Western Heights Primary School in Rotorua has seen a variety of new visitors coming and going of late – all of them repeat offenders!
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| Volunteer tutor Paddy Newton, with Kymaira Dawson, Year 1 student at Western Heights Primary School, Rotorua. |
No, these visitors are not trouble-makers or even student parents. They are volunteer tutors who meet with some 40 five-year-olds who are part of the new oral language programme Te Wa Korero Ngā Tamariki (commonly referred to as “TKT”) launched this year.
TKT is the brainchild of Annette Stock, a speech language and literacy specialist. She was approached by Rotary Club of Rotorua Sunrise President Sue Gunn, who recognised that there were serious literacy issues in the local community. Education and literacy is a key focus area for Rotary International. Annette and Sue approached Western Heights Primary School to see if an oral language programme would help.
“Children need to develop a sound oral language system, which is a natural developmental process that takes place when a child is between naught and five,” says Annette. “That system will then support them when they move on with the more formal process of learning to read, write and spell.”
Many children in lower socio-economic areas do not develop strong oral language skills due to having a more transient lifestyle, not attending preschool, and experiencing limited interpersonal communication at home.
Western Heights Primary was targeted because this school has the second-highest transient rate in the country. Principal Brent Griffin is already thrilled with TKT, believing it is vital for his school. “It provides the foundation that allows the young children to access the school’s curriculum from day one,” he adds.
Volunteers spend about 30 minutes one-on-one with their student three times per week. Using books with large, vibrant pictures, they encourage the children to tell them what they see happening in the pictures.
“This project is not to teach students to read,” explains Annette. “It has been developed to provide support for students to be read to and talk about the book content as it relates to them.”
The books were funded by Rotary Rotorua Sunrise in Rotary District 9930, plus Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, and are authored by New Zealand writers, making them culturally and linguistically more relatable.
“Some magical things are happening,” Annette says. “These children are very loving children, so they just love the adult attention, that one-on-one interaction. They are forming relationships, gaining confidence, and really looking forward to their time with the tutors.”
The enjoyment is mutual emphasises Sue. “The volunteers are really enjoying their time with the children, reading storybooks, introducing rhyme and playing educational games that develop oral language and confidence in the children. My husband Don and I are tutors. It’s a very rewarding and worthwhile experience.”
- By Sue Gunn, President, Rotorua Sunrise Rotary
