Literacy is the ability to read and write and is a key component when it comes to school. At Ridgeview High School there is a new literacy program run by the literacy council. This means more opportunities to improve students’ reading and writing skills. The literacy program is a program that is focused on helping teachers help students when it comes to their literacy skills.
Triandous Hobson is an English teacher at Ridgeview high school. “People at Ridgeview are trying to make reading a bigger deal for students”, said Hobson. Reading levels are low and they are low in Bakersfield in general, with reading levels last peaking during the 2018-2019 school year at 43 percent meeting or exceeding reading levels in Kern County. The literacy program was created to help enhance students comprehension skills and abilities to read and write. “The librarian, Carrie Morgan, English teachers, Math teachers, and History teachers are all working together to try and create stuff to make sure you all read every single day,” said Hobson. They are working to try and create different activities that can improve students’ literacy. They have made little notes for teachers to help their teaching skills for students’ benefits. Not only will this program hopefully improve students abilities but also encourage students to read. Hobson also says,” I think in a perfect world we wouldn’t have to read for grades.” Hobson believes people should just read for enjoyment. Also for engaging purposes.
The literacy program is trying to help improve students and bring fun to the students from reading and writing. Carrie Morgan is the head of the literacy council, and runs the literacy program, she’s also the librarian at Ridgeview. “Literacy isn’t just writing and reading, it can be beyond that.” said Morgan, “literacy can be across every subject like history and math.” Morgan continues explaining, “We come up with strategies to help students understand”. This program is really just focusing on helping better students’ literacy abilities. “The program also is to help teachers, we come up with ideas that are beneficial for helping improve student’s star reading,” said Morgan.
Morgan believes there is improvement slowly but surely. The literacy council is also making it very important that students go to the library. Morgan said, “Every single English class has come so far this year.” She also said, “Around 28,000 books have been checked out so far.” She believes everyone should be able to enjoy reading. Although she knows that this is not the case and not everyone loves reading like she does, “Not reading does not make you less intelligent,” Morgan states. She does believe it can be really beneficial and can improve one’s speech like improving one’s vocabulary. “The best part of being a part of this program is helping teachers and students also see the impact and improvement,” Morgan said.
Literacy is everywhere at Ridgeview. Yareli Rico is a part of the book club at Ridgeview. Literacy plays a big part of the book club. “We read a book and have meetings to discuss it.” Rico said. “ We also go to elementaries and read to little kids.” Rico said she loves seeing the little kids light up while being read to. Literacy is everywhere and it is important to understand how to read and write. The literacy program is a great way to enhance literacy skills all over Ridgeview.
