Students Continue to Succeed in Reading and Writing

Grade 6 students in Nova Scotia continue to do well in reading and writing. The 2004 elementary literacy assessment shows that 89 per cent of Grade 6 students are meeting expectations in writing, and 87 per cent are doing so in reading.

The 2004 assessment shows an improvement in writing with an eight per cent increase in the number of students meeting expectations. This achievement is significant because the criteria for meeting expectations in writing were raised in this year's assessment. Although there was a decrease of two per cent in reading, the results remain high.

"I'm pleased that so many students are succeeding in reading and writing again this year," said Education Minister Jamie Muir. "The writing results have really improved and we know teachers and students have worked hard to make that happen."

The assessment is part of the province's Learning for Life plan to help students reach their full potential. It measures reading and writing skills that students have developed in their first language by the end of Grade 5 and helps identify students who need extra help.

"This assessment is important because it identifies students who are struggling in reading and/or writing," said Mr. Muir. "Support for students in reading and writing will continue to be a priority this year and students who need extra help to catch up before they go to junior high will get it."

After the initial elementary literacy assessment in 2003, the department made an investment of $1 million to help schools provide extra support for students who did not meet expectations. Additional funding to support students not meeting expectations in the 2004 assessment will be considered as part of the spring budget.

The department has also invested more than $3 million this year through its Literacy Success Strategy, to provide support to teachers and students in reading, writing, and grammar.

"The literacy support plan is just one initiative to support students," said Lynn Landry, Grade 6 teacher at Caudle Park Elementary. "The department has implemented many others, like Writers in Action and Active Young Readers, and has provided in- service training for teachers and helpful resources for teachers and students. These initiatives support all students and, in particular, help to bridge the gap for students who are struggling in reading and writing."

Parents should get their children's results this week. Teachers and parents will then work together on literacy support plans for students who need more support to improve their reading, writing, or both. The support will continue through the junior high years.

Alice Galpin-Nicholson, parent of a Grade 7 student at Ridgecliff Middle School, is pleased with the support her son has received after not meeting expectations in writing in last year's assessment.

"As a result of the support he's received, my son is more confident in his writing ability," said Ms. Galpin-Nicholson. "This has been a tremendous benefit for my son and I applaud the Department of Education, the school board and Ridgecliff Middle School for implementing this initiative."

The department made some changes to this year's assessment to better align it with others in Nova Scotia and other jurisdictions -- students' writing had to meet expectations in ideas, organization and matters of correctness (spelling, grammar and usage). In 2003, students' writing had to meet expectations in ideas and organization only. In addition, the format of the assessment itself was improved in response to feedback from students and teachers.

Nova Scotia teachers helped develop the assessment, set the standards for meeting expectations and field-tested it with students across the province. More than 100 teachers helped mark the assessment earlier this year. In addition, school boards are providing teachers with professional development to help them develop literacy support plans.

English results of the 2004 Elementary Literacy Assessment are available on the website at www.ednet.ns.ca. French results were released on March 8 and are also available online.