Surrey Centre Elementary 25-26

Students at Surrey Centre are Strengthening their Literacy Skills

A cohort of Grade 6 and Grade 7 students was selected to represent the development of reading comprehension and literacy at Surrey Centre.

Our students’ learning goals include:

• Developing and applying multiple strategies to understand texts
• Explaining and justifying their thinking about what they read in a variety of ways
• Reflecting on their reading processes and growth

Each week, the cohort engages in rich reading experiences and collaborative discussions. Students explore strategies such as guided reading, think-alouds, literature circles, and graphic organizers to build comprehension, flexibility, and a deeper understanding of texts. They are encouraged to make connections, ask questions, infer meaning, and explain their thinking—moving beyond simply recalling information.

These learning goals promote confidence, engagement, and a growth mindset. Students learn that reading is an active process and that challenges help build stronger skills. Using tools like annotations, visual organizers, and discussion helps students understand the meaning behind the text. Sharing ideas and listening to others strengthens their ability to communicate clearly and think critically across subjects.

Students learned and used strategies that made reading more interactive and meaningful by:

• Explaining Their Thinking Collaboratively: Students used sticky notes, journals, and chart paper in small groups to share ideas, respond to texts, and build a shared understanding.

• Building Flexibility Through Peer Grouping: By working with different classmates in randomly assigned groups, students explored diverse perspectives, deepened comprehension, and strengthened communication skills.

• Exploring Open-Ended Texts and Questions: Students engaged with rich texts and responded through discussion, writing, and visual representations, showing their thinking in multiple ways and reflecting on their interpretations.

What We Noticed
Students became more engaged and confident readers. They used a range of comprehension strategies, explained their thinking clearly, and took risks when encountering challenging texts. We also saw stronger collaboration, with students supporting one another in thoughtful and meaningful ways.

At Surrey Centre, we are proud of the ways our students are growing as readers—becoming more thoughtful, reflective, and confident in their literacy skills. Their voices, ideas, and reflections are at the heart of our work in building strong reading skills for lifelong learning.

At Surrey Centre, we recognize that our learners are diverse, each bringing unique strengths, experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives to the classroom. We embrace this diversity and are committed to providing equitable access to literacy learning, ensuring that every student has a meaningful entry point into reading and can actively participate in our learning community.

We believe that learning to read is a collaborative and interactive process, and our students thrive when they engage in rich conversations about texts with peers, teachers, and families. By working together to explore ideas, make connections, and deepen understanding, students begin to see themselves as capable and confident readers.

NEED A PCITURE OF KIDS READING

Our learners use a variety of strategies and tools to make their thinking visible as readers.

From the early years, our learners begin to understand that reading is more than decoding words—it is a way of thinking, making meaning, and communicating ideas. At Surrey Centre, students engage in daily literacy experiences that emphasize comprehension, reflection, and critical thinking. They are encouraged to share their interpretations, try different strategies, and recognize that confusion and mistakes are part of becoming stronger readers.

Our learners understand that reading skills develop through practice, exploration, and exposure to a wide range of texts. They know that we read to understand the world around us, to make connections to our own experiences, and to explore new ideas and perspectives. Through perseverance and curiosity, students experience the satisfaction of making meaning and growing as thoughtful, confident readers.