A program which works to identify grade 1 students who are experiencing difficulty in literacy and to lead them on the path to success will be celebrating 20 years in the Cariboo-Chilcotin.
School District 27 reading strategy coordinator, Lorie Kelly says it was about 22 years ago when the discussion was sparked on bringing Reading Recovery which is from New Zealand to the area.
“There was a group of teachers and learning support teachers in our District who said we see kids who are getting into early support early on and then they stay in learning support until the end of high school. So they thought there has to be a better way.”
Kelly says it was in 1996 when specially trained teacher leader for the program Lorraine Smith was able to return and implement it.
She says since then over 80 teachers have been trained providing one on one support to 1700 Grade 1 students.
Reading Recovery is currently in 11 schools in School District 27.
A celebration to mark 20 years of Reading Recovery is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 20 at the Marie Sharpe Gymnasium in Williams Lake from 4:30-6pm.