Frequently Asked Questions

Established in 1991 by a committed group seeking to improve literacy rates in Northern Saskatchewan, the Northern Reading Program (NRP) has been an annual initiative during January and February. Beyond promoting enjoyment and literacy, our mission includes hosting a reading contest to determine the “Most Readingest Community in Northern Saskatchewan.” We aim to make reading a beloved activity, boost literacy, and unite communities through the joy of books.

Teachers and their students, libraries and their patrons, early childhood educators and children in their care, reading & literacy groups, corporate/business teams, book clubs, families, and  individuals of any age residing and working within the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.

Individual Registration: 

Individuals who wish to participate in the Northern Reading Program can easily register themselves. Once on the website, simply navigate to the ‘Register’ section. After providing the necessary information, you will gain access to the dashboard where you can record your reading progress and earn points for each book, reading material, or bonus challenge you complete. 

School Registration: 

To participate as a whole, schools can be registered by a coordinator or volunteer. This individual will then be responsible for gathering and inputting reading points into the school’s profile page.

Group Registration: 

Groups, such as classrooms, book clubs, libraries, or families, etc.,  are also welcome to join the program. To register as a group, one person must act as the group’s point person. This individual will be responsible for registering the group on our website and entering the collective reading times into our online progress tracking system.  Each group member’s reading will contribute to the group’s overall progress, making it a collaborative and engaging experience.

School Librarians:

School Librarian as a Coordinator: As a school librarian, you have the opportunity to act as the coordinator for your entire school’s participation in the reading program. This role involves collecting and entering reading points for all participating students and staff throughout the school. It’s a comprehensive approach, ideal if you aim to involve the whole school in the program.

Teachers Managing Their Own Classes: Alternatively, if individual teachers prefer to manage the reading program for their classes, they can take responsibility for it. This means they will handle the tasks of registering their class, monitoring students’ reading progress, collecting, and entering the reading points themselves. This scenario is particularly suitable if only a few teachers in the school are interested in participating or if they wish to have direct oversight of their students’ involvement.

Registering as a Library vs. Registering as a School: In situations where participation in the reading program is limited to one or two classrooms, and these classrooms are managing their own participation (registration, monitoring, and point entry), it might be more practical for you, as the school librarian, to consider registering for the program on behalf of the library rather than the entire school. This approach allows you to focus on promoting and supporting the program within the library’s scope, catering to students and staff who are not covered by the participating classrooms.

You can either take a leading role in coordinating the program for the entire school or adapt your involvement to support specific classes or the library, based on the actual level of participation. Whatever the role,  you can support the program by: 

1. Ensuring that reading program materials, such as reading passports, bookmarks, fortune tellers, and reading math graphs, are readily accessible to both students and teachers.
2. Actively promoting the reading program within your school community to encourage maximum participation and engagement.
3. Your efforts in organizing and motivating your school community are invaluable to the success of our reading initiative.

Speaking of classrooms, for teachers like Ms. Jones with her grade 7 class: Ms. Jones would tally the total reading time of all her students and log it on her classroom profile page. For example, if each of Ms. Jones’ 17 students read for 30 minutes, that totals 510 minutes. Divided by 15, this means Ms. Jones will enter 34 points for her class.

Public Librarians:

Public libraries play a pivotal role in extending the reach of the Northern Reading Program to the broader community. Your responsibilities include:

1. Ensuring that printed program materials are available and easily accessible to visiting community members.
2. Encouraging community members, including individuals, families, and groups, to register online for the program.
3. Assisting participants in understanding how to enter their reading points on their profile page (1 point for every 15 minutes of reading) and engaging with the program effectively by reading and understanding the reading guidelines.
4. Your support and promotion of the program are essential in creating a vibrant reading culture within the community.

Library Registration: 

Both school and public libraries may also register to join the reading challenge as an organization. Your role will be to gather points through library-organized reading activities and events, as well as from observed reading among visitors. We acknowledge the possibility of double counting points, as library patrons might also be registered individual or group participants. However, the advantage of having libraries actively engage in promoting reading culture is substantial and outweighs this concern. The responsibility lies with you, the library staff, to manage the points system effectively, ensuring both the integrity of the program and the maximization of its community impact. 

For instance, imagine a library setting where various visitors engage in reading and storytelling events: 

• In this context, the librarian or organizer would calculate the total reading time across all library activities and record it in the library’s profile. For instance, during a Storytime event, 20 attendees collectively listen and participate for 45 minutes each. This would result in a total reading time of 900 minutes. Applying the scoring system of 1 point per 15 minutes, the librarian would then enter 60 points for that specific library event. This showcases how libraries can track and score reading activities within the library space, including events like author book readings, read-a-thons, booktastings, and storytime.
• Some community members who wish to participate might face challenges with computer access or have limited computer literacy for self-registration and points entry. In these instances, they can provide you with their reading logs and you can include these times in the overall tally along with the library’s records.

Coordination for Dual Participants: School librarians, including those at dual school/public libraries that have registered their library for the reading challenge, should inquire about the classrooms and students participating in the program. This ensures that reading minutes logged during library visits are not double-counted.

Both school and public librarians are key ambassadors of the Northern Reading Program. Your enthusiasm and efforts in promoting reading and literacy are greatly appreciated. Together, we can inspire a love for reading that extends beyond the walls of our libraries and schools.

Steps For Registration: 

1. Access the registration form: From our website navigate to the ‘Register’ section to access the registration form
2. Fill Out Required Fields: Complete all required fields in the form. This includes basic information such as your name, contact details, and your preferred method of communication. 
3. Provide Mailing or Shipping Address: It’s essential to provide a valid mailing or shipping address. This address serves two key purposes: 
   1. Residency Confirmation: Your address will be used to confirm that you are a resident or part of the work community in the Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District.
   2. Prize Distribution: In case you win any prizes packages during the program, we’ll use this address to mail them to you. 
4. Create your Login Credentials: As part of the registration process, you will be prompted to create a username and password. Choose credentials that are secure yet memorable.
5. Record Your Login Details: After creating your login credentials, make sure to record them in a secure location. This is important for future access to your account where you can track your reading progress, and participate in program activities. 
6. Review and Submit: Once you have filled out all the necessary information, review your entries for accuracy then submit the form. 
7. Confirmation Email: After submitting the form, you will receive  a confirmation email.
8. Explore the Program: Once registered, you can start reading and logging your progress. Additionally, you are encouraged to explore our website for program materials, engage in week-one activities, and check out the various contests and challenges available as part of the program.  This will enhance your experience and offer more ways to connect and participate.

• Comprehensive List of Acceptable Reading Materials: We have created an extensive list of acceptable reading materials to guide your choices. This list includes a variety of genres and formats to cater to different interests and reading levels. You can access this list here.
• Weekly Thematic Book Recommendations: To further enhance your reading adventure, we have curated weekly thematic book recommendations for three distinct age groups:  Adventurers (young children) Pathfinders (teens) and Voyagers (adults). These recommendations align with the weekly themes of the program and are designed to stimulate curiosity and exploration. You can find these recommendations on our websites weekly activity pages, and on the Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System website.

Our printable materials are designed to guide, track, and enhance the reading experience for both educators and students participating in the Northern Reading Program. Here’s a breakdown of how each item can be utilized:

• Reading Passports (Adventurers, Pathfinders, Voyagers):
  • Purpose: These passports are tailored to each age group and are intended to guide readers through their reading journey.
  • Usage: Teachers or librarians can distribute passports to students or patrons to record their reading progress, including titles read and time spent reading. They can also be used to track participation in program activities and themes.
• Bookmarks:
  • Purpose: Bookmarks serve as a simple and accessible way to keep track of reading times
  • Usage: Students can use these bookmarks to log their daily or weekly reading minutes. They’re especially handy for marking progress in individual reading sessions.
    
• Math Graphs:
  
  • Purpose: Math graphs offer a visual way to represent reading progress.
  • Usage: These can be used by students to plot their reading time, helping them see their progress over time and set goals for themselves.
    
• Fortune Tellers:
  
  • Purpose: The Fortune Tellers are interactive tools designed to engage readers more actively.
  • Usage: They can be used in a variety of ways – from selecting the next book to read to fun literacy activities. Using these Fortune Tellers can earn participants bonus points, adding an exciting element to their reading journey.

All these materials are meant to support educators and librarians in making reading a more organized, engaging, and enjoyable activity for students. They provide structure to the reading program while also allowing for creativity and personalization in how reading is approached and celebrated.

We are delighted to confirm that the Northern Reading Program is completely free for all participants. This is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors, whose contributions are invaluable in promoting literacy and the joy of reading within our community.

• No Registration Fees: There are no fees required to register for the program, ensuring accessibility for everyone.
• Free Access to Reading Materials: Participants can freely access a variety of reading materials through the Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System, in addition to using their own books.
• Complimentary Program Activities: All activities, challenges, and events associated with the program are provided at no cost to the participants.

The Northern Reading Program is carefully designed to support a wide range of literacy skills, accommodating different age groups and reading levels through three participant categories: Adventurers, Pathfinders, and Voyagers.

Adventurers (Young Children and Early Readers): This group is ideal for young children and early readers. It focuses on developing foundational literacy skills with engaging materials like picture books and simple chapter books, along with interactive reading activities that foster a love for reading from an early age.

Pathfinders (Teens and Intermediate Readers): Geared towards teenagers and intermediate readers, the Pathfinder category includes a variety of young adult novels, age-appropriate non-fiction, and more complex narratives. To engage this tech-savvy age group, the program integrates interactive elements accessible through smartphones, blending traditional reading methods with digital engagement.

Voyagers (Adults and Advanced Readers): The Voyagers group caters to adults and advanced readers. This category offers a diverse range of reading materials including adult fiction, non-fiction, historical texts, and works focusing on local culture and history. This group also features interactive elements accessible via smartphones and eBook readers, encouraging a blend of traditional and digital reading experiences. This focus on historical and local texts provides a deeper connection to our shared heritage and promotes a broader understanding of our world.

The Northern Reading Program offers a comprehensive suite of resources to support and engage participants across all categories: Adventurers, Pathfinders, and Voyagers. Our aim is to provide a variety of engaging, educational, and accessible materials to cater to the diverse needs of our community. Here’s an overview of the key resources available:

1. Downloadable and Printable Materials:

• Reading Passports: Customized for each category, these passports are designed to track reading progress and achievements.
• Weekly Reading Minutes Tracking Bookmarks: Available in English, French, Cree, and Dene, these bookmarks make tracking reading times easy and fun.
• Fortune Tellers: Interactive paper tools for a playful approach to reading selection and engagement.
• Reading Minute Math Graphs: Visual tools to represent reading progress and encourage consistent reading habits.

2. Digital and Online Resources:

• Thematic Recommended Reading Lists: Curated lists linked to weekly themes for all age groups.
• Educational Websites: Links to resources like the Sask Literacy Network and Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples (LSSAP).
• Reading and Library Apps: Information on apps that enhance the reading experience, offering access to digital books and resources.

3. Interactive and Engagement Tools:

• Reading Surveys: Feedback tools to understand participant preferences and improve program offerings.
• Weekly Thematic Activities and Challenges: Engaging challenges linked to weekly themes, with resources to support these activities.

4. Additional Support Materials

• Questions Form: An online form where participants can submit their questions about the program.

• Reading Contest Guidelines: Detailed guidelines of the program outlining eligibility, participation rules, and prize information.
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): A comprehensive FAQ section addressing common queries and providing essential information about the program.

Tracking reading progress in the Northern Reading Program is both flexible and user-friendly, allowing participants to use a method that best suits their preferences while ensuring their reading time is accurately recorded.

• Reading Passports, Bookmarks, and Math Graphs: We provide specially designed reading passports, weekly reading minutes tracking bookmarks, and reading minute math graphs as fun and interactive tools to track reading time. These resources are available for download and printing and are designed to make the tracking process engaging and straightforward.
• Alternative Tracking Methods: Participants are also welcome to use any other tracking method of their choice, as long as it provides a verifiable record of reading time.
• Point System for Reading Time: For every 15 minutes spent reading, participants earn 1 point. This applies to all forms of reading, including reading aloud, and storytelling sessions. .
• Earning Points through Read-Aloud and Storytelling Sessions: Points can also be earned through read-aloud and storytelling sessions. For instance, if a teacher reads aloud to a group of 20 students for 15 minutes, they will earn 1 point for themselves, plus 1 point for each of the 20 students. In this scenario, the total points earned would be 21 (1 for the teacher + 20 for the students).
• Recording Points: It’s important to log these points in the tracking tool of your choice. This could be entered into your reading passport, noted on your bookmark, plotted on your math graph, or recorded in another system you’ve chosen.
• Online Progress Tracker: To add a digital dimension to the program, participants are required to transfer the reading minutes recorded in their passports or other tracking tools to our online platform. This can be done on a regular basis (e.g., once a week).

Digital Leaderboard: Upon inputting the total reading minutes, this data will be displayed on the digital leaderboard. Participants can then track their progress and engage in friendly competition, drawing motivation from the shared setting.

The Northern Reading Program is designed to offer a multitude of benefits to its participants, encompassing educational, personal, and community aspects:

• Enhanced Literacy and Comprehension Skills:
  • Regular reading improves vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills, laying a strong foundation for academic and professional success.

• Development of Critical Thinking:
  • Engaging with diverse texts encourages critical thinking and analytical skills, essential for problem-solving and decision-making.

• Increased Knowledge and Exposure to New Ideas:

• • Reading a variety of materials broadens knowledge and exposes readers to new ideas, cultures, and perspectives.

• Improved Concentration and Focus:

• • The discipline of regular reading helps enhance concentration and attention span, beneficial in all areas of life.

• Strengthening Imagination and Creativity:

• • Reading fiction and creative materials stimulates the imagination, encouraging creativity and innovative thinking.

• Promotion of Empathy and Understanding:

• • Literature can foster empathy by allowing readers to experience different viewpoints and empathize with characters from diverse backgrounds.

• Stress Reduction and Relaxation:

• • Reading can be a relaxing and enjoyable activity that helps reduce stress and provides a form of escapism.

• Community Engagement and Social Interaction:

• • Participating in the program offers opportunities for community engagement and social interaction, fostering a sense of belonging and shared interest.

• Motivation and Achievement through Incentives:

• • The program’s point system, leaderboard, and contests provide motivation and a sense of achievement, encouraging continued participation.

• Building a Lifelong Reading Habit:

• • The program aims to instill a lifelong habit of reading, ensuring continuous personal growth and learning.

• Access to a Wide Range of Resources:

• • Participants gain access to a variety of reading materials and supportive resources, enhancing their reading experience.

Educators and guardians play a crucial role in nurturing a child’s love for reading and can greatly enhance their experience with the Northern Reading Program. Here are some ways they can offer support:

• Encourage Regular Reading Habits:
  • Set aside a specific time each day for reading. Making it a routine can help young readers develop a consistent reading habit.
  • Create a comfortable and inviting reading space, free from distractions.

• Participate in Reading Activities Together:

• • Read aloud to children or listen to them read, offering help and encouragement with difficult words or passages.
  • Discuss the story, characters, and themes to enhance comprehension and engagement.

• Use Program Resources:

• • Utilize the reading passports, bookmarks, and other materials provided by the program to make reading a fun and interactive experience.
  • Help young readers record their reading time and track their progress.

• Engage with Digital Tools:

• • Assist in using the online leaderboard and progress tracker, showing them how their efforts contribute to their overall progress.
  • Explore reading and library apps that can make reading more accessible and enjoyable.

• Incorporate Reading into Daily Life:

• • Encourage reading a variety of materials like books, magazines, and digital content appropriate for their age.
  • Relate stories and themes to real-life experiences to make reading more relatable.

• Attend Program Events and Activities:

• • Participate in program-related events, challenges, and activities to show support and interest in their reading journey.
  • Engage in discussions about books and topics introduced in the program.

• Promote a Positive Reading Environment:

• • Praise efforts and celebrate milestones in their reading journey.
  • Offer a diverse range of reading materials to cater to their interests and reading level.

• Connect with Other Guardians and Educators:

• • Share tips and experiences with other guardians and educators to learn new ways of encouraging young readers.
  • Collaborate on reading activities or group reading sessions.Consider organizing a D.E.A.R. event to maximize both points and fun! 

• Engage with Digital Tools:

• • Facilitate Frequent Check-Ins: Regularly check in on our webpage to see placement on the online leaderboard and track progress. These check-ins can be a great opportunity to celebrate achievements, set new goals, and foster a sense of accomplishment. Seeing their progress visually represented on the leaderboard can be highly motivating and can encourage a healthy sense of competition and personal growth.

By adopting these strategies, educators and guardians can significantly enhance the reading experience for young readers, helping to instill a lifelong love of reading and learning.

The process of requesting books or handling interlibrary loans is straightforward and accessible to anyone with a library card from the Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System (PNLS). Here’s how you can find and request books:

Search for Books:

• Visit the PNLS website and use the search function to find books. You can search by keyword, title, author, subject, series, or ISBN.
• Refine your search by selecting the PNLS region in the location menu and then choosing your local library branch.

Locate and Request a Book:

• Once you find a book you’d like to read, click on ‘View Holdings’ to see which library branch has a copy available.
• If the book is not available at your local branch, you can click on ‘Place Hold’ to have the book shipped to your local library branch. You will be notified once the book arrives at your branch.

Instant Access to eBooks and eAudiobooks:

• For those who prefer digital reading materials or need instant access, PNLS offers a wide range of eBooks and eAudiobooks through Library2go.
• Access Library2go directly from the PNLS homepage, where you can browse and borrow digital reading materials immediately.

This system ensures that participants have easy access to a vast array of reading materials, both physical and digital, to support their reading journey. Whether you prefer the tactile experience of physical books or the convenience of digital formats, PNLS has options to suit your preferences.

Yes, the Northern Reading Program offers a range of digital resources and online components that cater to participants of all ages. These digital options provide flexibility and enhance the reading experience through various interactive and convenient formats:

Library Apps for Easy Access to Materials:

• Participants are encouraged to download and use library apps such as Libby, PressReader, and SILS. These apps provide convenient access to a wide range of eBooks, eAudiobooks, and other digital resources.

Online Reading Advisory Survey:

• To help participants find books that match their interests and reading levels, we offer an online reading advisory survey. There is also a print version of the survey for those who prefer a physical copy.

Interactive Online Games:

• For an engaging and fun learning experience, participants can play educational online games like Shelver, which teaches about library organization, or Typewrite Something, which focuses on typing and literacy skills.

eBooks and eAudiobooks:

• A wide selection of eBooks and eAudiobooks is available for participants who prefer digital reading or listening. These formats are particularly useful for enjoying literature on-the-go or for those with limited access to physical books.

Exploring Literacy Websites:

We also recommend various literacy websites that offer additional reading materials, and educational content suitable for all ages.

These digital resources are designed to complement the physical reading materials and activities offered in the program. They provide an additional layer of convenience and engagement, ensuring that participants have access to a variety of reading formats and educational tools to support their reading journey.

• We offer a variety of accessible content, including Large Print Books, CNIB Cassettes, Daisy Disc, Dyslexia-Friendly formats, Restricted Daisy Zip, Restricted eAudiobook, Restricted EBraille, and Restricted EText.

• NNELS provides a growing collection of downloadable audiobooks and other accessible formats for the print disabled, available through the Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System catologue. 

• Individuals requiring access to materials for the print disabled should contact the Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System. Eligibility for accessing NNELS materials is based on the criteria defined in the Canadian Copyright Act for print disability.
• A self-declaration form can be filled out at your local library to access these materials.

• For easy access to the NNELS self-declaration forms and more information on print disabilities, visit Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System – Assistive Services

The Northern Reading Program prioritizes inclusivity and representation, reflecting the unique nature and demographics of the northern communities we serve. Here are the key strategies we employ:

Age and School Size Categorization:

• Participants are organized into age groups (Adventurers, Pathfinders, Voyagers), and schools are categorized by size (Very Small, Small, Medium, Large) to ensure fair and equitable participation.

Serving the Demographics of the North:

• We strive to serve the demographics of the north by including reading materials and activities that are representative of our diverse communities. This includes ensuring that our selection of books, resources, and program activities resonates with the cultural, linguistic, and social aspects unique to northern communities.
• Our goal is to provide a program that is not only accessible and inclusive but also deeply connected to and reflective of the rich heritage and diversity of the north.

Accessible Content for All Needs:

• The program provides accessible content for those with diverse needs, including dyslexia, visual impairments, and other print disabilities, in collaboration with the Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System and NNELS.

Community Engagement and Feedback:

• We actively engage with the community and welcome feedback, which helps us continually adapt and enhance our program to better serve the needs of all members.

Through these efforts, the Northern Reading Program aims to create a space where every individual feels welcomed, valued, and connected to their community. Our focus on representing the unique nature of the north ensures that our program is a true reflection of the people it serves.