Literacy programmes at Ninu Cremona JL and Secondary School

Thanks to the full support of the previous head of Ninu Cremona JL, Victoria, Gozo, Mr P. Bezzina, the boys' school was included in the Literacy programme entitled "Book Flood" for 2005/2006.

The programme is co-ordinated by Dr Charles Mifsud (Literacy Unit Malta) in collaboration with the Education Division and the full support of the director of curriculum, Raymond Camilleri, and the Gozo College co-ordinator, Chev. Frank Gatt.

The literacy teacher who co-ordinates the programme at Ninu Cremona is Irene Vella. The programme was introduced to three different classes. Collaboration between teachers of English and the Literacy support teacher was fundamental for the programme's introduction. It was decided that the project for Ninu Cremona JL should be called boysread@ninucremona.

The project's main aim is to create a reading culture and to encourage the boys to read books in English. This includes providing our boys with the best reading material within the best reading environment.

A reading environment is one where there is an expectation of pleasure in reading and an excitement when talking about books. The project strives to create an environment which is an assessment-free zone, not somewhere where one's lack of ability to read is made more apparent by being told to select books only from shelves labelled 'books for less able readers'. Creating a love of reading in students is potentially one of the most powerful ways of improving academic standards.

The three teachers involved in this project are Stephanie Xerri, Maria Buttigieg and Maureen Sultana, who are still very much involved this year. The project continues during this scholastic year with the full support and co-operation of the new head of school, Dr Abela. Thanks to more funds from the literacy programme this year it was possible to include another teacher in the project - Isabelle Vella.

Together with the Literacy Support teacher, each English teacher chose a number of books for their students. These were chosen depending on the child's reading level and also on the interest shown.

Each teacher has around 45 books to use with the students involved and a reading box where these books are kept, wich has become like a mobile library. The teacher carries this reading box to class for students to choose books from. These books are then taken home by the students.

Each teacher has a way of monitoring whether students are reading or not. In each book there is also a reading card for each student, who after reading the book, signs his name and marks to what extent he enjoyed reading the book.

All these initiatives are being done because Ninu Cremona JL believes that reading is fundamental. Thus, we are doing our outmost to provide optimal conditions that motivate boys to read.

No matter which way you look at it, a reading community is a learning and thinking community. There can be few better ways to improve students' chances at school, or beyond in the wider world, than to enable them to become truly independent readers.

For more information view the school's Website at http://schoolnet.gov.mt/ncr/.

"Our Seas" is a Comenius 1 project under Socrates, launched at Ninu Cremona JL.

The project deals with the dynamic relationship between human beings and the sea, places this relationship in a historical perspective and studies its cultural and economic dimensions as well as its role in communication among peoples.

It explores alternative uses of the sea that are ecologically sustainable. Among other things, students need to become conscious of being part of a wider European community.

This three-year project was launched last month. Teachers from the Istituto Compresivo Statale Ignazio Buttitta, Sicily (co-ordinating school), Protestants chistelijke basisschool de Olijfboom, Flevoland, Holland, Scuola Media Statale Luigi Luciani, Marche, Italy, and Ninu Cremona JL met for the first time in Gozo and discussed project activities and amendments for this scholastic year.

The teachers from the three partner schools visited various places of interest in Gozo and Malta.

The next meeting will take place in Holland next May.