Book Reading with JCSRS Students
On Friday 3rd March Y11 students from KGV had a wonderful opportunity to share something they had in common with students from Jockey Club Sarah Roe School – a love of reading and talking about books. Many of the younger students had bought their favourite book into school and dressed as their favourite character, unfortunately it wasn’t a fancy dress day for KGV! 30 students read, played and did craft activities with students as part of Book Week and the Literature Festival 2017.
KGV students reflected on this community inclusion activity; a taste of their honesty and what they learnt from the event is shared with you here.
“Prior to the reading activity, I was initially unsure of what to expect, mainly what interacting with the kids would be like. However, once we arrived and delved into the activities, my perception changed regarding the JCSRS. It was enjoyable, getting insight into what the school next to ours I never been in was like. Most importantly though, the most enjoyable aspect of the whole experience was interacting with the kids – reading and various other reading activities, again giving a whole new outlook on the JCSRS, the students and teachers that work there.” – Charles
“Being able to read and spend time with the students at JCSRS was a pleasure. Beforehand, I was quite nervous regarding how I would be able to make this a fun activity for the children. But once our interaction started, their enthusiasm for books and their lively dispositions immediately brightened up my day. At the same time, I was able to revisit some of my favourite childhood novels which reminded me how important books are in our lives, no matter what age we’re at. In the end, I realised that I had had no cause for worry- I found it such a fun-filled experience, and judging from their smiling faces as we departed, I could tell they thought so too.” – Charmaine
“At first, I wasn’t quite sure why my teacher chose me to go to JCSRS, as there were other students much more capable of communicating with others than myself. I feared that I would speak too fast, mispronounce words, or lose their attention because my voice wouldn’t be engaging enough. Up until Friday, I was very self-conscious of how I would sound and look in front of the students of JCSRS.
However, on the day, we were received warmly by the school staff and students, and I did not feel at all embarrassed about reading to other people. In fact, because the students I read to were so attentive and patient, I found it surprisingly easy to read expressively without fearing that I might sound silly. During the hour, we also did some arts and crafts activity with the students, and it was a very pleasant and calming experience.
This reading activity not only allowed me to see JCSRS —which had a positive and welcoming community— for the first time, but also helped me reduce my feelings of self-consciousness towards speaking or reading to other people. Overall, it was a very valuable and rewarding experience.” – Tiffany
“I was very nervous before we started and was afraid the kids would be scared of me but after pairing up with Alex and reading to Stella a few fairytales despite the books we brought I was very happy with what happened and I hope this arrangement continues.” – Stephanie
“Before I started I was quite worried, as I didn’t know if the students would enjoy the books, or me being there. During the day, I found that even if the kids weren’t invested in the books, the teachers had all planned ahead and created many discussion and craft activities to keep things working smoothly. I am really grateful for the experience as it got me to meet more members of the school community.” – Sophie
