It is common sense that beginner readers will learn to read faster and more easily if they have access to a variety of different types of stimulating and appropriate reading material. Reading fluency is developed through practice.

Another important factor in developing reading skills is an enthusiastic facilitator. The facilitator is the role model. If s/he reads a variety of books aloud to learners it will expand learners’ listening, speaking and writing skills and increase their vocabulary.

Reading must be taught in a way that is enjoyable and meaningful. Learners must not be able to get it “wrong” or get into “trouble” or feel bad because they make a mistake or do not know a particular word. Learning to read is not about drilling and word repetition – it is about developing skills in reading extended texts with understanding.

The aim of reading instruction is that learners learn to read and continue reading outside of the formal learning environment without a facilitator’s direction. Every learner should emerge from formal reading instruction able and willing to read independently. These independent behaviours do not come about by chance.

Facilitators have to encourage independent reading by actively convincing learners that books can and will provide information and entertainment throughout their lives. Recreational reading has been shown to have a positive effect on reading achievement in class. Therefore teachers must try to encourage independent, recreational reading habits.

Learners will not become lifetime readers unless they are given plenty of opportunities to read for pleasure. Facilitators can make a big difference by actively encouraging independent reading, instilling a love of reading and demonstrating the benefits of spending time with books.

New Readers Publishers has deliberately published a range of different types of books. This is intended to accommodate various reading preferences to enable facilitators to match books to different readers. If learners are given access to a range of different genres they are more likely to find one that they particularly enjoy or that meets their interest. Although New Readers Publishers has published many different types of books, it has focused primarily on the publication of good original stories.

Why read stories?

The definition of a “story” is “something which is written or told for pleasure and satisfaction”. Stories are about life and through listening to stories, learners shape, organise, control and come to terms with emotions, feelings, imagination and the society around them. Stories are about people, animals, objects, events, and places both real and imaginary. Language in stories is used deliberately to make the reader think, laugh, cry, become animated or scared. Stories stimulate an interest in reading and encourage a positive attitude to reading.