featured-image

Payne Takes Timeout to Read to Kids

The kindergarten students at Edgemere Elementary had just been asked what profession they wanted to become when they grew up. Peeking his head around the corner, Thunder guard Cameron Payne could hear the tiny voices squeaking their answers.

“Doctor! Basketball player! Police officer!”

As a part of a Thunder Reading Timeout, the rookie first round draft selection was patiently waiting to be introduced for his grand entrance to read a book to the kids. A moment of nostalgia hit Payne as he heard their exuberance, bringing back memories of his own days as a precocious child with dreams of his own.

“I was in those same shoes and said I wanted to be a basketball player,” Payne said. “Now I ended up getting here. I hope they put their mind to it and do their best to get that done.”  

Payne sat down in the big armchair at the front of the room and read the book “Allie’s Basketball Dreams” to the children with a tempo and rhythm that helped them digest the story. Afterward, Payne led the class in a reading pledge, took a group photo then passed out gift bags, much to the delight of each student.

It was a special treat to have Payne join the class, bring a level of excitement to the day and give the students a role model to look towards. He shared his personal story and explained the importance of education and good behavior. In particular, Payne reinforced that reading is critical to pursuing any dreams that they have. The faculty were thrilled, including teacher Mallory Carter.

“In kindergarten, learning to read is such a crucial skill,” Carter explained. “At five and six, that’s where all these beginning, developing literacy skills start. It’s such a big deal to learn how to read and to see someone who is encouraging them to do that from a young age is very important.”

“He talked to us about the importance of reading and early reading skills,” Carter continued. “It was a big inspiration to me and all my students to have someone to encourage them and inspire them and their reading. It made them feel like someone who is a big deal cares about them.”

He’s participated in community events since joining the team, but this was the first time Payne was a part of the Reading Timeout. Regardless, he was a natural in front of the class. Utilizing the memory of his experiences as a youth, Payne made an effort to make every child in the room’s afternoon a positive one. Remembering how adults influenced him to pursue his dreams and take education seriously as a child, Payne relished the chance to return the favor.

“It means a lot because I had those same type of role models growing up,” Payne described. “I heard those same types of stories and saw other people who were successful come read me a book. It hit home and made me want to be sitting up here like I am now. It’s a big time impact.”