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Local kids improve their literacy

Ken Johnston
Editor

Last week five students at Riverview Elementary School were honoured by their teacher and principal for completing the Reading Recovery and Later Literacy programs.
Special Education teacher Carolee Hogue said that the Later Literacy program was utilized for the first time this year at Riverview. Reading Recovery has been in place for a few years now.
Later Literacy is geared towards students in grades 7 and 8 who are having difficulty with reading skills that they will need in high school. Matthew Sawatzky and Jordan Gustafson this year took the program and successfully completed it.
The Reading Recovery program is geared towards the grade 1 level. Kayle Stamler, Ashley Snow and Jacob Halverson took it and successfully completed it.
Both programs help the kids learn reading strategies which enables them to “catch up with their peers.”
The students take a pre-test and then work with the teacher 30-40 minutes per day. The program lasts 10-15 weeks. Upon completion the students take a post-test.
“The Later Literacy students both moved up two grade levels in reading,” said Hogue.
A pizza party was held to honour the students and each of them received a certificate from principal Bob Derkson. The students’ parents were on hand for the celebration.