Math and Reading Books for Elementary Schools

Nova Scotia's elementary students are getting more math and reading resources to help them get a solid foundation in the basics.

Premier John Hamm delivered a set of mental math books and a set of Atlantic Canadian reading books to William King Elementary School today, Oct. 9. Elementary schools across the province will receive each set this fall.

"No matter what you do in life, good reading and math skills improve your quality of life," said Premier Hamm. "They're the foundation for all other learning, and our students need to master them early."

The Department of Education's new Learning for Life plan calls for a minimum of five minutes to be spent on mental math every day in grades Primary to 9. The set of mental math books, called Daily Tune-Ups, will help teachers meet this requirement.

Seven books -- one for each grade from Primary to Grade 6 -- make up the mental math set. They include classroom activities to help students practise doing math in their heads. Through the activities, students will practice estimation and problem-solving skills that will help them in everyday life.

The Daily Tune-Ups sets are in addition to new resources for teaching math that are already provided to teachers in grades Primary to 9.

The reading book set includes 14 books written and illustrated by Atlantic Canadians or set in Atlantic Canada. They will add to the 600,000 books students already have in their classrooms through Active Young Readers.

There are 323 elementary schools in Nova Scotia. The new math and reading books for these schools cost about $130,000.