Something Magical Happened in The Young Readers’ Club
It taught me something about patience, perseverance and hard work.
There is some magic in meeting one’s friends who one may know well or one may just ‘happen’ to see or play with downstairs, to read a book together. Well, that’s how our Young Readers’ Club started. Together, we began to discover the joys of exploring a large variety of books.
There is some magic in meeting one’s friends who one may know well or one may just ‘happen’ to see or play with downstairs, to read a book together.
Most parents worried that their children were not reading at all and was hoping that the Young Readers’ Club could create some magic. Reading in a group is fun as it enables you to see the same book from different perspectives. Given the space, even the reserved ones find their voices. But ultimately, in the long run, it occurred to me that it would all be pointless if it did not translate into something more tangible- making them independent and life long readers.
But ultimately, in the long run, it occurred to me that it is pointless if all this effort does not result in them independently reading outside of our sessions.
Silent reading
Since independent reading is something that does not happen outside the sessions, we had to start somewhere. Following Donalyn Miller’s advice in Book Whisperer, silent reading was introduced. First 15 minutes of every session once we finish chit chat, is spent on reading a book of one’s choice silently. We discovered that it is nice to read silently even on Zoom. Ofcourse, there are some who are distracted and tend to google or play something. But those who understand the purpose, pick up a book and read. What’s more they share what they read, thus motivating the others to see if they too can find magic in a book.
However, there was another problem which was probably even the reason why some of them were distracted. Children used to turn up without books for silent reading. I hunted for online sources for books that were free. It worked for awhile until I realized that children were reading books that were below their reading levels. If silent reading was all the reading that they would do, it was pointless if they were not reading books that matched their current reading levels, let alone strive to move forward.
Making it easier to access books
There are a vast variety of books available today that it can be daunting for parents to find books that are relevant to their children. It is perhaps easier to simply rely on the books they read while they were growing up. Unfortunately, that ends up making these children more averse to reading as these books fail to catch their attention on account of a variety of reasons.
This realisation led to the Young Readers’ Book Lending Program, a curated book collection, that I slowly started to build. The process made me realize that it is difficult to find books. Thankfully, there are incredibly helpful resources-Facebook groups such as the BookWallis, Reading Racoons as well as book review websites such as goodbooks.in.
It took time, but slowly children started having books in their hands for silent reading. They took a lot of time to finish books. But they were never hurried. Months would go by with the same book. I used to tell myself, they will eventually finish.
Months would go by with the same book. I used to tell myself, they will eventually finish.
Monthly activities began to give them incentive to read. Every activity involved sharing something about a book(s) that they read over the month and eventually be a way to recommend a variety of books to their peers. All these recommendations would be shared.
I must admit that I felt a number of times if any one was reading these compilations and the snippets on reading that I send every week. But I knew that this was something that I have to do.
Magic beginning to take shape
We were winding up the Read-a-Thon challenge in the first week of December. Avid readers on the group went on with their long list of books while the less avid ones, shyly admitted to have been able to finish 1–3 books and not having reached the challenge limit which was four books. When they were assured that it is fine and it is amazing that they read even one book in contrast to others who don’t read at all and are losing out on the joys of reading or the fact they they have surpassed the number of books they read the previous month, the mood changed. Visibly they were overjoyed at being recognized as readers irrespective of the number of books that they have read!
Visibly they were overjoyed at being recognized as readers irrespective of the number of books that they have read!
As is customary, I participate in every activity. I shared my list of books that I read for Readathon. Coincidentally, The Mystery Of The Secret Hair Oil Formula by Asha Nehemiah, that was on my list was being read by a young reader. He leaped for joy. What’s more, another reader who had just picked up few books from me, was keen to borrow that book next, after hearing both our reviews. Sometimes, things happen in a way that you cannot possibly fathom. That day was indeed special. It gave me the conviction, that given time and perseverance, these children will also experience the magic of reading.
He leaped for joy. What’s more, another reader who had just picked up few books from me, was keen to borrow that book next, after hearing both our reviews. Sometimes, things happen in a way that you cannot possibly fathom.
