Repulse program has families turning pages together
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Repulse Bay (Apr 11/01) - The power of books is being drawn upon in Repulse Bay to bring parents and children together.
Tusarvik school kindergarten teacher Ducas Milortok recently launched a kindergarten Read-at-Home program with her students and their parents.
Fellow Tusarvik teacher Leonie Aissaoui says Milortok was part of a team of kindergarten teachers who met in Baker Lake to plan the pilot of the popular new program developed by Kivalliq School Operations.
Aissaoui says Jim Kreuger of Kivalliq School Services in Baker travelled to Repulse Bay in order to spend a few days in the community helping to launch the program.
The Read-at-Home program consists of 18 weekly reading activities kindergarten students can do with their parents in the comfortable surroundings of their own home.
"These activities promote reading skills and attitudes which will help children be more successful in learning to read," says Aissaoui.
"Holding a book properly, turning the pages and interpreting pictures and illustrations are all examples of some of the early reading skills developed in the Read-at-Home program."
Learning to read is a journey children should begin before starting school.
Young children are often exposed to reading at home by members of their family.
Brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents are all viewed as role models by younger children as they watch and learn.
Aissaoui says the project is off to a solid start and Milortok is optimistic the Read-at-Home program will be popular with children and parents alike.
"Family, especially parents, are important teachers.
"This program was developed to give parents some support in assisting their children on this exciting journey.
"Judging by initial turnouts, the parents in Repulse Bay are interested in supporting their children in learning to read," says Aissaoui.
