Lisa Scott
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 02/04) - Reading has a new importance for teachers at Mildred Hall school.

After disappointing Alberta Achievement Test results last fall, staff at the K-8 school decided to tackle the problem. They formed literacy study groups that meet once a month to help teachers reach all students in the class, literate and illiterate.

"We're trying to extend everyone's learning," says Kathy Borden, a primary program support worker.

The effort coincides with Yellowknife Education District No. 1's focus on literacy in its current strategic plan.

Mildred Hall principal Yasemin Heyck says she knows many students have trouble reading. It's a problem that only gets worse as the students move through grade levels.

"We have a lot of kids who don't come from a strong literary background. A lot of our kids struggle with literacy and they always have," she says.

During the monthly workshops, teachers learn ways to help students in the classroom. Techniques are aimed at helping students comprehend what they read.

On a break from the session, the teachers emphasize not all students are problem readers.

"It's not a problem, but it's something you have to work with," says Brenda Auge, who has taught at the school for 19 years.

"That's the reality," says Cindy Kelly, a program support worker.

Auge, Borden and Kelly agree not all children are introduced to books or reading before they reach school age.

"A lot of our kids have a lot of life experiences," says Kelly, such as hunting and trapping knowledge, as opposed to literacy skills.

By next year the new learning methods should be in use in the classroom, though staff expect results over five years.

"It will take time," says Borden, but the teachers are seeing results already.

They are ecstatic and obviously energized by the sessions. Borden sums up the real purpose of the new initiative as the group reconvenes.

"It takes the students into the real world. If we don't have literate students, how are they going to go out into the world?" asks Borden.