Grade 3 kids in Northeast doing better in reading

A couple of years ago, a provincial auditor’s report singled out the Northeast School Division because its Grade 3 students were falling below the provincial average in reading at or above their grade level.

In the 2016 report, the auditor found 66 per cent of Grade 3 students in the school division, which covers Melfort, Nipawin, Tisdale and Hudson Bay areas, were reading at or above their grade level. In the 2018 report, the auditor found the division’s Grade 3 students’ reading ability had increased: 74 per cent of Grade 3 students were reading at or above their grade level.

The division put “concerted efforts” into interventions, director of education Don Rempel said on Friday. From there, they saw rapid improvement, he said.

Teacher were able to if they noticed students needing direct assistance with parts of an activity involving reading. In Northeast’s schools, the teachers then worked more closely with those students, Rempel said.

The trend across Saskatchewan is improved reading comprehension results.

On Friday, the Ministry of Education announced that 75 per cent of Grade 3 students are reading at or above their grade level, according to data provided by school divisions for 2018. Five years ago, 65 per cent of third grade students were reading at this level.

In 2014, the province launched its multi-year Education Sector Strategic Plan, which included setting out targets for grade level ability in math, reading and writing.

By June 30, 2020, the ministry aims to have 80 per cent of students at or above their reading level. Donna Johnson, assistant deputy minister of education, said the province found school divisions were using different methods to assess students’ reading comprehension. The ministry considered whether to continue with this or to use a single method; ultimately, it went with the former.

Johnson said it comes down to each teacher having a rubric and looking at the students’ ability to do certain things.

“What they are are observational assessments, where the teacher sits with the student, asks the student to read selected materials and while the student is reading the teacher will be assessing the student’s ability to read and then to comprehend what they’ve read,” she said.

For students not reading at grade level, she said divisions are giving them additional supports and time with a reading coach or teacher.

She describes Grade 3 reading skills as foundational.

“We continue to be very excited about the results that we have and also very committed to continuing with the focus on reading because we know just how important it is and how much a predictor it is of future success in the whole school system, and on in life in general.”