File Photo/CHAT News

By Adrian St.Onge

Medicine Hat Public School Division marks major successes in student numeracy and literacy

Jun 26, 2024 | 1:57 AM

The Alberta government’s education department saw a significant drop in grades for reading and math after the pandemic’s early years.

This led to the government creating grants to help schools across the province hire more Optimal Learning Coaches, teachers who are able to assist students and other teachers with best learning practices.

The grants allowed the Medicine Hat Public School Division to invest in UFLI, a literacy program that provides teachers with detailed literacy learning plans.

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The division also purchased a program called MathUp, which similarly helps teachers with math learning tools.

The Medicine Hat Public School board championed significant increases over the academic year in all grades that the programming was implemented.

Grade 1 students literacy saw a 30 per cent growth, a seven per cent growth in numeracy.

Grade 2 students saw a 14 per cent growth in literacy and a seven per cent growth in numeracy.

Grade 3 students saw a 10 per cent growth in literacy and 17 per cent growth in numeracy.

According to Director of Leaning and Partnerships Carla Carrier, this means that more students were performing at or above grade level against provincial averages, something that has helped with student confidence.

“I hope that we make an impact in our community because of the hard work and improving literacy and numeracy understanding,” Carrier said.

“I hope we have students who feel successful and feel confident and are excited to come to school and learn and see a future for them ahead of themselves because of their confidence and excitement about school and learning.”