Let me start this post with you reading the characters below;
Image Source(direct link to img)
Image Source(direct link to img)
Image Source(direct link to img)
Can you? I can't. I am just staring at characters that may have significant meaning but I won't really figure it out.
Imagine yourself being lost in the middle of nowhere and the only way out is by following those signage.
Tsk. That's pretty hard.
That's how I tried to put myself in the shoes of my grade 7 non-reader students. We may wonder how on earth did they reach this far and still unable to read but, does it still matter?
Whatever the reasons may be, I am solely focus on the solution of the problem and that is by conducting a READING TUTORIAL for them.
As we all know, reading is a crucial skill a person must acquire. In fact, most children learn to read by 6 or 7 years of age. In my case, I learned it at the age of 5. A child's ability to learn is faster compared to the grownups so, I am expecting that it'll be challenging for them. But then again, if there's a will, there's a way!
Due to the outnumbered classrooms in our school, we offer two shifts: Morning and Afternoon. Since these students are from the morning shifts, I have to conduct the reading tutorial during lunch breaks. I tried to ask them if they can come back to the school after lunch so they won't have an empty stomach while having the tutorial. Unfortunately, it will be very costly for them. In fact, they only eat lunch when they arrive home since they got no money to buy and eat while having our tutorials. Although I can sometimes buy them food to eat during the tutorial, I have no means of doing it everyday. And for this reason, I also don't take my lunch unless the tutorial's done and they can finally go home.
Sometimes, I get worried about the students' sacrifices. I'm afraid they might get sick for eating late lunch. Perhaps, I'll try my best to give them food or at least crackers to ease their hunger for the meantime.
As for me? No, don't worry about me. I don't mind eating late lunch. I don't mind having my break time taken away from me. I don't mind having a class after the tutorial. I-REALLY-DON'T-MIND.
Those are incomparable to the feeling of teaching these students how to read. The sparkle in their eyes when they read the words like: she, there, which, right and wrong. The sound of their laughter when they commit mistake and correct their selves. The hope I see from their faces that one day, one day, they will be able to read and understand words like what 7th graders should.
Those alone fill my heart, mind and soul. It's way more than worthy to sacrifice whatever I have for those students.
I and my students have still a long way to go but we will surely end this strong.
Love,
Glenna ❤