TWO months after the resumption of face-to-face classes, Seaview Gardens Primary School in St Andrew is still putting the pieces back together with a focus on reading as the key weapon in its arsenal.

While some students have already started to respond well to in-person lessons, the two years of distance learning put others in bad stead, requiring a repeat of even the most basic lessons.

“We’re fighting back. Our strongest tool in this fight to combat learning loss is an intense focus on literacy and reading,” declared school Principal Sangieanna Reid-Prince. “Children who were learning to read in grade one when the pandemic started could not complete crucial lessons like phonetic skills. Now, they are in grade three but are still reading at the basic school level. Even in the higher grades, most of our students are two years behind.”

With a clear action plan, Reid-Prince and her teachers are using every opportunity to move the dial. On Read Across Jamaica Day (May 3) they opened their doors to the Desnoes and Geddes (D&G) Foundation which brought volunteers to read to the students.

“Students view us as teachers on the job; however, when representatives from organisations like the D&G Foundation come here to read for them, they see other people who have a place in society and are also interested in reading. A child that has never thought of where they want to be in life will associate who you are and the type of job you have with the importance of learning to read. Therefore, the visit also inspires hope for their future,” Reid-Prince explained.

D&G Foundation accountant Dennis Beckford, who was part of the team of readers, also expressed hope. “In light of the challenges many students have faced in the past two years, I was impressed to see the level of engagement during the reading activity. They all listened intently and were eager to share their interpretations of the stories. I believe this is a clear sign that interactive reading is one of the best ways to reinvigorate their minds and help them to regain lost ground. I commend Mrs Reid-Prince and her team for the initiatives they are undertaking. The D&G Foundation is proud to be a part of that and fully supports their efforts.”

Tashi Wallace, literacy teacher for grades three to five, shared details of the reading programme which requires each class to visit the library every week for structured engagements.

“For the grade four students and above, I focus on reading skills and comprehension, helping them to understand what they have read, and how to respond to different types of questions. We have found creative ways to impart as much knowledge as possible. For example, instead of doing 30 minutes of phonics lessons, we will extend the class for an hour, and sometimes even have after-school lessons. Many students will say reading is boring but we realise that it’s simply because they find it difficult. Read Across Jamaica Day is helpful because it gets students involved and motivated. They see that books can be a source of joy and excitement. We want them to know that reading is a fundamental skill they will need in life.”

The D&G Foundation volunteers sweetened the pot with giveaways for the students, which helped to energise their captive audience. The foundation also donated cases of Malta to the school’s feeding programme.