Educators trained to tackle reading challenges among children
The Education Ministry has taken a significant step in hosting a one-day workshop to engage officers of the National Literacy Department and Regional Literacy Coordinators in a specialized training session on Scholastic Guided Reading.
Hosted in the auditorium of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development in Kingston, Georgetown, the workshop was facilitated by Majorie Solorzano of Scholastic Inc.
This training underscores the Education Ministry’s commitment to addressing reading challenges among young learners.
Over the years, Guyana has made substantial progress in literacy, with the national average for English Language climbing from 32 per cent to approximately 64 per cent.
The educators and trainers at the reading workshop
However, persistent challenges remain, notably the 40 per cent of students entering Grade Seven still struggling with reading comprehension. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Ministry has invested in the Scholastic Inc. Guided Reading Focus Fiction A to D Series, to provide vital support to the reading curriculum.
Majorie Solorzano of Scholastic Inc.
Scholastic Guided Reading offers a comprehensive collection of books organized by genre and difficulty level, and spanning 26 levels from A to Z. This series, proven effective in fostering reading skills, equips educators with the tools needed to tailor instruction to individual student needs. Among its advantages are the facilitation of flexible grouping, assessment of student progress, and a foundational book collection expandable over time.
Further, the ministry has procured 460 kits for Levels A to D, and these would be deployed to primary schools for use by teachers and Literacy Support Specialists in pull-out sessions with Grade 1 learners. Each kit includes essential resources such as a Teacher’s Guide, storage bins, levelled books, and teaching cards with lesson ideas for each title.
The training session are aimed at empowering national and regional literacy leaders with knowledge, skills and resources necessary to effectively implement the Guided Reading A to D materials. By providing comprehensive training and ongoing support, the Ministry ensures that educators feel confident in utilizing these materials to enhance literacy instruction in their classrooms.
