LETTER: As a follow up to the letter published in NST entitled 'Cultivate reading habit among kids' on June 9, 2021, I would like to say that there was a lot of appreciation from educators and professionals from different parts of the world.
I'd like to highlight a few of their opinions and experiences. Dr Bani, a physician and social worker from KL shared an inspiring information that some schools in KL such as SJKT Sungai Besi Wilayah Persekutuan runs a campaign for reading by sticking coloured badges on the collars of students which indicate the numbers of books read in a month from the library.
The reading is also tested by asking the students to share the gist of the newly read book in the school assembly. Gifts are rewarded to the students according to the number of books read at the end of the academic year as a motivation.
Ms Yasmeen Nigar who runs the Tokyo Bay International School (TIBS) in Japan shared that her school has started the initiative of children being issued appreciation awards for writing reviews about the books they read; as an attempt to inscribe the reading and writing habits in the early age.
Dr Siva Priya, a college lecturer from India added that their college has a reading club which has both students and staff as members. It is a practice that each of the members present on a rotational basis about the books they have read during their monthly meetings. The other members add on their opinions to make it an interactive session.
Mr B Ganesan, a motivational speaker from India also insists that the idea of giving an award to the best user of the library can be made mandatory in all the schools. Ideally, the award given should also be a book to boost the reading habit.
In response to the article, a reading specialist from the USA shared that in general kids 'learn to read' from kindergarten through the 3rd and 4th grade after that they 'read to learn'.
Further, kids who tend to fall back by the 3rd/4th grade are disadvantaged and need extra motivation and support by teachers and parents.
Another valuable lesson for teachers is that kids should be encouraged to read and allowed to pick their own topics or areas of interest. Experts in the field feel that when kids like a specific subject, they often read a lot more about it.
I find this concept quite rational based on my personal experience. My kids in primary school were fascinated to read more about dinosaurs, their habitats and extinction when they watched the Jurassic World movie.
Reading newspapers every day is one of the best ways to cultivate the habit of reading. Parents and teachers can encourage youngsters to read by subscribing to national dailies.
Let us all work together to make reading a habit among kids!
DR GOKUL SHANKAR SABESAN
Senior Associate Professor and Deputy Dean – Student Affairs
AIMST University