Reading early put Wahiawa girl on road to success
By Rod Ohira HANNAH BARROS
WAHIAWA — Hannah Barros is an avid reader who has been known to sneak a flashlight into her bedroom just to read a few extra pages.
At 9 years old, she's equally passionate about playing in Mililani's Inline Hockey Association, singing and dancing with Calvary Chapel Wahiawa's "Sunshine Generation" performing group, and studying at Helemano Elementary School, where she is in the fifth grade and taking classes for the gifted and talented in language arts.
The third of Carol and Michael Barros' four children, Hannah has taken on some responsibilities this school year. She's vice president of her school's student council, a Junior Police Officer and learning 'ukulele.
Through the advanced language arts program, Hannah is learning English and writing skills that complement her high reading level. Last school year, she was part of a team that put together a report for the school on the Iraq elections.
Asked to describe herself, Hannah said, "I see myself as a creative person who likes to draw and read and think about adventure."
Helemano principal Dennis Kato added, "She's just a very well-rounded person."
Carol and Michael Barros enjoy reading and read aloud to their children when they were young. That piqued Hannah's interest in reading, her mother said, and Hannah often reads aloud to her younger sister, Olive, who is in kindergarten at Helemano.
"I think reading makes them more responsible for their own education," Carol Barros said. "They can read instructions and look up information. Being able to read and being computer literate helps a lot."
Kato agreed. "I think quite a few (students) don't like to read because they don't know how to read," he said. "Reading is so much a part of life. It starts at home, not in school. It can only be reinforced in school."
Her parents recently purchased an electronic dictionary to encourage Hannah to look up the meaning of words.
In roller hockey, Hannah was recently selected for a Mililani team for state-select competition. She's been playing for three or four years.
Drawing also is an interest. "It's fun," she said. "I like to design different things and draw people doing stuff."
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hannah Barros
School: Helemano Elementary
Grade: 5
Who helped you? "My mom. She helps me with my homework and writing stuff. Sometimes, I have too many ideas, and I want to tell them all. She helps me narrow them down."
What advice would you give to other kids who would like to follow your example? "What I had to research for the (Iraq elections) report, you had to read to find the information. I would say that if a book is small and has big print and that's why you are reading it, you are not going to learn a lot."
