tools, and enjoy the benefits of them, but I have never lost my passion for reading. It is indeed frustrating when we meet kids who struggle to read. at least now, we are better equipped to deal with them.
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