By rdnewsNOW Staff

Addressing Learning Gaps

Literacy teams making a difference for hundreds of students in Red Deer Public

Mar 23, 2022 | 12:18 PM

More than 300 students from Grades 2-5 have improved their literacy skills this year thanks to part of a $1 million commitment from Red Deer Public Schools’ Board of Trustees for COVID-19 recovery.

In recognition of the learning gaps students may face due to the pandemic, officials with Red Deer Public Schools say the Board allocated $1 million for COVID-19 recovery last year, which focuses on academic support for students who need it. A significant portion of that funding was allocated to hire a literacy intervention team to support students just below reading level.

“The focus is to support students that are approaching grade level, who have learning loss due to COVID-19 or other circumstances in their lives,” said Sherri Jansen, Learning Services Coordinator. “The reason behind this initiative is we know that literacy is key for success, not just in school but also in life. If we want our students to be successful in school and thrive in our communities moving forward as adults, we need to grow their literacy skills.”

With the funding, six Red Deer Public teachers were seconded to work with students from Grades 1 to 7. Officials say teachers work with small groups of students using a systematic phonics approach and the Level Literacy Intervention (LLI) resources to enhance fluency, vocabulary and comprehension skills.

To date, the one-year funded program is said to have supported over 300 students. It is anticipated that by the end of the school year, more than 500 students will be supported by improving their literacy skills, setting them up for future success.

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“An additional benefit is that we are building capacity in schools,” stated Jansen. “While our team of experts are working in the schools with students, they are sharing best practices with teachers. The resources that we have purchased for this project will remain in schools and continue to benefit learners throughout the years.”

Officials say the initiative has had a significant impact on students and has been a tremendous success.

“Every student in this program has shown growth in their ability to sound out words, comprehend text or both. Our team has seen positive shifts in students’ attitudes towards reading which will have beneficial outcomes for lifelong learning,” added Jansen.

Board Chair Nicole Buchanan said as we continue to move throughout the pandemic, the Board recognizes the importance of supporting learning gaps in students.

“Our priorities at Red Deer Public Schools are Literacy and Numeracy, Equity and Student Success and Completion. The Board’s $1 million commitment to COVID-19 recovery aligns with all of these priorities,” she said. “We need to ensure our students are learning to read so that they can read to learn as they progress through not only their education journey with Red Deer Public but throughout their journey beyond grade school. In supporting our students through this initiative, we are setting them up to reach their fullest potential.”