Self-confessed word nerd Kerryn Johnston is on a mission to get kids loving language.
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And the well-known former broadcaster likes the idea of passing on everything she has learned during her 27-year career working in newsrooms to the next generation.
This has seen the mother-of-two roll out a workshop-based program called the Word Whiz at Nareena Hills Public School.
Geared at this stage towards students in years 3, 4 and 5, Johnston plans on running the 10-week program at other schools next year. She is also looking to implement the program for year 6 students
“I’ve always been a word nerd,” she said.
“It is really important to me now having children that they and their friends, the next generation can learn to love language.
“I’m forever saying to my kids it is not a punish. Language is something that should be joyful. There should be a lot of joy associated with our language.”
Johnston, who also tutors UOW broadcast journalism students, said introducing younger children to journalism was appealing.
“Seeing another generation of kids who are really embracing the ideas of journalism and learning to love language at such an early stage and potentially moving on to studying it, is great,” she said.
“People are always questioning the future of journalism...but there will always be a place for writers and I just love the idea of encouraging this generation to love language like I do.
“Through this program I want kids to embrace reading and to embrace writing and to utilise the language properly.”
More details at wordwhiz.com.au or email kerryn@wordwhiz.com.au.