Newfoundland and Labrador
READ-IN 99

In the Winter of 1999 the Literacy Development Council promoted Newfoundland and Labrador READ-IN 1999 within the schools of the province. It started with Literacy Action Day, February 19, and continued through Education Week. READ-IN simply means inviting a person from the community to visit a classroom and read to the children for about a half hour or less. The purpose of the READ-IN is to emphasize, in an active way, the importance of reading in everyone’s life. It is a way of bringing community and schools together to promote reading. The Council sent information and bookmarks to all Provincial Schools promoting this activity. Among the schools which participated in Newfoundland and Labrador READ-IN 1999 were Virginia Park School, St. John’s and St. Mark’s Elementary, Shearstown.

At Virginia Park Elementary School, St. John’s, grades Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3 and 4 participated in a READ-IN activity in March. One of the READ-IN participants was the Minister of Education, Judy Foote, who brought some books to read to the children and then donated them. Another government member who read to the students was Beaton Tulk. Jack Harris of the New Democratic Party also participated. According to Principal, Ms Hazel Clarke, the children were enthusiastic about the activity. “It is worthwhile and should be promoted every year”, she said.

At St. Mark’s Elementary, Shearstown, the students experienced first hand the importance of reading as members of the community came to the school to read to them. Some classes chose reading material appropriate to their course of study, while in other cases, the visitor chose what to read.

Reports on READ-IN

Constable Rick Robinson , RCMP

The Kindergarten class hosted Nurse Renee Dobbin from the Community Health Center. They had a very comforting and informative discussion about their upcoming booster shots as she read “Curious George Goes to the Hospital” by H.A. Rey. The grade one class was thrilled when the Bay Roberts Fire Department arrived with the fire truck. Firefighters Paul Moore and Derrick Ross treated them to an animated reading of “The Fire Station” by Robert Munsch. The grade eight students were visited by Constable Rick Robinson representing the local RCMP Detachment. He read excerpts from “Nightscapes” by Stephen King.

In grades two, three and six the students were excited to meet two local radio celebrities. Ms. Cindy Keats read a selection from “Heroes” from their Religious Education program to the grade two class. Mr. Rod Stockley read a Norse Tale to the grade three class and a short story by Roand Dahl to the grade six class. The children could appreciate the importance of reading to these radio personalities.