Thousands of Books for Grade 7 Students

More than 100,000 new books are being delivered to Grade 7 classrooms across Nova Scotia this school year to help students continue building their reading skills.

Today, Dec. 16, Economic Development Minister Cecil Clarke delivered an armload of those books to a classroom at Thompson Junior High School in North Sydney.

The books mark the beginning of Active Readers at the junior high level. It is an extension of Active Young Readers launched in elementary grades in the fall of 2000. Active Readers will expand to include Grade 8 in 2003-04 and Grade 9 in 2004-05.

"Active Young Readers has been a huge success in our elementary schools," said Mr. Clarke, speaking on behalf of Education Minister Jane Purves. "We want junior high students to have the same access to quality reading material that will keep them interested in reading and help them become more proficient readers as they continue their education."

More than 400 Nova Scotia Grade 7 classrooms will receive 257 new books. These classroom collections contain 67 titles on topics ranging from astronomy and Maritime inventions to skateboarding and Vikings.

Some books were chosen to link with curriculum topics while others were chosen because they will interest students at this level. The collections include Atlantic Canadian content.

"As teachers, we're pleased that our students are getting a collection of high quality reading materials that are suitable for a wide range of reading abilities," said Terry Burton, a Grade 7 teacher at Thompson Junior High School. "In addition, the Department of Education has committed funds for professional development to enhance reading instruction for all junior high teachers over the next two years. Learning to read is clearly a priority."

Teachers will also receive resource materials to help students take full advantage of the new books. Each Grade 7 English language arts teacher will receive four professional resources this year. All Grade 7 teachers will receive another resource on teaching reading through all subjects, not just in language arts.

Resources will also be provided for use by all teachers in junior high schools. They will encourage a whole-school focus on reading.

Active Young Readers has put 600,000 new books into elementary classrooms in the past two years. Teachers have received resource materials and attended professional development sessions to help their students become strong, independent readers.

The reading initiatives support the Learning for Life plan announced in September by helping young Nova Scotians gain solid reading skills in the early years.