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BAKER LAKE - Junior and senior high students stepped up to make Literacy Week a resounding success in Baker Lake earlier this month.

Students from Jonah Amittnaaq secondary school helped put a special spin on the Read for 15 project by sharing their time with kids from Rachel Arngnammaktiq elementary school.

Chad Tunnq, left, reads with Sean Aksawnee during Read for 15 in Baker Lake earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Craig Vincent

Grade 7 teacher Janice Campbell said the secondary students went to the elementary school and read with the younger kids.

Then a group of elementary kids came to the high school and read with some of the senior students.

"The interaction between the younger kids and the senior students was excellent," said Campbell.

"Even the kids who usually don't like to read were very enthusiastic about getting the chance to read with the younger kids.

"They really wanted to help out and they all behaved well because they knew they had an influence on the younger kids taking part.

"It was a very co-operative setting and a good experience for everyone involved."

The younger kids got to select the reading material that was read to them.

Campbell said about 250 students took part from the senior school, which shows how willing they are to help the younger students.

She said the school did a similar program last year and it went very well, so it was decided to use the same approach again this year.

"The project is a good example of co-operative learning and shows how the various age groups can work well together.

"Even something as simple as reading together goes a long way towards building a sense of community.

"This a far more effective approach than simply coming into a room, throwing a book in front of the kids and asking them to read for 15 minutes.

"This makes it fun for the kids and they enjoy it because it's something different from their regular routine."

Campbell said some students really don't like to read all that much.

She said silent reading is done every day in English class, but it's not something they always enjoy.

"When you're reading to somebody, it's a completely different atmosphere.

"The older kids kind of feel like they're the teacher, and they enjoy having a little bit of responsibility with the younger kids.

"It gives them a positive experience out of reading, and they feel good about themselves for helping out the younger kids."