The Showbiz Approach To Reading

Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theatre. An excellent delivery must touch the heart – it must make us laugh, ponder, skip with delight or even cry in sorrow.
- Gail Godwin

In “Couch Potatoes to Book Potatoes” series, Cherry Pua-Africa shares showbiz way to reading – using entertainment to teach and reach children. The approach develops teachers or even parents for that matter, who can excite our youngsters, whose senses have already been attuned to entertainment, to read and write.

The Showbiz Approach to Reading is all about engaging all the parts of ourselves that respond to learning – our mind, our hearts and our bodies. It is important that we connect with the learners not only with their minds, but with their hearts as well.

It is not easy to teach today’s generation. Children are growing up too fast, losing their child-like and innocent disposition the moment they turn six. We must constantly fill the learning vat with happiness and energy.

I remember a young boy from one of my classes calling his mom a zapper. A zapping parent is a kill-joy parent. We become zappers when we force a book into a child’s hands. Forcing a child to read creates a setback and it takes a very long time to make your way back. A lot of our youngsters today complain that zapping teachers and parents have made reading, writing and other classroom activities become very dull.

If your child starts referring to his teacher or you as a zapper, it’s time to change strategy. It’s never too late to transform the literacy activity into an enjoyable and process.
For more information on the Showbiz Approach to Reading, long on to www.geniuschilddevelopment.com.nn