‘Come Read With Me' activity makes reading fun at Anse Aux primary  |29 August 2023

With the aim of instilling the love of reading from an early age, a primary one class at the Anse Aux Pins primary school organised two days of jolly phonics reading activities alongside parents.

The activity themed ‘Come Read with Me’ took place on two consecutive days, before the end of the second term.

It gave the children the opportunity to display what they had learned in their English class during the past six months.

'Come Read With Me' further encouraged parents to take part in their children's learning development through different activities. 

Each day students and parents interacted in the different fun-packed activities centred on the jolly phonics reading and writing programme.   

The activities included video displays to the children’s imitation of the different letter sounds learned, reading CVC words (three letter words with a consonant at the beginning followed by a vowel, and a consonant at the end), reading games using dices, spelling bees, word scavenger hunt, scrambled word sort and many more.

Each day the parents' committee also prepared surprises for the students whereby the parents presented animated storytelling. 

This activity gave the students interesting ideas on how to be more interactive when reading and get other family members involved.

Beryl Payet, a parent, noted: “I am very happy with the lesson and the activities that the two teachers have initiated, through these activities, they keep on pushing and encouraging the students to practice their learning through reading.”

Another parent said “this fun-filled interactive session with the kids was really fun and at the same time an eye-opener. I do not only see the development of my child but also the other students and my child’s interaction with the other classmates. I encourage more parents to take the time and take part more in their children’s learning.”

A beaming student, Joel, said, “I love that my mummy came to school.”

The special two-day reading was an initiative organised by P1 class teachers Hodess Andre and Roseda Lucas, supported by the parents’ committee and the Anse Aux Pins school management. 

“I am very happy with the parents’ turnout and class committee enthusiasm to participate and support these activities. This helps the children in their continuous development through learning in different forms,” said Mrs Andre. 

She also noted that these activities help students to continuously build on their reading and writing skills and boost their self-confidence.    

Mrs Andre added: “The parents’ constant participation in different activities also serves as learning blocks because as parents learn, support and understand their children’s specific needs the child-parent-teacher bonds are strengthened.”

She emphasised on the importance of early learning at the foundation level and encourages all parents to visit the school often. 

The Ministry of Education and the Jolly Phonics Limited introduced the jolly phonic learning programme and reading scheme in Seychelles in 2011. The aim of the programme was, and still is, to teach children the proper foundation of the English language at an early age.