Literacy Intervention Program makes difference

One of the flagship programs that SD83 is proud of is our Literacy Intervention Program.

“It is a perfect reflection of our Strategic Plan goal of Students First,” comments Assistant Superintendent Carl Cooper.  “This past year was the eighth year of the program, and our Board of Education just approved funding to expand the program to an eighth school.”   

Cooper reports over the eight years, specialized literacy teachers have provided one-to-one intense reading support (over 70 individual lessons) to 337 students of the district’s most at-risk Grade 1 non-readers.  “The belief is that if we provide intensive, individual reading lessons the students will get to grade level, and become proficient readers. So far we have 236 students, a 70 per cent success rate, who continue to read at or above grade level,” reports Cooper. “This statistic is holding even for those who were part of the program as many as eight years ago.”

He adds research shows reading ability by grade 3 is the strongest indicator of both school success AND life success, which is why early intervention is so important. 

“Imagine if you could take the most at-risk students, those on a concerning life trajectory, provide one year of support AND they would become successful readers and students. Well, not only do we imagine it, our amazing team of teachers, with critical parent support at home, works this magic every year.  Is there a better definition of students first?”

New Literacy Initiative – Reading Snapshots 

This year parents of primary students will receive ‘reading snapshots’.  This information, developed by SD83 teachers, will give parents visual and written information about exactly what a child should be able to read ‘independently’ at each point in a school year. “We hope this will help parents have a clear picture of what their child should be able to read and assist parents in the important role of reading with their child.” 

Here is an example of what a grade 2 should be able to read independently by November.