Stay SHARP! Learn to Read

Each week, Donna Huyber of the Childcare Family Access Network team from Manitoba visits the local kindergarten class with her small preschool charges as part of the SHARP program. The School-Home Access Reading Program introduces children to the school experience and exposes them to early reading, explains Huyber.

The preschool children play in the room for a few minutes, and then gather around the kindergarten teacher to listen to a story.

They then choose three books from the kindergarten library to take home in their book bag, which also includes a reading journal. Parents fill in the journal when they read the book with their child, reporting what the child enjoyed about the book. The children are also encouraged to colour in their journals and draw pictures for the kindergarten teacher. The next week, after reading the parents' journal entries, the kindergarten teacher helps the children choose other books they will enjoy.