John Rollins Success Primary boosting literacy and numeracy

JOHN Rollins Success Primary School in St James has, since its inception in 2004, pioneered innovative ways of learning in order to boost the literacy and numeracy of students.

Under the leadership of Principal Yvonne Miller-Wisdom, the school instituted a Reading Marathon in 2005 and a Math Olympics in 2006.

 The initiatives have grown to incorporate several schools in Western Jamaica, with scores of corporate sponsors showing lasting commitment to the events. According to Miller-Wisdom, the aim is to have schools all across the island participating.

"We have started down here, and as it grows each year, we are going to be adding different parishes. Every year I have no problems getting sponsorship, they come onboard — Western Union, Rose Hall Developers, Greenwood Hardware, Iberostar Hotel and Resorts, Jamaica Teachers' Association Cooperative Credit Union," she said.

The competitions, which are held every other year, encourage students to work out different mathematics challenges in a creative and fun manner, and to display their reading skills while vying for trophies and prizes.

Miller-Wisdom, who teaches a grade six class, said she believes in finding creative ways to engage students, other than just the "chalk and talk" method.

"It was always in me to be creative, to use some unusual ways of bringing across concepts to students," she said.

Pointing to the benefits of the Reading Marathon, she said with Jamaica having a challenge of trying to reach 100 per cent literacy at the primary level, "we have to come up with innovative ideas, thinking outside the box, moving away from the norm, and the reading competition offers that".

She said through the Math Olympics, students learn to be critical thinkers and problem solvers.

"When they see problems to be solved, they don't just depend on teachers; they use their own creativity, and ensure that they solve the problems," she said.

The school's effort to enhance literacy and numeracy includes reaching out to students facing challenges, who are not able to get assistance at home.

Teacher and co-ordinator of the Reading Marathon Verena Wellington last year initiated a homework centre, where teachers are giving freely of their time to assist these students. Wellington, along with other six teachers, are tutoring students for two hours per week after their regular classes.

Chairman of the school Joe Hylton praised the move by the teachers to reach out to their students, without compensation.

"These are students in most cases who have the ability. It is very commendable for teachers to have gone out to help these students, because they know that they can do better," he said.

In hailing the achievements of the institution, which wins an average of 20 trophies each year from competing in various events, the board chairman said he wants to see a continuation of the successes.

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