Students Get More Non-Fiction Reading Books

Nova Scotia students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 will soon be reading about everything from endangered species and global warming to sports rules and keeping fit, thanks to a new shipment of books to their schools.

A set of 88 books is being distributed to 321 elementary schools across the province this week. The shipment increases the choice of non-fiction books for students to read as part of the Active Young Readers program.

"Non-fiction books help students make the link between reading in language arts and reading in other subjects and outside school," said Education Minister Angus MacIsaac, who delivered the books to Saint Mary's Elementary School in Halifax today, May 7. "They're part of our ongoing commitment to help our young students develop strong reading skills for future learning and for life."

A number of the books are from the National Geographic Reading Expedition series which explores issues in the scientific world. Another set of books is written in the style of a news magazine.

Karen Boyd teaches the Grade 4 and 5 class that the minister visited today.

"We're pleased with all the books we've received through Active Young Readers, especially the non-fiction books," she said. "They really appeal to the kids and we can use them in other subjects like science, too. It's great to get more of them for our students."

Since the fall of 2000, Active Young Readers has put more than 600,000 new books into elementary classrooms. Grade 7 classrooms received another 100,000 new books this year through the Active Readers program. This program will expand to include all junior high grades. Both programs ensure that young readers at all levels have a greater choice of books in the classroom so they can apply the reading skills and strategies they are learning.

Helping students improve their reading and writing skills is a key part of the Department of Education's Learning for Life strategy.