KERRY-ing for reading

by Kerrylene Paulsen

My first encounter with a reading book was when I was about four or five years old. I did not attend crèche then but wanted to read a book and tore a page out accidentally. This book belonged to my older brother. When my dad learned of this, he wasn't happy with me. When he heard I wanted to read, he was so proud and taught me himself. That's how my love of reading began. I've attended Riverlea First Primary School from Grade one to Grade seven and have been a student of merit. I volunteered at the same school because I wanted to give back to our community. I was disappointed when I learned that the kids in our communities have difficulty reading. I assisted the school with grade three and four classes when a Library Assistant position became available. I applied and was appointed. It was the ideal job to teach kids to read.

Flashcards of the alphabet were made and used by children to build words. I joined Readers R Leaders and learned about the inter-primary school reading competition. I prepared Grade six and seven learners for the Phendulani Reading Competition (a competition between seven primary schools in our district). The children read 13 books based on different categories, such as sport, youth, real-life stories, spy stories, and tested on these books.

In January, I decided to work with children in smaller groups. Where we also help the children understand and communicate what they are learning. Since our children are future leaders, my passion and goal are to empower them. Just think about setting the trend for readers, and it continues to grow. Where will our country be? Our imaginations open up through reading, and we can transport ourselves to another world. Depending on your interests, you can either relax or be swept away by suspense, romance, or even a thrilling murder series. May God grant me the courage, strength, and wisdom to continue. Thank you