I am often asked by the parents of learners why their children’s grades are falling as they proceed through high school. One of the first questions that I ask is “How many books does your child read each week?” More often than not the answer given is that the child does not read for enjoyment at all! There is a perception that once a child has the ability to read, there is no need to continue developing this skill! This is incorrect! Pupils that do not read continually in high school do not maintain the high marks they achieved in primary school. A non-reader who achieved 80% in grade 7 will be lucky to achieve 35 to 40% in grade 12. The reason for this decrease in marks amongst non-readers is that non-readers take longer to read examination questions and miss out vital information and subtle nuances in questions. They take longer to formulate answers and even longer to write the answers down, which means that they never complete examination papers. Very often matric learners have told me that it’s not the work they don’t know but the question they don’t understand! With modern children being exposed to electronic devices, remedial problems have become more prevalent because children do not use their imagination as they would do when reading books. A love for reading needs to be developed in the home so that children can increase their reading and comprehension levels. Foster a love for reading at home by reading articles to your child that both you and your child are interested in. Children learn by mirroring and imitating! If you are an avid reader your child will become one – let your children see you making reading a priority! Take time each day to spend time with your children READING. Make reading an enjoyable, fun interactive priority. Visit your municipal library once every two weeks and expose your child to a variety of different books.
Written by Daryl Franks, Oakridge College