More Attention to Grammar in Nova Scotia
Department of Education (to March 26, 2013)
January 14, 2002 10:00 AM
Grammar, punctuation and spelling will get more attention in Nova
Scotia classrooms beginning in the next school year.
Education Minister Jane Purves today announced a new Writers in
Action program that will begin in Grade 4. The program will
provide new books for students, more classroom resources and more
support for teachers.
"Grammar is like the rules of the road for effective
communication," said Ms. Purves. "Students need these basic
skills at an early age to succeed in school and in life."
All Grade 4 students will receive writing handbooks, which they
can keep to use in all subjects in school, at home and in future
years. It will be the first time that students are given, rather
than loaned, books.
"Giving these books to students is a way of emphasizing the
importance of good writing skills and proper grammar in
everything they do," said Ms. Purves. "We also want them to
recognize that attention to grammar does not end in their
language arts classes."
Dictionaries, thesauruses and other learning resources will be
added to every Grade 4 classroom's writing centre. Each teacher
will also receive a resource, including sample lesson plans and
learning activities to help students study grammar, spelling,
word usage and punctuation in the context of their own speech and
writing.
A professional development session will also be held for school
board leadership teams in May 2002. The teams will then train
teachers in their areas on how to use the resources in their
classrooms.
The program will be extended to junior high in future years.
Students will receive more advanced handbooks, and teachers will
get new resources and professional development.
"As teachers, we know that reading and writing go hand in hand,"
said Beth Charlton, a teacher specialist in early literacy with
the Halifax Regional School Board. "In our classrooms, we provide
many opportunities for students to read and write so they will
think about how language works and how to use this knowledge to
improve their own literacy skills. Writers in Action will support
us as we help students grow as readers and writers."
Ms. Purves said this program builds on efforts already under way
to support literacy. Active Young Readers was launched in
September 2000 to build on the reading elements in Nova Scotia' s
elementary language arts curriculum.
The minister will also ask the department and universities to
discuss how all teachers in training could spend additional time
on grammar and writing. The committee is already planning to
review how reading can get greater attention in teacher training
programs.
The Conference Board of Canada's employability skills profile
lists the skills and abilities one needs to succeed in today's
world of work. Writing effectively in the languages in which
business is conducted is among the communications skills listed.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Grammar, punctuation and spelling will get more attention in
Nova Scotia classrooms.
A new writing program will start with grade four students
next year. It will give writing handbooks to students, more
classroom resources and more support for teachers.
The program will be extended to junior high in future years.
Education Minister Jane Purves says students need basic
reading and writing skills to succeed in school and life. The
Conference Board of Canada lists writing as a skill needed for
success in work.
- 30-
Contact: Adèle Poirier
Department of Education
902-424-8307
E-mail:poiriea@gov.ns.ca
Kjd January 14, 2002 9:04 A.M.
Grammar, punctuation and spelling will get more attention in Nova
Scotia classrooms beginning in the next school year.
Education Minister Jane Purves today announced a new Writers in
Action program that will begin in Grade 4. The program will
provide new books for students, more classroom resources and more
support for teachers.
"Grammar is like the rules of the road for effective
communication," said Ms. Purves. "Students need these basic
skills at an early age to succeed in school and in life."
All Grade 4 students will receive writing handbooks, which they
can keep to use in all subjects in school, at home and in future
years. It will be the first time that students are given, rather
than loaned, books.
"Giving these books to students is a way of emphasizing the
importance of good writing skills and proper grammar in
everything they do," said Ms. Purves. "We also want them to
recognize that attention to grammar does not end in their
language arts classes."
Dictionaries, thesauruses and other learning resources will be
added to every Grade 4 classroom's writing centre. Each teacher
will also receive a resource, including sample lesson plans and
learning activities to help students study grammar, spelling,
word usage and punctuation in the context of their own speech and
writing.
A professional development session will also be held for school
board leadership teams in May 2002. The teams will then train
teachers in their areas on how to use the resources in their
classrooms.
The program will be extended to junior high in future years.
Students will receive more advanced handbooks, and teachers will
get new resources and professional development.
"As teachers, we know that reading and writing go hand in hand,"
said Beth Charlton, a teacher specialist in early literacy with
the Halifax Regional School Board. "In our classrooms, we provide
many opportunities for students to read and write so they will
think about how language works and how to use this knowledge to
improve their own literacy skills. Writers in Action will support
us as we help students grow as readers and writers."
Ms. Purves said this program builds on efforts already under way
to support literacy. Active Young Readers was launched in
September 2000 to build on the reading elements in Nova Scotia' s
elementary language arts curriculum.
The minister will also ask the department and universities to
discuss how all teachers in training could spend additional time
on grammar and writing. The committee is already planning to
review how reading can get greater attention in teacher training
programs.
The Conference Board of Canada's employability skills profile
lists the skills and abilities one needs to succeed in today's
world of work. Writing effectively in the languages in which
business is conducted is among the communications skills listed.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Grammar, punctuation and spelling will get more attention in
Nova Scotia classrooms.
A new writing program will start with grade four students
next year. It will give writing handbooks to students, more
classroom resources and more support for teachers.
The program will be extended to junior high in future years.
Education Minister Jane Purves says students need basic
reading and writing skills to succeed in school and life. The
Conference Board of Canada lists writing as a skill needed for
success in work.
- 30-
Contact: Adèle Poirier
Department of Education
902-424-8307
E-mail:poiriea@gov.ns.ca
Kjd January 14, 2002 9:04 A.M.