‘Reading helps me grow’

“The whole world opened up to me when I learned to read.” – Mary McCleod Bethune, American educator and philanthropist.

These words ring true for a group of Grade 8 learners at Siphamandla Senior Secondary School in Khayelitsha. They are fast becoming avid readers, thanks to an in-class library – a newly introduced concept in the classroom that aims to encourage a love for books and nurture a culture of reading.

The in-class library forms part of the Languaging-for-Learning (L4L) project – led by a team of academics at the University of Cape Town (UCT), in partnership with colleagues at the University of the Western Cape, Rhodes University and Stellenbosch University. Academics believe that fostering a love for reading among high-school learners will ultimately boost literacy levels in South Africa.

In-class libraries are dedicated spaces within classrooms where teachers display and store a variety of books, giving learners easy access throughout the school day. Rooted in the principles of free reading, these libraries also support the broader goal of integrating children’s and youth literature across the curriculum. The project has been introduced in several high schools in the Western Cape.

“This leg of the project forms part of the L4L’s broader strategy to support Grade 8 and 9 teacher development. Teachers were provided with about 80 different books and were guided through the process on how to get things going in class. So far, it’s been well received and those books on teenage experiences are most popular,” said Dr  Xolisa Guzula, an early literacy expert in UCT’s School of Education.

To understand the benefits of the project, UCT News sat down with a group of learners and a teacher to get their first-hand experience. Here’s what they had to say.

Keneuoe Motsapi – Grade 8 and 9 maths and science teacher

“We have an in-class library in my class and leaners are allowed 15 minutes of reading before the lesson starts. I also encourage them to write summaries of certain chapters to gauge their understanding, which they enjoy doing.

“I’ve noticed a change in my learners since we introduced the in-class library – their vocabulary has improved and so has their self-confidence.”

“What’s great is that learners from other grades also visit my class because they want to read and engage with the reading material we have. As a teacher, I love to see this, and I encourage them. I’ve noticed a change in my learners since we introduced the in-class library – their vocabulary has improved and so has their self-confidence, which is one of the main objectives of this project.

“My learners are encouraged to read both fiction and non-fiction, and not a single learner has finished a book without giving the book high praise.”

Oyama Ngcofe – Grade 8 learner

“Before our in-class library I did not enjoy reading at all. But the library changed that for me. I can now read anything and have found many books I really enjoy, and this has made me want to continue reading. What’s also been good is how reading has helped me understand our class lessons better.”

Iviwe Mzilikazi – Grade 8 learner

“Reading helps us to write and speak better. It also helps with other everyday things like writing. Today I enjoy reading because of our in-class library. Reading helps me grow.”

Ntsika Sobuza – Grade 8 learner

“Reading helps me with spelling, especially English, which is not my first language. And because I’m reading more, I’m starting to understand things a lot better. When our teacher tells us we are doing reading in class during set times, we arrive prepared and excited because we understand how much it helps us.”