Canku Ota - October 18, 2003 - Navajo Prep Students Volunteer to Read, Promote Books

	Canku Ota
	(Many Paths)
	An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
	October 18, 2003 - Issue 98


	Navajo Prep Students Volunteer to Read, Promote Books
	by Jan-Mikael Patterson - The Navajo Times
	credits: Navajo Prep senior Marian Goodluck reads to a first grade class from Aneth Community School in Aneth, Utah, Friday at the 92nd Annual Northern Navajo Fair in Shiprock. Goodluck and other Navajo American Literature classmates read from books by Native artists as part of the Dine Naaltsoos Adayiilaaigii Yinilta, or Read Navajo Author. (Photo special to the Times - Donovan Quintero)

SHIPROCK - Students from Jeff Syke's Native American Literature class at Navajo Preparatory High School entertained young children during the Children's and Elder's Day Sept. 9 as a part of the Northern Navajo Fair.

Six seniors from the school volunteered to read to children. They are Nicole Benally, Marian Goodluck, Alana Jordan, Eleroy Singer, Rae Dean Yazzie, and Charmayne Nelson.

"We're trying to promote reading," said Nelson. "The Native American Literature class has been doing it for the past three years."

The purpose of reading to children not only promotes reading but promotes Native American authors as well.

"I'd like to see other schools do this," Nelson said about reading to children.

Students read children's books from authors like Joy Harjo, Luci Tapahonso, Shonto Begay and Janet Stevens. The students borrowed the books from the Farmington Public Library.

"We're also giving out books to the children," Nelson said. "The stories are written in Navajo and they have a little note to have the kids' parents or grandparents read the story to them."

The San Juan School District in Utah published the books written in the Navajo language. About 150 books were donated.

Several children eagerly listened to the stories being read. They sat patiently and quietly on cushions provided by the student readers.

Attentive eyes set on her as senior Marian Goodluck read "The Good Luck Cat" by Joy Harjo. Students from Laurel Gandy's first grade class from the Aneth Community School sat and listened.

"It was fun," a shy Keshone Summa, 7, said about the reading. "It's about a cat running away. I don't know its name but he ran away."

"I feel it's a good emphasis, the reading and the language," Nelson added. "It's like a service project."

"At school we're learning to read," Logan Filfred, 6, said. "We also can go outside and play and sing a long."

"They're so adorable," Nelson said about the children. "They pay attention and they listen and respond well. It's nice to see that they're eager to listen to the reading."

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