Improvements to math, literacy programs and no more complicated report cards
Posted Sep 3, 2013 03:30:16 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The province has announced a slew of funds and improvements to programs today to help students with math and literacy, and it’s clearing up the jargon in report cards.
The province is investing $6-million over two years to expand “Succeeding in Reading” to Grade 3, a program which helps students who need reading support.
A new mathematics curriculum has been introduced for students in primary to Grade 3 which will focus on fewer topics but in greater depth. Education Minister Ramona Jennex also announced Grade 10 math students will now do a full-year course, which will also teach them how to manage a budget.
“We know that our students have been struggling in math and have not graduated with all the requirements they need to be successful in their first year of university,” said Jennex. “We’ve pulled back to make sure we’re covering a certain number of outcomes in math so the children master them before moving on to another level.”
No more mumbo jumbo report cards, Jennex says they want feedback this year from parents and teachers on how they can make plain language report cards.
“A report card is to make sure a parent understands where their child is in terms of the curriculum,” explained Jennex. “Are they succeeding? Do they need improvements? And if that’s not being communicated appropriately, then we need to look at that.”
Jennex says she’s heard from many concerned parents that the report cards aren’t clearly written and don’t tell them anything about how their child is doing. Feedback can be sent to ReportCard@gov.ns.ca
Jennex also reiterated plans to give nearly 300 Grade 7 students in four schools tablets, portable computers or other devices to help them learn math starting this month. The $1-million cost of the pilot project, announced in June, will be split between the government and a number of Nova Scotia businesses.
