(From right) Kopele Tepa and Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome in conversation with T. Keditsu on August 16.
Morung Express News
Kohima | August 16
In an effort to “rethink education” and for everyone to participate in creating a better learning environment for children, a conversation on “The love for reading: Proficiency and Passion” under “The Radicle Forum” was held at Badze Leshüki on August 16.
Kopele Tepa, Special Educator & founder of Bumblebee Inclusive School Kohima and Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome, Asia-Pacific Deputy News Director of The Associated Press & Founder of The BookHome Library Kohima were the resource persons, and were in conversation with T. Keditsu, poet & educator.
While books tend to be forced upon in schools, Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome underscored the importance of making reading an exciting activity for children from an early age.
Observing that children are so keen on colours seen in picture books, she explored ways on how schools can give them the platform to make children more interested in reading.
“When your children are young, early reading is the most important stage,” she noted while pointing out that “early childhood is really the time when you have to let your children read.”
Stating that reading is not just about stories but whether it is history, science or geography, she impressed upon that reading enables a child to understand things better in every aspect.
Reiterating that reading is so important to build as a child, she said that it goes on to build their confidence.
“When we are reading to them, they are receiving it as we are talking to them. We learn to read first and then we read to learn about everything else”, she articulated.
Further pointing out that there is also a danger of being a proficient reader, she explained that, “a proficient reader could be one who can read but not comprehend.”
She encouraged teachers to let their students read and parents to read bedtime stories to children even while highlighting that, “when children see us reading, it becomes a culture in the house.”
Dwelling on Early Reading Programme, Kopele Tepa stated that reading is not just blending of words but also about how it sounds and understanding the sound of every alphabet.
Stressing on starting from the very minute details, she also underscored how photographic memory stays in a child's mind whether it is opening a book, phone or images and urged parents and teachers to make reading interesting for children.
“Begin with just talking about the picture, and see if they can form a story,” she added.
Highlighting that many children can read but not comprehend, she also observed that many schools are missing that aspect. “Every time you are reading with a child, help them to understand and that's when you develop the joy of reading,” she put across.
The conversation also explored ways one can read for children and with children as well as the business of matching the right books for right readers, and making it accessible for them besides stressing on the need to not associate reading with punishment.
