by Rosnah bt Mat Abidin

INTRODUCTION

The title of the reading program proposed here is 'GO JOYREAD!' The key words are 'joy' and 'read'. It is hoped that the pupils will enjoy reading (feeling of joy in reading) in the proposed program. It is named in such a way because it suits the style of the reading program which is an extensive reading program.

Go Joyread! is a six month reading program to be continued if it is a success in the first phase.

DESCRIPTION

Objectives

Among the objectives are:

1.      To produce independent readers

An Independent reader reads a variety of materials on a wide range of topics and tends to be selective based on preferences.

2.      To provide a schema (Anderson & Pearson, 1984).

It is interesting to note that schema is like the filing cabinet of the mind. The moment we read new things, the filing cabinet works on the data that we have stored and at times some modification through analysis and synthesis takes place and our data is updated. New data is nevertheless kept as in a new folder in the filing cabinet. In short, we may say that the more learners read the better knowledge or information they would get.

3.      To make the reading process interesting

A lot has been said on how to make reading interesting. It always ends up with a saying 'Don't Judge a Book by its Cover'. Again, people are looking at a traditional way of reading. Books and printed materials are seen as the only things learners read. So, the program proposes a new style of reading in which children get hooked on computers instead of books and other printed matters.

How 'Go Joyread!' works?

1.      What are needed?

Computer lab with Internet facilities and one IT technician and one teacher. 

The first step is to make sure a self blog of 'Go Joyread!' is able to be created. Next, is to allow only certain websites for access. This can be done by doing GUI (Graphic User Interface) on the reading blog. The web sites allowed are Merlynspenn, Project Child, Music, songs & lyrics, Great Books of the world and Free access questions for UPSR / Question Banks (English papers only).

The idea of providing limited sources of reading is to ensure the program is guided.

2.      Cost

Funding for two computer labs and IT technician supplied by the government in the school.

3.      Time table

A time table is to be designed to allow every student in the program to access the blog and do the readings. The evaluation on program effectiveness will be based on students' and teachers' feedback at the end of the program.

Sample of webpage for reading blog proposed.  

The websites are guided and so are the forums. The blog offers only related links which are a few but useful. For example, music box is expected to be the most popular link for students. However, the section is guided and monitored by allowing access to webs on good music. Here, the focus is on reading the lyrics of the songs.

It is found that many school websites are offering links to others webs; unfortunately they lose control of the links the students leave the hosting webs and go surfing on the net uncontrollably.

Electronic worksheets (as for assessment and evaluation) are not supplied to them to ensure pure reading is taking place. It is hoped the English teachers will take part in monitoring the blog as that the students see and read. No segregation will occur between teachers and pupils, so pupils and teachers may discuss any point from the same source in their own perspectives.

We offer reading via computers instead of conventional printed matters. It is hoped the pupils will find this program appealing and interesting.

The program also offers a space where pupils may request information if they want to learn and know more. For example, if the pupils want to know more about fables and other short stories, the teacher will guide and offer them the best web sites to choose from instead of allowing them to find the sites themselves. This is to ensure the pupils will not be sidetracked and that they access only high quality recources..

Teachers are also able to utilize this program by exploiting material found in the blog. For example, there are a lot of literature materials on merlynspen web (www.merylspen.org) to be exploited as a teaching-learning resource. This reading blog program offers not only the reading skill but other language components such as listening-speaking and even writing. It is just like killing two or three birds with one stone!