A pilot program designed to assist children with reading difficulties has been successfully implemented on the Island. The Summer Literacy Program for Kids gives children, ages 6-12, with reading problems, a chance to improve their literacy skills over the summer months, through specially developed programs and activities.
The Provincial Library facilitates the program in eight communities across the Island: Charlottetown, Summerside, O'Leary, Tyne Valley, Morell, Souris, Montague and Murray River. Approximately 100 Island children are enrolled in the program.
The purpose of the Summer Literacy Program for Kids is to support the learning objectives of the school system, by offering an alternative learning environment during the summer months. The program offers numerous benefits for the children such as: the child receives personal, one-on-one attention from a tutor; the child is introduced to the public library as a resource; the child learns that reading is an activity which should continue outside the classroom and the child is introduced to the concept of reading as a pleasurable activity.
"The Summer Literacy Program for Kids will help ensure Island children have the fundamental skills they will need for a lifetime of learning," says Minister of Education Chester Gillan.
Five Island students majoring in Education have been hired by the Department of Education to offer professional, one-on-one, tutoring to children with varying learning needs. The student-instructors are Louise MacNeil, Summerside Rotary Library; Carolyn Milligan, Tyne Valley and O'Leary libraries; Jill Kelly, Confederation Center Library; Angela St. John, Montague and Murray River libraries and Chris MacAulay, Morell and Souris libraries.
"The children don't mind spending time reading during their summer vacation because the program is offered in a fun learning environment," says Angela St. John. She says the interest level of students and parents has been excellent.
Carolyn Milligan feels the extra help students receive over the summer months helps to boost their self esteem and prepares them for the coming school year. She also says the program will help her in her final year in the Education program because she is getting a chance to apply her teaching skills.
The Summer Literacy Program for Kids is operated through a partnership with the Department of Education, (Division of Adult Learning and Literacy), the PEI Professional Librarians Association and the National Literacy Secretariat.
The Summer Literacy Program for Kids program is modelled on an extremely successful program introduced in New Brunswick public libraries in 1994.