Ontario Reading Into The Future
January 27, 2010 9:30 AM
McGuinty Government Working With Parents To Promote Literacy Skills
Reading and learning at an early age lays the foundation for strong literacy skills.
That's the message Premier Dalton McGuinty delivered on Family Literacy Day to Ontario schoolchildren and their families at St. Valentine Elementary School in Mississauga.
When families are doing fun activities together like playing a game, following a recipe, reading a map or singing, they are strengthening their literacy skills. These skills are essential for success at school, work and in life.
The government is doing its part to improve literacy including launching full-day learning for up to 35,000 four- and five-year-olds in almost 600 schools this September. This is the next step in Ontario's plan to improve education and build a stronger workforce.
QUICK FACTS
- Organized by ABC Canada and celebrated annually, Family Literacy Day promotes the importance of reading and learning together as a family. This year's theme is Sing for Literacy.
- Sixty-seven per cent of students in Grades 3 and 6 are achieving at or above the provincial standard for reading, writing and math. This is an improvement of 13 percentage points since 2002.
- Reading and telling stories to a child at 18 months are important for brain development in the early years.
LEARN MORE
ontario.ca/premier
Ontario Reading Into The Future
"We all have a responsibility to help our kids get the best start in life. Reading and doing activities together strengthens their literacy skills and helps build a stronger future for them and for Ontario. It's also just plain fun."
– Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario
"Strong literacy skills are the key to student success. Family Literacy Day reminds us the gift of reading and learning is to be encouraged and celebrated."
– Amrit Mangat
MPP Mississauga-Brampton South
Communities
