RCRT - Literacy Initiatives 2
Posted by Sonia Webster
on Sep 18, 2015
Read To Your Kids 15 Minutes A Day
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Story by: Virgin Islands Platinum News
Parents are being encouraged to take 15 minutes of their time daily to read with their children. Mr. Ryan Geluk, President of the Rotary Club of Road Town made this call during a press conference on literacy hosted by the Rotary Club of Road Town at the Moorings Conference Room.
Geluk said though they recognize that the resources have changed and physical books have changed to e-books, Kindles, iPads and other electronic media, it doesn’t change the importance of literacy and the need to read.
"This is why we are working with the BVI Reading Council and Teacher Lynden to promote a program to encourage all children to read for fifteen minutes each day and all parents to read to their children for fifteen minutes per day. Fifteen minutes per day does not seem like a lot; however, reading aloud to your child is proven to be the single most important thing that you can do to help a child prepare for reading and learning," he said.
Geluk stated that in addition, it also builds quality time between parents and their child, something that is severely lacking in the society where television and video games have replaced books and reading.
"In fact, if we read to our children for 15 minutes each day for the first 5 years of their lives, this will equate to over 27 thousand minutes or over 450 hours of quality time."
Teacher Lynden Smith, Co-President of the BVI Reading Council during her remarks expressed her pleasure and passion to be a part of literacy in the Virgin Islands.
"My mother taught me how to read, but my father taught me to love reading," teacher Lynden stated. She also recalled that her father would read to all ten children in the evenings.
She presented the goal of "15 minutes reading, every parent, every child, every day", which is easily achieved via a bedtime story.
Teacher Lynden noted that if a child doesn't learn to read by Grade 3, they are very likely to drop out of school later.
Geluk said though they recognize that the resources have changed and physical books have changed to e-books, Kindles, iPads and other electronic media, it doesn’t change the importance of literacy and the need to read.
"This is why we are working with the BVI Reading Council and Teacher Lynden to promote a program to encourage all children to read for fifteen minutes each day and all parents to read to their children for fifteen minutes per day. Fifteen minutes per day does not seem like a lot; however, reading aloud to your child is proven to be the single most important thing that you can do to help a child prepare for reading and learning," he said.
Geluk stated that in addition, it also builds quality time between parents and their child, something that is severely lacking in the society where television and video games have replaced books and reading.
"In fact, if we read to our children for 15 minutes each day for the first 5 years of their lives, this will equate to over 27 thousand minutes or over 450 hours of quality time."
Teacher Lynden Smith, Co-President of the BVI Reading Council during her remarks expressed her pleasure and passion to be a part of literacy in the Virgin Islands.
"My mother taught me how to read, but my father taught me to love reading," teacher Lynden stated. She also recalled that her father would read to all ten children in the evenings.
She presented the goal of "15 minutes reading, every parent, every child, every day", which is easily achieved via a bedtime story.
Teacher Lynden noted that if a child doesn't learn to read by Grade 3, they are very likely to drop out of school later.
The Rotary Club of Road Town has embarked on a number of projects surrounding literacy, including a new project which they have termed, ‘Word for Word’.
Further, each month, members of the Rotary Club of Road Town will be visiting the local library and community center in East End, where they will be reading aloud to the children there.
According to the club, it will continue to take an active role in the annual Spelling Bee competition within the primary and secondary schools.
Rotary Club of Road Town stated that it will also continue to support the Books for Babies program which is put on by Dawn Smith and others.
During the press conference, Health Literacy and Disaster Risk Reduction Literacy were also mentioned.
Further, each month, members of the Rotary Club of Road Town will be visiting the local library and community center in East End, where they will be reading aloud to the children there.
According to the club, it will continue to take an active role in the annual Spelling Bee competition within the primary and secondary schools.
Rotary Club of Road Town stated that it will also continue to support the Books for Babies program which is put on by Dawn Smith and others.
During the press conference, Health Literacy and Disaster Risk Reduction Literacy were also mentioned.