Conference promotes reading aloud to children
By Katherine Nichols
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Manoa resident Sandra Ishikawa, left, reads aloud with her daughter and two grandchildren at the Million Hours of Aloha campaign kickoff.
Read To Me International Foundation "Feed Me a Story" read-aloud conference When: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. June 21 and 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 22 Where: Hawai'i Convention Center Cost: $100 Hawai'i resident fee; $200 nonresident fee; fees include continental breakfast, lunch and conference materials for both days Registration deadline: June 8 In-service professional development credits available for Hawai'i public-school teachers. Limited number of scholarships available. Also: Free read-aloud event open to the community, 2-3:30 p.m. June 22 at Hawai'i Convention Center |
Children get the opportunity to share special time and bond with you, the reader.
The attention enhances the child's self-esteem. Exposure to books encourages children to read on their own when they are able. Children develop good listening skills. They can learn proper grammar. And books help stimulate the imagination and teach values.
These are some of the reasons former Hawai'i first lady Lynne Waihe'e, president of the Read To Me International Foundation, decided to organize the first-ever conference in Hawai'i to promote reading aloud. The conference, scheduled June 21-22, is titled "Feed Me a Story."
Parents, educators, caregivers and service organizations that deal with parents and children are invited to the Hawai'i Convention Center to "satisfy (their) hunger for knowledge."
Reading aloud "is such a simple activity," Waihe'e said, "but so many benefits are taking place."
Geri Kunishima agrees. In her opinion, reading aloud is not an activity to be squeezed in at the end of the day if time permits. "Reading aloud to my child saved his life," she said of Steven, her 18-year-old son who recently earned his GED, the equivalent of a high school diploma.
When her son was born with a neurological defect, doctors told Kunishima that he would never walk or talk. But she and her husband and their two daughters did not give up. They read aloud to him daily, and at age 6, he uttered his first words. The second miracle? Those words were spoken in complete sentences.
He also learned to write.
"And to this day," Kunishima said, "writing is his strength."
His breakthrough changed everything in their lives. "It freed us from thinking in a box. We saw how powerful reading can be if done on a daily basis."
Kunishima is one of the featured speakers at the conference. The event evolved for practical reasons. Waihe'e's organization had been giving presentations in the community about the importance of reading to children, then decided that it would be more efficient to establish a conference and bring everyone to a central location.
"We have a real simple message: Every child should be read aloud to every day for at least 10 minutes," Waihe'e said.
She said she also believes that if parents knew "all of these wonderful connections were taking place, maybe they'd take it more seriously."
Wally "Famous" Amos, cookie mogul and read-aloud advocate, will serve as conference emcee. Keynote addresses will be given by writer and illustrator Nancy Carlson ("A.B.C. I Like Me," "Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!"), and children's author Mem Fox ("Koala Lou," "Hattie and the Fox").
Focal points include the latest research-based information on why reading aloud is important at every stage of a child's development; practical techniques and tips; hints about how to incorporate read-aloud activities into an existing program or classroom; and suggestions on selecting excellent read-aloud books.
In addition, kupuna will offer guidance in large-group and breakout sessions on choosing children's books that foster native Hawaiian values.
Attendees should rediscover classics and find new favorites.
Local authors Lisa Matsumoto and Jim Rumford will speak and answer questions as part of a panel. Ken Yamamoto, former assistant superintendent in the office of accountability and school instructional support with the state Department of Education, will precede Kunishima as a featured speaker Thursday.
The two-day gathering will culminate with a free read-aloud event open to the community, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Convention Center Friday. So even those unable to attend the conference will have the opportunity to renew their enthusiasm for reading aloud.
