Youngest Students Benefit from Early Reading Support

More of Nova Scotia's youngest students will have access to focused support to help improve their reading and writing skills.

Succeeding in Reading: An Early Literacy Support Framework will be introduced to Primary and Grade 1 beginning in September, and will include strategies to increase support for students in grades 2 and 3, Education Minister Ramona Jennex announced today, April 26.

"Government is putting children and learning first. That means providing crucial literacy supports for more of our youngest learners," said Ms. Jennex.

The framework, which involved input from literacy specialists at the department and boards, will help schools quickly identify students who need assistance to improve oral language, reading and writing skills. Succeeding In Reading will provide focused, developmentally appropriate instruction and support.

"This approach gives boards the flexibility they need to provide support to even more students," said the minister. "We are no longer taking a cookie-cutter approach, and instead are tailoring support to fit the needs of our students."

The province is investing $5 million in the framework.

"Children learn best in a social context. The focus is on an early literacy teacher working closely with the classroom teacher, in the classroom with small groups of generally one to three students. There will also be opportunity for one-on-one instruction outside the classroom when necessary," said Ms. Jennex.

Highlights of the framework include:

• daily in-class support in small groups.
• flexibility to provide one-on-one support
• students will receive focused support for a pre-determined block of time
• students may continue to receive support in a subsequent block of time
• support will be a joint responsibility of classroom and literacy teachers
• literacy and classroom teachers will meet regularly to ensure effective planning and to ensure instruction matches the individual literacy needs of each student
• outreach to volunteers, communities and families to better support students in the classroom and at home
• progress of each student and success of intervention strategies will be monitored by boards and shared with the department in an annual report
• ongoing professional development for classroom and early literacy teachers
• students identified early in Primary
• instructional and assessment strategies consistent with province's Active Young Readers program

"One of the greatest strengths of this approach, and what I believe will benefit students most, will be the improved working relationship between the early literacy teacher and the classroom teacher," said Halifax Regional School Board superintendent Carole Olsen. "That closer relationship will result in improved teaching and increased support to students."

The framework can be viewed at www.ednet.ns.ca .