Boys Roll Up For Special Attention From Student Tutors

Sun Herald

Sunday September 24, 2006

By HANNAH EDWARDS EDUCATION REPORTER

READING during an extended roll call each morning is one of many innovative literacy strategies used at Sydney's Homebush Boys High School.

The inner-west school is using the Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC), where participants must read a set number of books each year, as another method to encourage students to become avid readers.

Teacher Jenelle Horiatopoulos, who runs the PRC at the school, said that with 75 per cent of students from non-English speaking backgrounds, extra effort was required to help students read.

Students' backgrounds include Chinese, Middle Eastern, Sri Lankan, Korean and Afghani.

"We are trying to encourage boys to read in English, not just read," Ms Horiatopoulos said.

Classes are also held before and after school, staffed voluntarily by teachers who help students target specific difficulties.

"The boys are fairly high achievers and are often held back by language. They always do well in maths and science," Ms Horiatopoulos said.

Peer tutoring during roll call, where senior students sit with year 7 and 8 students to help them read, is also proving useful.

For year 7 students, there is an emphasis on reading during one entire class each week .

The students are encouraged to read books other than the set textbooks.

* The Premier's Reading Challenge is a NSW Government initiative, with principal support from the Dymocks Literacy Foundation and The Sun-Herald, and associate support from OPSM. Is your school doing something interesting for the Premier's Reading Challenge? Send details to hedwards@sunherald.com.au.