About the Author of Proud to Read
Hello, my name is Anna Wallis.
I am a literacy and reading consultant, ESL teacher, early childhood educator and preschool curriculum designer. I am also, the author and creator of Proud to Read website. Helping children become proud and confident readers is my greatest joy and is at the heart of my website. It is really is the best feeling in the world to give children the gift of reading.
As you have arrived at Proud to Read website I know that you care about reading just as much as I do.
Whether you are a parent, early childhood educator or you are taking care of a young child, you know how important literacy is to children’s success.
Are you wondering how to go about helping young children learn to read? Or perhaps you think that it might be better and more beneficial for your child if you leave it to early grade teachers.
You are absolutely right to be cautious and think about reading long before children go to school. The best approach to take is to be mindful how literacy develops in the growing child and make literacy a natural part of each day.
Over many years working in preschool environments while chatting to parents about children, we always end up discussing how best to go about introducing children to reading. If you have ever come across me, you know how much I love to talk about books, reading, and early childhood development. It is you, all the wonderful parents, who are my true inspiration.
In creating Proud to Read I hope to answer all your questions, share your joys and talk about your concerns. We all know that ‘sharing is caring’. Let’s raise readers for life together because literacy of our children is the key to a successful future.
My Story
I have a lifelong interest in language acquisition and language teaching.
My love of language led to a BA degree majoring in Linguistics and a BA Honours in Applied Linguistics from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. In addition, I also hold a CELTA teaching certificate.
When my two older children were little in the eighties, and my youngest in the nineties, my husband’s job entailed us having to relocate our family and our home. We moved to different places first within South Africa and later further afield to Namibia, then to Armenia and eventually back to South Africa in 2000.
As you can imagine, my biggest concern was that my children had to change schools. It worried me that they would have to adapt to different teaching methods. Which would in turn entail different educational assessments, including the British ‘O’ Levels, ‘A’ Levels, the US SATs and South African Matriculation Board.
As I researched far and wide, starting with early childhood development, and later primary and secondary curricula in various countries, I was able to put my mind at rest. Curricula for English, Mathematics, Science and Life Skills are all built on the same solid foundations from early childhood right through to tertiary education. They are the same world-over. I know it for a fact because my three children are now university graduates with exciting careers.
Moving countries also entailed my having to change jobs. It really was a wonderful experience. I have worked both inside and outside the classroom in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Armenia. I worked in multicultural and diverse teaching environments, including:
Teaching preschoolers and sharing my love of reading with young children inspire me the most .
It is an immense privilege to be an early childhood educator. First and foremost, we get to rediscover the marvels of our world through the eyes of a child. We also get a lot of spontaneous hugs. Above all, we know that the first five years are by far the most important in the life of the developing child.
Everything children need to succeed in life – language, literacy, math, science and life skills – begins at birth. Those precious years before school are a window of opportunity to give every child the best start in life.
I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and love keeping in touch with the wonderful creators of children’s books.
My Favourite Snapshots
From left to right:
At Jozi Book Fair with Gcina Mhlophe, South Africa’s favourite story teller and playwright, and with Stacey Fru, age 9, a budding young author of Smelly Cats, Johannesburg, 2015.
At Exclusive Books’ book signing by Julia Donaldson, author of much-loved stories that delight children the world over, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, February 2016.
At Melrose Arch, Johannesburg with Alan Glass, author and co-creator of Beautiful Creatures, the highly popular children’s music series, February 2016.
Proudly holding signed copies of The Gruffalo and Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson, two books children always ask me to read again and again.