Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, April 9, 2007

FORT RESOLUTION - The marks in some grades at Fort Resolution's Deninu school have seen a dramatic rise over the past three years.

The improved marks are largely being credited to a strategy called Balanced Literacy, which was implemented at the school three years ago.

"It has worked for our students, and I'm so pleased our students are progressing so nicely," said principal Moh Odeen. For example, the percentage of Grade 3 students meeting or exceeding the standard on Alberta achievement tests has increased.

In language arts and math, the percentages rose from the low 40 per cent range in 2004 to 80 per cent in 2006.

Balanced Literacy began with Grades 1 to 3, and was extended to Grades 4 to 6 last year. This year, it was extended to kindergarten and some strategies were implemented in Grades 7 to 9.

All teachers, including a program support teacher, received initial and ongoing training from the regional literacy co-ordinator with the South Slave Divisional Education Council.

Odeen said support for teachers is one of the keys to the program's success. "We get ongoing professional development for staff."

The principal noted that, as students become better readers, they improve in all subject areas and their behaviour improves.

Bernice Odeen, the program support teacher and the wife of the principal, explained Balanced Literacy is based on proven practices.

She said it is not just one strategy. "I don't think it ever can be one thing."

Instead, it includes a variety of strategies such as mentoring, focusing on five high-frequency words a week, more emphasis on spelling and proper use of words, and reading aloud and shared reading.

Plus, students are recognized at regular assemblies and an anthology of student writings is published each year.

Some students in Grades 1 and 2 are now reading more than 100 books a year in classes where student interest in books and the ability to read used to be weak.

Sydney Bailey, a nine-year-old Grade 4 student, likes the focus on literacy.

"We get to read and we have a lot of spelling going on," Sydney said, noting she reads about 300 books a year.

Bernice Odeen said Sydney is reading at about a Grade 6 level.

"She's one of our real success stories," Odeen said, noting many other students have also improved their literacy skills.