Reading Resources = Improved Vocabulary
In the vibrant classrooms of Ibanda Primary School, situated in the heart of Kikuube district in mid-western Uganda, two courageous girls, Esther and Doreen, exemplify the magic of learning. Esther confidently reads the word ‘mark’ as ‘make,’ and Doreen confidently reads ‘curious’ as ‘carious.’ Though their pronunciations dance to their own tune, their passion for reading shines brightly. These young readers are among the best in their school, capable of reading aloud with confidence and love yet, intriguingly, they often cannot explain the meanings of most words they can read. They say they are “new words”.
STEPi’s dedicated Engagement Community Coordinators with respect and patience, gently tackle the phonetics of challenging words in underserved schools. Through playful reading games that link letters to sounds, learners collaboratively generate correct pronunciations and deepen their understanding. In a flash, the class collectively transforms ‘carious’ into ‘curious’ and ‘mark’ into ‘make,’ turning confusion into confidence. This is the essence of what we do in these rural schools: Transformative reading, unlocking the power of words and fostering a love for learning.
STEPi’s books are more than stories, they are gateways to opportunity. We inspire children to enjoy storybooks while simultaneously building their vocabulary banks. Our goal is for every child to learn every word they can read and to use these words in daily conversations. We believe that reading is a tool for learning and growth. In schools where dictionaries are scarce, our books like “A Boy Named Justice” include glossaries. Children are encouraged to refer to these glossaries and, most importantly, seek help from their teachers.
Children everywhere love books and love reading, yet many have limited exposure to rich reading resources filled with diverse English words. Imagine if each child learned just five new words every day, researched their meanings, and incorporated them into daily use. Over a year, this adds up to 1,825 new words and expansive vocabulary that can transform their understanding, communication, and academic performance. By the end of primary school, they could have mastered most of the words in the English language, better equipped to comprehend, communicate, and excel.
Through our accelerated reading programs, we are nurturing these transformative actions, building a future where every child’s voice is empowered by the magic of words and the joy of reading.
Written by: STEPi ambassadors - Uganda
