Pilot project garners attention in Strathmore

Times Reporter

 

A film crew for Alberta Education was in Strathmore Feb. 8 and 9 to record how a new pilot project is going in local schools. Westmount Elementary, Wheatland Elementary and Crowther Memorial Junior High have all launched the project in the area. 

“It’s a literacy pilot project where we’re looking at a process piece called 13 Parameters. Then the teachers had professional learning using First Steps in Literacy, that’s the elementary one and the Stepping Out for the junior high, so it was professional development around these resources that are based on reading strategies,” said Shelley Wells with Alberta Education. 

Teachers volunteered for training for First Steps in Literacy and Stepping Out, which are taught by Pearson Professional Learning. Both programs consist of three components: quality professional development courses, comprehensive material and school wide implementation. 

This is the second school year that the schools have been implementing the project into their course directory. At Westmount four teachers volunteered for the training. 

“It’s going very well, I think the students are really picking up learning literacy strategies, comprehension. That’s really what it is, teaching comprehension strategies to students so they understand what they are reading,” said Cori Hampson who teaches 3C at Westmount. 

Some of the strategies for First Steps include What’s Your Story, Stop and Think, Clouds of Wonder, and Character Self-Portrait. 

Some of Hampson’s Grade 2 students last year had been taught some of the learning strategies. Hampson said she is noticing a difference between those who have already been taught some of the strategies, and those who are learning them this year. 

“It doesn’t matter what level they are reading at, these strategies work for all reading levels,” said Hampson.  

The Stepping Out project is a continuation of First Steps, but for the junior high level. The project was initiated through Alberta Education in five different school jurisdictions in the province. Golden Hills School Division has 10 schools participating in the project.