Reading RecoveryTM, an early literacy intervention program, was officially launched today by the Honourable Chester Gillan, Minister of Education. The implementation of the program began in 11 Island elementary schools in September. Teachers from Sherwood, Westwood, Prince Street, Glen Stewart, Queen Elizabeth, Morell, Elm Street, Athena, Spring Park, Montague and Alberton are currently taking a year of specialized training in Reading Recovery techniques.
Minister Gillan, Dianne Stuart, a trainer and administrator with the Canadian Institute of Reading Recovery, representatives from the Department of Education and the school boards, and Island principals and teachers gathered for the official opening of the Island's only Reading Recovery Training Center at Westwood Primary School.
"Reading Recovery has an international reputation for providing excellence in literacy instruction," said Minister Gillan. "We are confident the positive impacts of Reading Recovery will be felt throughout the entire PEI school system."
Reading Recovery is designed to dramatically reduce the number of children with reading and writing difficulties in an education system. The program will benefit Grade 1 students who are finding literacy learning troublesome. Through this program, children who have not responded well to classroom instruction and thus have not developed efficient patterns of learning, can make accelerated progress and be brought to the average level of their classmates. With approximately 12 to 15 weeks of individual instruction, they become independent, successful learners.
Reading Recovery provides one-to-one tutoring, five days per week, for 30 minutes a day, by a specially trained teacher. During these sessions children develop effective strategies for literacy acquisition. Upon completion of this tutoring, children should be able to read increasingly difficult text and independently write their own messages.
"Improving literacy rates in Prince Edward Island is a high priority," said Minister Gillan. "Reading Recovery will help us to achieve this goal."
Reading Recovery was developed in New Zealand by educator and psychologist Dr. Marie Clay. Since 1984, it has been successfully introduced in eight countries, including nine Canadian provinces.