Rotary reads with kids

Technology changes, but foundational skills do not. In fact, in the information age, reading is perhaps a more important skill than it ever has been before.

Five years ago, Tami Hall, then principal of Dr. Brass School, approached Yorkton’s Rotary Club about supplementing the school curriculum with a little one-on-one interaction with students at the downtown school. The Rad Rotary Reading Program was born.

“Some of these kids, they don’t always have someone at home to read with them,” Hall explained at the time.

Linda Turta, one of the original volunteers, still takes time to read with Dr. Brass children on a rotating basis Wednesday afternoons.

“The school is extremely focused on advancing the reading skills of the children,” Turta said.

But it’s not just reading practice, that benefits the students, Turta explained.

“The teachers have stressed the students don’t always have adults to read with and so they’re trying to match them up and give them that opportunity to read with someone new, to get to know another adult,” she said.

It’s not just the students who benefit.

“I love to see the students advance over time,” Turta said.

“The kids have always been enthusiastic, they’re happy to see me and I’m sure the other volunteers. The other thing that’s really neat is watching them achieve words, so they sound them out and from there they get a comprehension of what they mean and they’re truly enjoying the experience.”

Studies have shown enjoyment plays a large role in reading comprehension, something the kids will rely on for the rest of their lives.

“I’m an employer, so you know the value of being able to read, certainly,” Turta said.

“As a young student, this is really preparing them for their later years in school or for a career or for post-secondary education.

“I applaud the efforts here because I think they’re really trying to build a very solid base for those students and give them the love of reading and the confidence to read so they can continue on with those skills in the future.”