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An effective reader is one who not only grasps the essential ideas communicated in a piece of writing, but who is able to use and apply these ideas later in new contexts. Reading a wide range of materials in all areas of the curriculum will also help students discover what interests them most, and will enable them to develop their interests and abilities in ways that are suited to their needs. Reading experiences that invite students to discover new worlds and new experiences and to develop their own imaginative powers will go a long way towards convincing them that literature and other reading materials can be a rich source of pleasure and knowledge. Such experiences will also lead to a love of reading, which is among the most valuable resources students can take with them into adult life. (Ontario Ministry of Education, 1997) |
We need to provide a safe environment which will encourage the students to become a risk takers; predicting, self correcting and using a variety of strategies when encountering unknown words. We need to promote enthusiasm for active reading and encourage children to read for meaning. Students need to spend more time practising the reading skills they have learned to become secure in their ability. We need to demonstrate or model of reading strategies for children; provide opportunities for children to become reading problem solvers; question the children to help them consolidate their effective strategies; allow time for independent, pleasurable reading; give specific and positive feedback; and praise general and specific efforts and attempts. We propose to develop and implement a Book in a Bag Home Reading Programme for all students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3. We will be purchasing a variety of fiction and nonfiction quality literature from Emergent to Early Fluency. Each child will have the opportunity to take a different book home each weekday night from January to June this school year and then continue into the next school year. The School Community Council will be responsible for distributing and collecting the books daily; maintaining the collection; volunteering to provide reading opportunities for students and co-ordinating with the staff to provide special events - The Oshawa Generals came on December 12, 2000 to read with the primary children and John Green (author of Junkpile Jennifer) visited the primary children and shared his stories.
