Table of Contents
Articles on Literacy
- The Report of the Expert Panel on Literacy in Grades 4 to 6 in Ontario: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/reports/literacy/panel/literacy.pdf
- Supporting Student Success in Literacy (library support is included): http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/brochure/literacy/index.html
Literacy and School Libraries
The Daily 5™ is a structure that helps students develop the daily habits of reading, writing, and working independently that will lead to a lifetime of literacy independence. Many of our elementary schools in Quebec are doing Daily 5. For “Tip of the week” in February, 2012, the 2 sisters emphasize “Schools who are doing things successfully are thinking completely outside the box when it comes to resources. One of the biggest shifts involves the school library” (Gail Boushey & Joan Moser, 2012). In this article, the 2 sisters also introduce Shelly Harwayne’s book, Lifetime Guarantees : Toward Ambitious Literacy Teaching in which she describes her school and library collections.
To read the article:
- FAQ: In these times of having to make do with less, what can we learn from schools who are doing it successfully? by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, 2012
Research has found an association of certain school library characteristics with increased student achievement. According to Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Evaluation (U.S. Department of Education, 2005), many states conducted research on the impact of school libraries have found positive relationships with student test scores; a large number of factors have been specifically associated with improved scores (e.g., staffing/availability, professional development/training, collaboration/cooperation, electronic linkages and technology, collections and resources, usage). Therefore, the Improving Literacy through School Libraries grants were awarded to districts, similar to our “Action Plan on Reading” grants to support school libraries.
To read the report:
- Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Evaluation by U.S. Department of Education, 2005
Dr. Ray Doiron’s presentation on literacy and libraries broadens our understanding of literacy (Doiron, 2003). He points out that literacy is not just “an individual’s ability to write her/his name, “the ability to understand and use printed material found at home, at work and in the community – to achieve one’s goals and develop one’s knowledge and potential” (Movement for Canadian Literacy), or “an individual’s ability to read, write, speak, compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family of the individual and in society” (The US Workforce Investment Act of 1998). He emphasizes multiple literacies and a meta-literacy view. In this view, the school library is a meta-literacy space where “literacy is applied into real world contexts and into reader’s personal contexts”(Doiron, 2003).
Boys and Literacy
Ontario Ministry of Education provides teachers with teaching and assessment strategies and classroom practice for improving boys’ literacy achievement. The following links contain useful information. For detailed information, please check the website here.
- Current Research: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/studentsuccess/thinkliteracy/files/Research.pdf
- A practical guide to improving boys’ literacy skills: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/brochure/meread/meread.pdf
- Ontario teachers report on how to improve boys’ literacy skills: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/meRead_andHow.pdf
- Banned books help hook boys on reading: contains a controversial booklist to entice boys, http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/education/article/1136492–banned-books-help-hook-boys-on-reading
Video
- Read Anything Good Lately? Boys, Books and Reading:
http://www.videodelivery.gov.on.ca/player/download.php?file=http://www.media.gov.on.ca/58d702f409348633/en/pages/text.html - School Talk, Boys and Reading: School Talk host Nadjia Varney sits down with George Mason University professor Dr. William G. Brozo, author of “To Be A Boy, To Be A Reader” discusses why boys are struggling in reading and how those problems affect them academically and in their social development, as following.