Encouraging early reading

LITERACY and the ability to differentiate between colour have been the major spin-offs of a weekly reading supplement for a Nelson Mandela Bay primary school.

Pupils at Sapphire Road Primary School in Booysen Park found the Nal'ibali supplement, published in The Herald every Thursday, very useful and have become increasingly interested in reading since they started getting it.

The "It starts with a story" supplement, which is distributed to schools all over the city, contains stories in English and Xhosa to encourage mother tongue reading.

However, the school wishes to get stories in Afrikaans, which is said to be the predominant mother tongue in the Booysen Park area.

The school's volunteer librarian, Mona Jaftha, said the supplement was a "definite benefit". She said this counted against the Afrikaans-speaking pupils.

"It would be great if Afrikaans stories were added to the paper, seeing that the majority of the school's pupils are Afrikaans-speaking.

"We also distribute some of the copies we have to the community with the hopes of getting parents involved."

Jaftha said pupils described Nal'ibali as a "fun newspaper", and would always sit in absolute silence during a reading so as not to miss out.

Principal Bruce Damons said Nal'ibali was a great benefit to the school and pupils.

"The supplement is not handed directly to the pupils, we collect weekly editions then read it to them the first week of every month.

"It's useful and has definitely helped pupils with literacy, differentiating between colours and eye coordination. We thank all those involved in this supplement. It has encouraged discipline and eagerness to read."

Grade 3 pupils Sanelisiwe Fatuse and Sibulele April, both 9, and Dibaggio Hurst, 8, loved the supplement and said they look forward to their next reading.

"The newspaper is fun to read and I love the stories. Nal'ibali helps us read and we learn as well," Fatuse said. - Chanice Koopman