The Reading Unit
Since its inception in September of 2003, the Reading Unit at
Jonathan Grant High School has operated as both a reading
classroom and a repository for reading materials and equipment. These
are used by both students and members of staff as they read
for enjoyment or seek ways to enhance reading methodology.
The reading unit is located above the administrative block at the
front of the school. The Unit caters to students from grades seven
to ten who either choose the subject or are recommended for inclusion
in the reading programme by teachers of Language Arts.
The Reading Unit is a subsidiary of Literatures in English and as
such seeks to augment and support the language curricula used at the
various grade levels. The school's administration is on par with the
technological demands of society and has outfitted the Reading Unit
accordingly. Students in the reading programme benefit from having
lessons delivered technologically and have hands-on practice with
computers.
This has greatly motivated the learners as it caters to the learning
style strengths of tactile and kinaesthetic learners, who are in the
majority
in the programme.
The programme therefore does not actually 'teach'students to read,
but rather encourages strategic and active reading and comprehension
as well as writing as a process. Additionally, there is the
opportunity for students in the programme to develop their oracy through
discussion, an
academic feature of the programme.
Through the programme students are encouraged to read on, identify
their strengths, persevere and then prevail.
Mrs. F. Gilzene Cheese
