Reading Recovery continues to help students catch up to their peers in terms of literacy levels.

In 2014, Western School Division (WSD) began the intensive one-on-one literacy program Reading Recovery, to assist grade one students that had a low reading ability.

Cyndy Kutzner, Assistant Superintendent, said though students struggling with reading would improve, the program helps them achieve the same level of success as their peers.

"Without the program, I think we would have students that would be absolutely gaining strength in their reading, but not getting to the part where their peers are."

Currently, there are four teachers at WSD schools trained in the program. In 2016 they helped 32 students improve their reading skills.

The program lasts for 20 weeks over the school year, students are evaluated with those of the lowest reading ability in class enrolled in the program.

Kutzner also says that on top of the students improved reading skills, the program empowers them to learn to love reading.

"When they have some success with reading when they're six-years-old, they become interested in it. When you have success in something you want to do it more. Then you see what it allows you to do, as soon as you start to read, you have some power over what you learn."

Reading Recovery doesn't work for every child. Some students don't meet the required reading level at the end of the program, teachers will then know that other supports are necessary to build up the child’s literacy skills, or other deficiencies.

A success story from last year was Dexter Payment. Dexter was unable to read before going through Reading recovery, now he has gained new confidence and enjoys reading books with over 100 pages.