Cockburn Gardens gears up to tackle literacy crisis - Nearly half of students in grades 1-4 reading below standard
Published:Thursday | June 20, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter
TROUBLED BY the disturbing findings of a diagnostic reading assessment for grades one to four students at the Cockburn Gardens Primary and Junior High School, educators at the institution have vowed to take concrete steps through partnership with stakeholders to reverse the dismal showing.
The study revealed that about 300 students (or 46 per cent) from grades one to four are reading significantly below their respective grade levels.
However, the institution is making an impassioned plea to corporate Jamaica and stakeholders in the education sector for tangible support as it plans a mandatory literacy summer programme for the students. The intensive exercise is intended to improve the reading levels of the students and parents who are unable to read, over a three-week period.
"What we are asking for is not so much money. We are asking if you are in the business of food, send us some of what you produce. If you are in the business of clothing and textile, send us some T-shirts so the students don't have to wear the same clothing every day. We are trying to eliminate every possible factor that may stop a child from coming to the workshop," Paula Plummer, teacher and coordinator of the summer literacy programme, appealed during a Gleaner interview.
REMOVING BARRIERS
The institution has removed perceived or real barriers which may prevent students from attending the workshop, advising that there is no particular dress code for summer school.
"We are prepared to say you can wear your slippers, you can wear your shorts, you can wear your T-shirts, just come. Make sure you are clean; that is the only requirement," Plummer explained.
The literacy workshop coordinator says no stones will be left unturned to provide urgent intervention for students in need, but parents with similar challenges will also get help.
"This programme also caters to the parents of the students who are unable to read. We have that situation here. We know of it and we refuse to turn a blind eye to it. So we want for everybody to be involved."
As part of the workshop, parents will benefit from presentations on parental skills, academic support for their children and personal development.
Trained teachers not employed to the school, under supervision of a qualified and highly responsive administrator, will be used to provide instruction under the programme.
The curriculum for the programme will include emergent literacy skills, decoding skills, comprehension skills, fluency, art and craft, music and computer skills.
The institution will provide a healthy lunch and snack daily for students at no cost to them. It is proposed that the cost of the programme will be covered by sponsorship and donations from various companies and institutions.
The summer literacy programme will end with a health fair.
Objectives of the reading summer school:
To develop a wholesome attitude towards reading and books.
To correct some of the reading errors identified by the reading diagnostic assessment.
To facilitate reading for meaning, knowledge, understanding and fun.
To equip students with requisite skills for reading.
For students to progress to at least one level above their current reading level.
To build a better relationship with corporate entities in and around the community.
To provide support for parents of students reading significantly below grade level.
Contact:
Paula Plummer,
Cockburn Gardens Primary and Junior High School
Tel: 923-1759, 937-2696
Email: plummwise@yahoo.com