Promoting Active Reading in Nova Scotia Classrooms

There's a buzz of activity in Paula Evans's Grade 1 classroom at West Chezzetcook School. In one corner, students are reading a book together. In another, they're using magnetic letters to form words and sentences. Another group is using puppets to act out the story they've just read. Still others are reading books on their own.

These students are in the middle of their daily Active Reading Hour.

"The Active Reading Hour is the best thing that's happened in our classroom," says Mrs. Evans. "Students are able to work at their own level so stronger students can work harder and be challenged while struggling students can get support and improve."

The hour is part of a Department of Education literacy initiative called Active Young Readers. The initiative was launched in September 2000 for Primary to Grade 3 students, who take part daily in reading and reading-related activities in a one-hour block.

The initiative was expanded to include Grades 4, 5 and 6 in September 2001. These students see 60 minutes of activity devoted to reading spread throughout each day.

Active Young Readers supports the provincial elementary language arts curriculum with books for students and resources for teachers.

"In two years, we've infused Nova Scotia's elementary school classrooms with nearly 425,000 books for students," says Education Minister Jane Purves. "That's an average of 130 new books per classroom to help our students gain the basic literacy skills they need for future learning."

In addition to the books for the province's 44,000 elementary students, all elementary language arts teachers have received two to three resource books each. Active Young Readers also includes professional development to help teachers make the most of these resources.

"When I talk to other teachers, they really feel valued with the support they've been given through Active Young Readers and they see the value in the initiative," says Mrs. Evans.

Linda Neville agrees. She's a Reading Recovery teacher with the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board. Reading Recovery is a trademarked program of early intervention that supports struggling Grade 1 students.

"Through Active Young Readers and Reading Recovery, we're making literacy a reality for all children," she says. "The teacher resources and professional development are helping us go to where each individual child is and help them to move forward from there."

With the wide variety of books provided through Active Young Readers, teachers can engage their students with books that are appropriate, depending on their abilities and interests.

Back in Mrs. Evans's classroom, it's clear that the $3 million- investment in Active Young Readers is paying off as a proud student's voice rises above the buzz of reading activity.

"I'm ready, Mrs. Evans," he tells his teacher. "I know I can do more."