Page 12 - EDU-March April 2022

culties by adopting them for three the guidelines from the Department
days to help them read the books in of School Education and Literacy
their mother tongue, two days for under the Ministry of Education,
programme, every teacher, irre- reading English books, and one day Government of India.
spective of the subject, spends the for books in a third language. Throughout the weeklong cele-
first 15 minutes of the class on a Alongside reading, students sit brations, government schools
reading activity. The teacher selects together and make library cards, a across Telangana state imple-
one or two paragraphs from the collection of newspaper clippings, mented various activities to sensi-
textbook, reads the text aloud, puzzles from newspapers and chil- tize students to the importance of
writes down the keywords on the dren's magazines, and cuttings from libraries and their contribution to
blackboard, and explains the mean- old textbooks and storybooks stuck students' knowledge. The event wit-
ing and usage in a sentence. The stu- on cardboard pieces. These library nessed a display of library books,
dents then conduct a group reading cards are put on display inside the preparation of library cards, and
of the selected paragraph, and the classes 6 to 10 participated in the classrooms. competitions in essay writing,
15-minute reading period concludes story writing competition. The top In addition, every week, the li- painting, and elocution. The event
with individual reading. twenty stories from each district brary committee members display concluded with the observation of
The teachers also encourage stu- were selected for publication in col- International Mother Language
dents to develop their writing skills laboration with Telangana Sahitya Day on February 21.
alongside nourishing their oral Academy.
skills. The language teachers help Outcome
students read and recite poems and Significance of Library
As a result of the successful exe-
The library period is crucial in cution of the programme, students
this programme. The schools in government schools are showing
strengthen their libraries with ef- a keen interest in reading books
fective learning materials, story- during library hours, which in turn
books, autobiographies, subject the list of fluent readers on the is improving class attendance. Stu-
books, newspapers, etc. Class-wise, classroom wall to pique students' dents are accustomed to attending
library committees are formed that interest and motivate them to make events like book fairs, and the cul-
comprise five students responsible it onto the list. ture of gifting books to peers on
for maintaining the register and al- The library period helps students special occasions is becoming pop-
location of books. All students are get equipped with diverse knowl- ular.
write essays on one-word prompts involved in making proposals for edge and inculcates a sense of unity The teachers are dubbing the
as a daily activity. books to purchase and contributing and coordination among them. This programme 'need of the hour' as it
To promote reading among stu- ideas for carrying out the library pe- activity keeps students active and encourages them to be self-moti-
dents, the schools also hold compe- riod. The library teacher takes re- enthused to learn more. vated. Furthermore, parents, the
titions every Saturday. The compe- sponsibility for the segregation of As part of learning about the sig- local community, and non-govern-
titions include storytelling, poem books based on students' reading nificance of libraries, the schools mental organizations (NGOs) col-
reading, role-playing, and reading ability. The books are re-shelved to conducted library celebrations from laborate with schools to improve
aloud. In role-playing, students read ensure that students read a diverse February 14 to February 21, as per library resources.
a story thoroughly, assume the role range of literature rather than stick-
of the characters in the story and ing to one genre. The library period
deliver the dialogues accordingly. is well-organized with role-playing
This fun and motivating activity activities, reading aloud, discus-
helps students understand the sions on books, and book reviews.
story's theme, broadens communi- During the library period, stu-
cation and language skills and de- dents who can comprehend books
velops imagination and creativity. alone read independently, students
Furthermore, creative writing with reading gaps sit in pairs and
competitions are conducted in those whose reading ability is rela-
schools which aid in improving the tively poor sit in groups and read
students' writing skills while boost- under the teacher's guidance. The
ing the power of their imagination. independent readers help their
More than five lakh students from peers overcome their reading diffi-

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