Reading's a whole new story

COLIN SMITH/Nelson Mail

STORY TELLER: Nelson College student Herbert Hampton, 14, demonstrates his reading skills to Hampden Street School pupils.

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Five pairs of innocent eyes fix on the young boy holding the hard-cover picture book.

When 14-year-old Herbert Hampton reads he does so with an air of confidence and performance.

A year ago the Nelson College student could not have pulled it off. Herbert would not have been able to recognise the intentions of the author – which words to emphasise and which ones to play down. He would have read Herbert the Sea Dog like he was reading out a classified advertisement.

But now in front of an audience of beginner readers at Hampden Street School, there is not a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"We are very proud of boys like Herbert. He has come along way," Nelson College literary leader Mary Cleland said.

Last year Herbert had difficulty sounding out words and punctuating them correctly. However, over the last year he has progressed two years in his reading ability.

"As night fell, the wind dropped. Herbert was exhausted but he was still swimming when the boat sailed through French Pass," he recited.

The book shares his name; the story of a small dog which falls into the treacherous waters of the Marlborough Sounds and is thought to be lost.

Herbert knows the story well. As well as reading, he also enjoys hunting, fishing and scuba diving and enjoys travelling to d'Urville Island to partake in all of them.

"Tim's mother was anxiously waiting for the dreadful news to arrive," Herbert continued.

The word "anxiously" is one Herbert knows well.

He said he feels anxious before big rugby games, just as he felt anxious before speaking in front of other younger students.

"We didn't know if it was going to be 30 students or five of them," Herbert said.

But after his performance, the anxiety subsided.

"They were a really good audience," Herbert said on finishing the story.

"It's good just knowing that you can read it and express what the writer is trying to get to."

He belongs to a class at Nelson College of about 15 students which actively supports students who have difficulty with literacy.

"The aim is to get the kids' skills up so they can do NCEA level one and achieve credits and qualifications," said Ms Cleland. "For a lot of them it is just about confidence."

When the audience left and the book had been closed, Herbert reflected on his progress: "It was fun. It was easy."

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