Literacy Lift-Off impresses minister
Education Minister Kelly Lamrock hopes to introduce the Woodstock-based program across the province
With the province lagging behind the rest of Canada in literacy skills, New Brunswick's education minister said a key to success is more community involvement.
On Wednesday afternoon, Minister Kelly Lamrock stopped by the Woodstock Centennial Elementary School to see that type of community initiative in action.
The Woodstock Rotary Club's Lift Off to Literacy is in full swing, and, for the last three weeks, community volunteers have been donating their time to help Woodstock-area school children improve their reading skills.
Lamrock acknowledge literacy scores are not what should be in province. The problem, he said, is not caused by one big thing, but rather a series of little things which must be done better.
For starters, the minister said, there needs to be a shared responsibility – government must provide more resources; teachers must share knowledge; and communities must provide support.
"If you look at the ingredients for success in other places, it is those three things," said Lamrock.
Lift-off-for-Literacy volunteer Eugene Craig related to Lamrock his experience of being a reading mentor. Describing it as entertaining, Craig said he enjoys the one-on-one interaction with the children outside the classroom setting.
"I really enjoy it, and I find it really exciting," said Craig.
The Woodstock program impressed Lamrock. Every time he comes to Woodstock, he said, he sees new initiatives and partnerships being developed between the community and the schools. He described the Woodstock Rotary campaign as a prime example of community support, which really encourages children to learn to read.
"This is something we can learn from and implement throughout the province," said Lamrock.
District 14 community schools co-ordinator Valerie Carmichael welcomed the education minister's interest in the initiative and his recognition of it as a good program.
"I know from what he has said, he is going to take that out, and it won't be held a secret here anymore," she said. "It is going out across the province to say it is a good model. The ultimate goal in supporting these children is to improving literacy for the students in all the schools."
In the days leading up to his visit to Woodstock, Lamrock announced programs designed to improve education. He said Woodstock's efforts to improve literacy coincides with his new plan, NB3, which will see an increased emphasis put on improving students' understanding and performance in literacy, mathematics and science.
"We are very proud of our commitment to build the best education system in Canada," Lamrock said. "In order to do that, we have to ensure that our kids have a solid foundation in literacy, mathematics and science."
Lamrock announced plans for pre-kindergarten assessments to ensure children are ready for kindergarten.
"Every child in the province is going to do an early-years assessment," he said. "That means, if they are not ready, we have got a plan ready for them by the time they get to the kindergarten door, and we are working with their parents on the transition. That is why we funded early childhood mentors in every district."
Lamrock added the department will increase the number of provincial assessments and student evaluations, with children will take provincial assessments in literacy in Grades 2, 4, 7 and 9; and in numeracy in Grades 3, 5 and 8.
The old evaluation program, he said, only indicated which schools had the best social-economic makeup and which schools kids started at a higher literacy level. The program should determine which schools are transforming children's learning.
By assessing more often, Lamrock said, the system can see who is really getting results and can more quickly provide support for struggling students.
In order to do so, he pointed out, the system needs to be better funded, educators need to act more quickly and as seen in Woodstock, there needs to be more involvement from the community.
"If we are ever going to solve our literacy problem in New Brunswick, the best and most effective way to do that is take the close to $1 billion we already spend on public education and say we are not letting anymore illiterate kids walk across that graduation stage, not in in province that has our resources," said Lamrock. "New Brunswick's education system needs to respond with a sense of urgency to a child struggling with learning how to read, do math or understand the principles of science. The province has repeatedly scored near the bottom on national student assessments in these subject areas. We are determined to improve this situation by working relentlessly with District Education Councils, educators, parents and community groups to ensure that all students benefit from excellent instruction, the key variable affecting student achievement."
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