"Your manuscript is both good and original, but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.”
-Samuel Johnson
-Samuel Johnson
We all know who the great writers are...Shakespeare, for his contribution and development of the English language. Joyce, for his post modern musings on the human condition.....
But, who do really read? And more to the point, what can we get students to read?
In a previous post we discussed how hard it is the modern world for any of us to find the time or indeed the concentration to sit down and read for an extended period of time.
Many of us think that reading seriously involves the great works of literature. But this isn’t always so.
To develop reading start anywhere. Read anything. Read your crisp packet, your cereal box, the label inside your jumper.
In fact, a good way to foster reading is not to read at all...just listen instead.
This is what educators refer to as oral literacy. When young people hear words being used to express emotions they realise the value they have.
“Oral language competence is an important, yet often overlooked protective factor in young people”
Giving students exposure to a wider vocabulary gives them more verbal tools to communicate with...to better express their hopes, fears, aims and ambitions. They in turn can then access these words on the printed page in time.
Reading to students is great, as indeed are audio books. Here’s a great resource for some free audio books...they could bring out the writer in you! Happy listening!!
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