Post-exam season is a strange time in school.

The syllabus is done. The pressure is gone. Attendance drops. Motivation becomes… fragile. But somewhere in that quiet space, I wondered:

What if we used just one minute a day to read?

That was how Perky Piung 1-Minute Reading began.

Why One Minute?

I wanted something:

• easy to do

• not stressful

• not time-consuming

• and still meaningful

Students could choose any short text they liked (from the 7 that I posted on the class board)  — easy or difficult — as long as they could read it within one minute. No heavy worksheets. No grades hanging over their heads. Just reading.

What Actually Happened

Over three weeks, I managed to conduct 54 one-on-one reading sessions with 25 out of 32 students — even during monsoon season, post-exam fatigue, and packed school schedules.

Some students came willingly.

Some needed a lot of encouragement.

Some forgot their books (many times 😅).

So I adapted. I used my iPad. I printed texts. I cajoled. I nudged. I persisted.

And slowly, minute by minute, reading happened.

The Surprise Insight

When I finally sat down with the data, one thing stood out clearly:

➡️ My students can read — but they don’t read with feeling.

Fluency was their strongest area. Pronunciation needed work.

But Expression?

Almost everyone read in a flat, monotone voice.

They could say the words, but they weren’t bringing the story to life.

That realisation alone made this project worth it.

Small Wins That Mattered

Only two students submitted the final reading video — and yes, that initially broke my heart a little.

But those two videos were beautiful. Confident. Expressive. Complete.

They reminded me that the method works — when conditions are right.

Even more meaningful to me was seeing students with special educational needs successfully participate with support. One minute was short enough to feel safe. Manageable. Possible.

No.

Was it frustrating at times?

Very.

Was it worth doing?

Absolutely.

Because 54 reading moments happened that otherwise wouldn’t have.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time

Next round, I’ll:

• record videos in class, not at home

• teach students how to read with emotion (happy, sad, excited, scared!)

• prepare a physical classroom reading kit so materials are always ready

One minute may seem small.

But repeated often enough, it can quietly change how children see reading.

And sometimes, that’s enough 💛🐢