(From left) Rex Merrick, volunteer tutor, with fellow Rotarians Deb Bell and Mike Bannister. Photo/Supplied
(From left) Rex Merrick, volunteer tutor, with fellow Rotarians Deb Bell and Mike Bannister. Photo/Supplied
A local education initiative is in need of volunteer tutors to help it run this year.
Rotary Rotorua Sunrise launched the oral language programme 'Time to Talk with Tamariki - Te Wa Korero a nga Tamariki' at Western Heights Primary School in February 2014.
It was launched to help and raise the level of pupils' early oral language and literacy, to enable them to transition to more formal learning.
It meets one of The Rotary Foundation's key areas of focus – 'basic education and literacy in our local community' and the programme is a legacy established by past president, Sue Gunn.
The programme was developed by Annette Stock, a Speech Language and Literacy specialist.
Annette says children need to develop a sound oral language system - which is a natural developmental process - that will support them when they move on with the more formal process of learning to read, write and spell, which is not a natural development.
Teachers assess junior school children's oral language development, to get a base line and an idea of planning their programmes accordingly to meet student needs.
Volunteer tutors can support teachers with this process, raising student levels of oral language, which underpins literacy and numeracy growth.
Volunteer tutor Laura Hall at a training session. Photo/Supplied
The programme involves volunteers training in specific areas with Annette.
Rotary Rotorua Sunrise past president Sue Gunn says it will be fabulous to have 10 volunteers join.
She says many of the pupils arriving at Western Heights Primary School have been transient in their early preschool life or have been unable to attend any preschool facility.
This results in a large number of children starting school with extremely low oral language, which ultimately hinders their progress throughout their education, she says.
"Parents and caregivers are being encouraged to become part of the programme, helping to ensure that the community and intergenerational literacy levels are raised".
She says the volunteers enjoy their time with the children - reading storybooks, introducing rhyme and playing educational games that develop oral language and confidence in the children.
Sue and her husband, Don, are both members of Rotary Rotorua Sunrise and are tutors on the programme.
"It's a very rewarding and worthwhile experience tutoring the children.
"They are keen to learn and can be quite competitive when it comes to the games – we just love it."
Western Heights Primary School Year 1 pupils singing 'Oh, No Mister Possum'. Photo/Supplied
Western Heights Primary School assistant principal Megan Marshall is the supervisor of the programme.
She says student data on file shows the boost these students receive through the programme.
"Teachers have been taught to teach the learned process assuming the child comes in with a certain level of oral language skills, but they find there's a gap."
Principal Brent Griffin agrees that possessing good oral communication skills provides the foundation to allow children access to their school's curriculum from day one.
Brent is thrilled to be part of the programme and believes it is vital for the school, which has the second-highest transient rate in the country.
"The students' prospects for further achievement are high, especially when the needs are recognised and addressed from the beginning."
Specialist Annette Stock says this programme is not to teach students to read.
"It has been developed to provide support for students to be read to and talk about the book content as it relates to them.
"It is a chance for them to have specifically trained adult support around books and games - activities which will enhance their oral language.
"Some magical things are happening. These children are very loving and they just love the adult attention and that one-on-one interaction. Somebody that's going to sit down and take the time to read with them."
Volunteer tutors are trained to work one-on-one with students or in small groups, for half an hour, three times a week.
Areas covered include: - Talking about and reading New Zealand storybooks to students. - Working on rhymes and rhyming storybooks. - Language processing by playing games. - Playing specific educational literacy/numeracy games with the students.
