TERM 4 2019 – This week saw the beginning of our Buddy reading program in which students from year 6 at St Mary’s come to visit us for a morning session of reading. Each big Buddy selects a kindy child to read to and to ask their new kindy friends various questions about the story illustrations and story content to ensure that they are learning to comprehend what is being read to them. After the visit we received comments from the Koala children like:
- It was so much fun.
- I loved meeting the big kids
- I had a great time
- I loved reading so many books with our new friends.
- They also commented that they cannot wait to be able to read books all by themselves just like their buddy reader can.
We look forward to our Reading Buddies returning in the near future.
AS EDUCATORS, WE WERE AMAZED AT THE FOCUS AND CONCENTRATON THAT EACH KINDY CHILD DEMONSTRATED AS THEY LISTENED INTENTLY TO NUMEROUS STORIES FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AND ANSWERS LOTS OF COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS SO COMPETENTLY. LOTS OF PRE-READING READINESS IN ACTION.
So why is this program so beneficial to all involved.
The ‘Little Buddies’ benefit from:
- hearing stories read-aloud (modeling of reading fluency, phrasing and expression)
- having conversations with an older student about topics that interest and involve them (extending their vocabulary, oral language abilities
- having regular opportunities to practice how to read a book – look at the pictures, turning the pages, interpreting the pictures, moving through the book from front to back)
- for younger students to listen to a book to reinforce comprehension skills.
- enjoying fun, positive experiences with a ‘big kid’ who is a part of their community
The ‘Big Buddies’ benefit from:
- further developing their own literacy skills and increase the reading confidence of the older student.
- fostering leadership and problem-solving skills
- improved self-confidence that comes from being looked-up to
- a very real and important reason to be responsible
- develop their ability to formulate questions about the story text to help the younger students develop their comprehension – learning to design and express questions depends the older student understanding of story writing and how to develop a great story when they are writing.
Reading Buddies programs promote a higher interest and engagement in reading and improve social and communication skills. Most importantly, it’s another FUN way to engage with book and early literacy.