LIHUE — The importance of being able to read and write is not lost on Kauai’s students. “We have students that are very motivated who are very active and engaged in their learning,” said Complex-Area Superintendent Bill Arakaki. March is
LIHUE — The importance of being able to read and write is not lost on Kauai’s students.
“We have students that are very motivated who are very active and engaged in their learning,” said Complex-Area Superintendent Bill Arakaki.
March is national literacy month. Arakaki said making sure Kauai’s keiki are prepared for the real world is the No. 1 priority in his department.
“It’s all about developing critical thinking skills,” Arakaki said.
“Our students are exposed to fiction and nonfiction texts because in world today, students aren’t just reading literature or genres, they also read factual, day-to-day work.”
From 2012 to 2015, no other school in the state of Hawaii had more reduced English remediation in college for students attending the University of Hawaii than Kauai and Waimea high schools.
Kauai High reduced remediation from 40 percent to 13 percent over the three-year span, while Waimea High reduced its remediation from 44 percent to 21 percent.
According to Arakaki, Kapaa, Kauai and Waimea high schools are doing a great job at improving literacy with their students, and a major factor is the support and determination from teachers and staff to promote reading and writing.
“Our teachers are implementing strategies that enhance engagement in their content so that students can see that what they’re learning in the classroom is aligning with their future and career choice,” he said.
