Volunteers open up world of literature

Students at One Tree Hill College who need help in reading soon find themselves buddied up with doctors, lawyers, business leaders or even a knight of the realm.

The decile 3 school's reading enrichment programme has achieved significant success and is now being expanded into Otahuhu College.

All Year 9 students starting at One Tree Hill College, formerly called Penrose High School, are tested. Those who would benefit from extra help are put on the reading programme.

Tutors are those in the community who are happy to help. Many have impressive credentials - but those matter less than the time volunteered.

Established in 1997, the programme has been quietly achieving impressive results, driven by community members who provide one-on-one tuition.

The school's own monitoring of improved results has been supported by research by a University of Auckland master's candidate.

Principal Nick Coughlan said the programme's track record meant it was now well known in the community, and parents asked for their children to be enrolled before they started school.

"To jump a student two curriculum levels in reading and understanding - that is enormous."

Makiroa Noomaara's son Xaquin, 14, completed the programme earlier this year.

Ms Noomaara said she knew the value of reading after using books to learn English after arriving from the Cook Islands when she was at school.

Despite there being "shelves of books" at home, it had been hard to interest Xaquin in reading with computers and other technology available. But that changed this year.

"It took a while to kick-start, but the most important thing was for me was to see him hold a book - not just one, but two or three. From there, I saw changes in him. Before, he would read and mumble and stumble. Now, he is reading passages through, freely and easily. His writing ability is amazing. I'm just blown away."

Another fan is Callie Corrigan, whose daughter Kahurangi Te Wara completed the programme last year. Before starting secondary school, the 15-year-old had learned at Maori immersion schools in Kaitaia, and the change to mainstream schooling brought challenges.

"Her vocabulary and her confidence to read wasn't high.

"You can read a book, but to actually comprehend and understand what you are reading is another step."

The one-on-one tuition had given Kahurangi confidence, Ms Te Corrigan said, and she now chose more challenging books.

"Her younger brothers were seeing her read books. She was even starting to challenge Dad to read books," Ms Corrigan said. "That is the programme supporting not only that child, but also stimulating conversations in the home."

Students taking part in a session yesterday barely registered the Herald photographer as pictures were taken for this article, instead focusing on reading, talking and laughing with their tutors. Manu Maake, 14, was helped by Sir David Tompkins, 85, a retired QC and High Court Judge.

Sir David said the comprehension tests that followed the reading were important. "You get some satisfaction out of helping them," he said. "And because you have the same child for the whole time, you see them develop as you do it."