To enhance students reading and writing skills ADEC launches 3rd edition of Abu Dhabi Reads 2015

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1 Amal Al Qubaisi: Abu Dhabi Reads is the safe key to proceed to the future Her Excellency Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Education Council confirmed that the Abu Dhabi Reads Campaign is an important part of our philosophy to develop a generation of students who are capable of acquiring knowledge, while searching and developing reading abilities. Monday - Issue (1) - 04/20/2015 Part of our understanding of the development of society as a whole is to provide an opportunity for everyone to become a reader open to the world and its challenges while embracing the UAE s national identity. Reading is the fundamental means to reach a capable and competent knowledge-based economy. (p 3) Abu Dhabi Reads weekly newsletter Authors and Intellectuals Comment: Abu Dhabi Reads is the nucleus for establishing a productive society for knowledge Writers, journalists, media people, authors, and novelists from different Arab counties say that the Abu Dhabi Reads project, launched by Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) three years ago, (p 4) To enhance students reading and writing skills ADEC launches 3rd edition of Abu Dhabi Reads 2015 Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) announced the launch of the 3rd edition of the Abu Dhabi Reads campaign in The campaign will continue until 13th May ADEC seeks to achieve top notch and efficient learning and teaching results by arming students of different ages and academic levels with skills and effective learning tools, notably reading and writing skills in Arabic and English. The 3rd edition of the Abu Dhabi Reads initiative aims to fulfill the needs of students who are motivated to read and write; provide school students with proper skills to choose resources for learning; discover talented and creative students and develop them; engage community members and organizations in addressing the problem of absence of reading in students lives; and promote the role of libraries in schools. This edition of the campaign includes students with special needs who are enrolled in Abu Dhabi s schools. This is a part of ADEC s keenness on including this group of students in the community and helping them showcase and develop their talents. Students will join their educators along with their special and customized tools and devices to help them read. This year s edition and for the first time includes the Abu Dhabi Reads Award, which is divided into the best short story category and best innovative strategy to develop reading skills in Arabic and English category. This comes from the vision of Abu Dhabi Government seeking to invest in humans, being the key pillar in the building and development of societies. This award aims to highlight talented students in writing and innovative educators in teaching. Abu Dhabi Reads : 3 Years supporting a knowledge based economy Abu Dhabi Reads, launched by Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), is a pioneering and unique project aiming to support reading skills. Abu Dhabi Reads campaign aims to enhance young students reading and writing skills and encourage them to read. It also aims to enable students to read on their own and independently by the end of Cycle 1. The campaign further aims to promote awareness at schools, (p 6)

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3 3 Amal Al Qubaisi: Abu Dhabi Reads is the safe key to proceed to the future Her Excellency Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Education Council confirmed that the Abu Dhabi Reads Campaign is an important part of our philosophy to develop a generation of students who are capable of acquiring knowledge, while searching and developing reading abilities. Part of our understanding of the development of society as a whole is to provide an opportunity for everyone to become a reader open to the world and its challenges while embracing the UAE s national identity. Reading is the fundamental means to reach a capable and competent knowledge-based economy. Sheikha Lubna added that the word Read was mentioned in the Quran. The Founder of the UAE the late president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, God rest his soul, emphasized that people teach and educate themselves through strong will power and reading, as is the belief among the UAE s current prudent and wise leadership. The UAE s President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God protect him; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Education Councill; are exerting all efforts to ensure education is among the governments top priority. Her Excellency Dr Al Qubaisi explained that she is proud to announce that during the inauguration of the 3rd Abu Dhabi Reads Campaign, a number of learning resource centers that help accommodate to reading and learning skills as per 21st century requirements are now available for students. These learning resource centers help students aquire all the knowledge and skills needed since learning support centers are catered to different age groups with a total of more than 250,000 books, which are also electronically linked to school libraries, public libraries, and global libraries. These libraries are open to the public during the evenings to help cater and promote to a diverse population that is interested in reading, while enhancing the reading culture in society. She added that The Abu Dhabi Reads Campaign for the next 24 days, is not only aimed at students but at parents who the government highly depends on, since the participation of parents is crucial. The role parents play in fostering a child s passion and interest towards reading is mportant.sheikha Lubna added that reading enrichment has become an essential part of a school s curriculum since it helps provide students with the right skills through a selection of sources, while connecting to realities of life and the development of science, that helps deepen a students learning. Students are no longer confined to a textbook. Instead they gain knowledge while spending leisure time reading something they enjoy. Their creative capabilities are greatly enriched, and teachers will find solutions easier to solve with the fluency gained from reading different books. In addition, curriculum development, and other sources of reading become more attractive and interesting to read.modern teaching is based on the effectiveness of a student, especially with Abu Dhabi Education Council s aim to promote STEM related subjects and research capabilities that are enhanced through reading, self-learning and engaging in different projects.members of the community can benefit from the wealth of knowledge available in different state of the art learning resource centers and libraries, and this will in turn help produce a strong knowledge based economy that is capable of transitioning and progressing, with strong reading and writing skills. 88 percent of school students in Abu Dhabi practice reading on daily basis According to latest research, it s been found that 88 percent of school students in Abu Dhabi practice reading on daily basis, with 42 percent of public school students reading less than 30 minutes a day, and 26 percent less than one hour a day; ten percent less than two hours a day and 3 percent for three hours; while five percent are highly engaged in reading. A total of 40 percent of private school students Abu Dhabi Reads weekly newsletter read less than 30 minutes a day, 32 percent read less than an hour a day, and 13 percent less than two hours a day; four percent three hours a day and two percent read more than three hours a day. We aspire for a 100 percent rise in the number of hours spent reading, since that is the key to a knowledge based economy that is capable of progressing and developing the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as per our vision, she concluded.

4 4 Authors and Intellectuals Comment: Abu Dhabi Reads is the nucleus for establishing a productive society for knowledge Writers, journalists, media people, authors, and novelists from different Arab counties say that the Abu Dhabi Reads project, launched by Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) three years ago, is a window of hope and a beam of light that will contribute to restoring the golden era of Arab civilisation that impressed the world with its prolific scientists whose works contributed to Europe s renaissance. They said that Abu Dhabi Reads is an enlightening project that will make a big and noticeable difference in the lives of current generations and will put the Arab nation on the right path. The project prepares the right climate for our children to fall in love with knowledge. They noted that the project has created a state of social mobility as it makes reading and writing part of people s daily lives. They commended the project for its focus on promoting creative writing, since creative writers are voracious readers. They point out that the festival will support the UAE s publishing industry as it will introduce new talented writers. This in turn, will enable younger generations to achieve a sustainable knowledge based society. They commended choosing schools to be the project s launching point. However, they called for improving traditional teaching methodologies to focus on aspects that enhance students literal skills in terms Mohammad Yousuf: unprecedented interaction from society Mohammad Yousuf, Chairman of the UAE Journalists Association said, Abu Dhabi Reads initiative was well received by all members of society. It has had unprecedented interaction from different segments of society. They saw it as a chance to achieve different objectives and contribute to creating a generation that is connected to books and knowledge. The initiative will have a big impact in the future as it will make books a key component of the daily lives of future generations. A book is man s truthful friend. Nations develop only through science and knowledge. Abu Dhabi Read develops children s capabilities in their early stages by providing cultural information using modern scientific methodologies and tools that develop children s personalities and widen their perceptions. Diversified free reading has a profound impact of children s future as it prepares them to become future thinkers, authors and scientists. Hussain Al Duhaim: A hope and a nucleus to restore our heritage Hussain Al Duhaim, a Saudi writer and critic, said that Abu Dhabi Reads is a gleam of hope and a nucleus for restoring the region s heritage. The project provides a suitable environment for our children to make them love knowledge. He commended choosing schools to be the launching point for the project. He considers it a good choice, especially if it changes the traditional teaching methodologies to focus on aspects that enhance students literal skills in terms of strategies and choosing the knowledge, literary, or scientific areas that they should have access to. It is sad that Arab nations are not in the forefront of world countries in thought, culture, and knowledge. Our rich heritage qualifies us to be in a leading position. The people of this region were open to the civilisations of the ancient world from the East and West. The region also received immigrants and interacted with them in unique harmony. This enabled it to have enough knowledge to progress in several areas over its history. The newly-discovered monuments and the lifestyle of the people of this region confirm this fact, said Al Duhaim. He noted that it is important that the festival focuses on making students enjoy and love reading, as well as gives students the chance to make their own choices and not choose for them. This helps the project to play its anticipated enlightening role. Yahya Al Munthiri: Best investment for future generations Yahya bin Salam Al Munthiri, a Omani author and writer, said that Abu Dhabi Reads is fuel for knowledge as it feeds free reading that is not linked to a certain educational curriculum. He noted that spreading a culture of reading for all through an organised and well-planned campaign is one of the key knowledge achievements. He emphasised that the campaign is the best investment for future generations as it will make them accustomed to reading from an early age. This will result in a generation that is capable of thinking, planning and creativity. Al Munthiri called upon ADEC to transform the campaign into an annual festival so that reading becomes a daily programme for all organisations related to culture, education, knowledge and science. of strategies and choosing the knowledge, literary, or scientific areas that they should have access to. Writers and media professionals expect that Abu Dhabi Reads will reflect an image that is worthy of the Arab civilisation that has always focused on reading, which is the basis for civilised generations. They praised the project for promoting free reading that is not linked to a specific curriculum. They said that the project has made an important knowledge achievement by spreading a culture of reading through an organised and well-studied campaign.

5 5 Mufid Fawzi, an Egyptian journalist and media personality, says that Abu Dhabi Reads is one of the serious festivals that achieve the saying that those who read are undefeated. He emphasised that it s a good attempt to end the era of totally depending on the Internet, which has made the minds shallow. When you read, you are in fact enhancing your sentiment and your knowledge. I clearly remember a phrase on the doors of the Frankfurt Book Fair saying that those who read are undefeated. Unfortunately, books have been affected by the programmes that enable reading on computers and smart phones. Books also suffer because young people have abandoned reading. They don t read the same way we used to love reading, said Fawzi. Fawzi considers that reading calls through festivals and exhibitions are an excellent idea. Mufid Fawzi: Achieves the saying that who read are undefeated Dr. Najwa Al Hosani: A golden chance to develop teaching methodologies for reading Fawziya Al Salem: Enlightening project that restores the glory of the nation of Iqraa Fawziya Shuwaish Al Salem, a Kuwaiti novelist, said that Abu Dhabi Reads is one of the most important innovative projects that highlight the value of reading in society. It is a tool that protects people from vicissitudes of life. She noted that reading enhances a person s life experiences by learning about the experience of others. This improves the ability to face life s problems and the effects and crises of modern society. Al Salem urged all Arab countries to take this enlightening project as a role model. She considers that such projects carry the enlightenment torch that can make our Arab countries rise and be worthy of the title Umat Iqraa (the nation of Read). Reading is capable of making cultural and civilizational changes and raising the intellectual level of any society that adopts it. She drew the attention that the initiative regards reading as a tool for knowledge, innovation and inspiration. Al Salem urged all members of society to take part in the campaign, which contributes, with its suitable climate for reading, in creating rich inner worlds that enable individuals to live independently with their abilities and thoughts. They enjoy the company of themselves and don t give up to live in others shoes and circle in their mazes. Reading develops individuals abilities for rational and critical thinking. Al Salem noted that reading opens new horizons for global intellectual, cultural and social communications. Therefore, it brings people closer together and abolishes class and ethnic difference. This limits racial behaviour and promotes mutual understanding and tolerance. It enhances the idea of human belonging, away from all forms of extremism. Dr.Najwa Al Hosani, Curriculum Division Manager at the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) said that Abu Dhabi Reads is an opportunity for educators andspecialiststodevelopthemethodologies, techniques, and skills related to reading. This is reflected positively on students and motivates them to read. She noted that it helps school directors to create an environment that is attractive for reading and writing, where teachers and parents play a pivotal role in enhancing reading skills among youth. She noted that the 3rd Abu Dhabi Reads campaign supports ADEC s objectives to graduate a knowledgeable generation. ADEC continuously works to enhance the role of students in Abu Dhabi in particular and in the UAE in general to be part of change and impact the system. According to Dr. Al Hosani, Abu Dhabi Read adopts a number of excellent programmes and activities with notable participation from government and community organisations. This contributes to enhancing students reading and writing skills by allocating specific time each day for diversified writing and reading. She noted that the Abu Dhabi Reads campaign has established itself as one of the prominent initiatives that bolster the importance of reading. One of the reasons behind this success is that it is directed towards students. It addresses them in a gradual manner, starting with Cycle 1, then expanding to Cycles 2 and 3. This year, for the first time, it involves students with special needs, whichunderlines ADEC s commitment to integrating those students to give them the chance to discover themselves and their talents. Dr. Al Hosani noted that Abu Dhabi Reads highlights different objectives for reading. These include: reading for knowledge, reading for listening, reading for inspiration, and reading for innovation. She said that the campaign s overall objective is to promote a passion for reading among school students and the local society in general. The campaign targets all kindergarten children and Abu Dhabi school students. Its projects are part of the students school curricula. ADEC s Curriculum Division Manager considers reading key to knowledge, creativity, innovation, and inspiration. The time an individual spends reading everyday has become one of the measurements of a countries cultural development.. Dr. Al Hosani urged parents to focus on understanding what their children enjoy, desire and need, so that they befriend books at an early age. This helpsachieve the noble educational target of nurturing the minds and enables individuals to live a life of integrity, efficiency and giving. A book is a loyal friend that stores information and lives with you, and you adapt to each other. It doesn t recognise age, place, or time. It offers various benefits, which is why we must educate our future generation to love books, she concluded adding that books include both paper and electronic books. Books in general are a source of trust, development and education. She emphasised that reading is one of the most important tools that ensure proper communication in our mother tongue language, with its beautiful vocabulary. It enriches students linguistic capabilities and scientific outcomes. From an early age, they get used to diversifying their knowledge sources and express their feelings in accordance with values and ethics of our language.

6 6 Abu Dhabi Education Council enables enjoyable reading experience for students and parents Abu Dhabi Reads : 3 Years Supporting a knowledge based economy Abu Dhabi Reads, launched by Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), is a pioneering and unique project aiming to support reading skills. Abu Dhabi Reads campaign aims to enhance young students reading and writing skills and encourages them to read. It also aims to enable students to read and independently by the end of Cycle 1. The campaign further aims to promote awareness at schools and in the community on the major role reading plays in forming an individual s character and developing a country s future. ADEC has chosen the slogan for the campaign to be Iqraa, an Arabic word translating to Read, because Iqraa was the first word revealed in the Quran and the first action that opens endless doors and opportunities for knowledge. The Abu Dhabi Reads project was first launched in In its third edition this year, the project is progressing strongly with clear vision, goals and events. ADEC believes that all students can become passionate about reading, particularly that encouraging students to read should not be the exclusive job of language instructors only, but should be the duty of all educators. ADEC further believes that instilling the passion for reading in students at a young age should create a successful, motivated, well educated and wellinformed generation, who is capable of maintaining healthy social interactions and relationships. Teachers can no doubt create a difference in the lives of their students when they are aware of their student s reading special needs. Parents equally play a central role in their children s cognitive development. The campaign succeeded in standing out from among other reading campaigns due to several reasons; this campaign targeted the neediest group that is students. In order to address students, the campaign started with Cycle 1, moving gradually to cover Cycles 2 & 3. Overall, the campaign aims to promote the culture of and passion for reading among school students and local community. It s activities and events were directed to all students at kindergartens and schools in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, the campaign s projects were incorporated in the curricula of Cycle 1. The campaign s events were linked to the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair with the aim of promoting the culture of reading among school students and the local community. Teachers, parents, higher education institutions, university graduates, educators and private sector influencers are all engaged in such events. 1st Edition 2013 Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) launched the first edition of the Abu Dhabi Reads campaign in April 2013, then decided to extend the campaign throughout that year, adding it to the Sayfuna Momayaz (Our Special Summer) program. The campaign included nearly half a million books, inside 265 school libraries, as well as organizing 45 events over the two-week media campaign. The goal of the first edition of Abu Dhabi Reads was to assess the reading and writing skills of the Cycle 1 students, respond to the individual reading and writing needs of students, allocate a daily time slot for students to practice a variety of reading and writing activities, introduce reading and writing courses in school curricula, boost reading and writing skills of students and train teachers to identify and address the reading weaknesses and problems of their students. The campaign focused on discovering the talents of students in reading and writing, engaging excellent students in reading and writing skill development programs, identifying printed and verbal reading resources that enhance students reading skills, building cooperation between ADEC and local national organizations, encouraging trained instructors and university students to participate in this campaign, implementing modern and effective teaching methodologies and scientific research to improve students reading and writing levels.

7 7 Abu Dhabi Reads Award 2015 The 3rd edition of the campaign includes the Abu Dhabi Reads Award. this comes in line with the Abu Dhabi governments vision to invest in humans, being the key pillar in the building and development of societies. This award aims to highlight talented students in writing and innovative educators in teaching. The award aims to promote the culture of reading and innovation across all areas of education and enhance the educational and teaching practices that help develop the reading and writing skills through a motivational atmosphere. This contributes in preparing an entire generation of writers and educators who support reading and writing in creative and innovative ways. The award further seeks to discover, sponsor and nurture the talents and creativities of students and educators and support reading in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The award aims to achieve the objectives of the Abu Dhabi Reads campaign by creating an incentive for students to author, read and write. It also seeks to discover student s creative talents in writing and encourage creative educators to innovate the best practices in teaching methodologies and contribute in creating innovative strategies for teaching reading and engage students in enriching reading and writing activities. The award is divided into two categories namely Best short story and Best innovative strategy to develop reading skills in Arabic and English. 2nd Edition In April 2014, ADEC launched the 2nd edition of the Abu Dhabi Reads campaign, which covered cycles 2 & 3. The campaign aimed to develop reading and writing skills of students in all schools in Abu Dhabi based on ADEC s objectives to lay the foundations of the knowledge-based future, graduate a generation armed with knowledge tools, train educators and parents and promote awareness at schools and the community about the major role of reading in building a knowledge based society. The campaign included an array of programs and activities with participation from a number of government and community organizations, that aim to enhance the students reading and writing skills. The campaign employed several strategies including the training of educators to identify and address reading problems of their students, identifying printed and verbal reading resources that enhance students reading skills and allocating daily time slots for students to practice a variety of reading and writing activities and develop their skills in this area. In the 2nd edition, a ten-day training program was created for heads of Arabic and English teaching staff and coordinators at kindergarten and Cycle 1 and grade 6 in Abu Dhabi about teaching writing skills and strategies for comprehension of reading texts. Several entities were interested to be part of this campaign and ADEC used this edition of the campaign to particularly focus on the family. It organized a training course for mothers about the importance of reading to their children as a daily habit and on how to pick up stories and present them in an exciting way. The ultimate goal is to make reading a daily routine that they passionately look forward to. 3rd Edition of Abu Dhabi Reads In the 3rd edition of Abu Dhabi Reads campaign, ADEC seeks to achieve top notch and efficient learning and teaching results by equipping students of different ages and academic levels with skills and effective learning tools, notably reading and writing skills in Arabic and English. This is a shared responsibility between ADEC and its partners at schools from principals, educators and parents of students. ADEC stressed that reading today has become key to knowledge, creativity, innovation and inspiration so that the hours a person spends reading per day can be ameasurement to the progress or backwardness of people, within a cultural context. The quality and quantity of reading time also represents the foundations necessary for creativity and innovation. This campaign allows the opportunity for educators and specialists to develop methodologies, techniques and skills related to reading, in an attempt to encourage students to read. It also gives the opportunity to school principals to create school environments that motivate reading and writing. It gives educators and parents key roles to boost this campaign and achieve its goals. In its 3rd edition, Abu Dhabi Reads campaign focused on enhancing the connection between reading and creative writing based on the saying that creative writers are passionate readers. The campaign further aims to enhance reading for all students in the different academic cycles, different types of writing through reading for different authors from around the world, enable students to read on their own and enjoy readings by their peers, parents, educators and authors hosted by the campaign. The Abu Dhabi Reads Campaign The 3rd edition of the Abu Dhabi Reads campaign is comprised of four pillars namely reading for fun, reading for knowledge, reading for inspiration and reading for innovation. The first pillar enables the improvement of creativity by allowing kids to find solutions to the problems the character faces or putting their own end to the story. Children and adults alike will enjoy the experience and will look forward to more reading time. Reading for fun stimulates imagination. The second pillar reading for knowledge helps readers be more effective in the community by promoting their awareness about the present events and issues of concern to us all, helping them improve their comprehension skills, build vocabulary, and develop writing skills. The pillar helps create better readers who are ready to explore new things. The reading for inspiration pillar focuses on inspiring the community to be a reader capable of exploring the areas of interest and training the mind exactly like a body is trained. The final pillar reading for innovation develops the horizons of imagination so that innovation is the base that gives way to knowledge tools that produce more distinguished and quality results. The ultimate goal is for reading to become the dynamic driver of innovation elements and the means through which creative values meet future life demands. Community Participation Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) furnished school libraries with thousands of books in addition to opening school libraries during summer vacation for the public and to keep students occupied with something beneficial. A significant number of local entities participated in the 1st and 2nd editions of Abu Dhabi Reads campaign including Abu Dhabi Municipality, which organized Story in the Park event, which included a free studio, audiovisual reading of meaningful stories and contests, as well as the Arabic Festival event that included Arabic calligraphy workshops. Emirates Writers Union organized Sard contest for 2nd and 3rd Cycle students where students participated in creative writing workshops. Furthermore, Mohamed Bin Khaled Al Nahyan Future Generation Society participated in the Story in the Park event in Al Ain City, plus other activities through the society s future generation library. The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments (Awqaf) gave educational lectures and Friday sermons on reading and its benefits for individuals and the society. Events at various malls were also held with the participation of students and their parents. Preparing the Educational Field During the professional development week held between 29 March 2 April 2015, ADEC called upon schools to set plans and activities that can be effectively implemented during the campaign to achieve its objectives. School administrations incorporated the Abu Dhabi Reads campaign in their training plan, along with the third school semester. The Libraries Management Department at ADEC s Al Ain educational bureau organized the first forum for learning resource centers specialists 2015 entitled, Competencies and Roles of the Learning Resource Centers Specialists in the 21st Century in light of readiness for activating the Abu Dhabi Reads campaign. The forum included lectures and workshops that aimed to develop the skills of those specialists and optimal use of resource rooms. The forum hosted an elite group of writers who participated in the workshops.

8 8 years of knowledge society sustainability 3 Abu Dhabi Reads Assess and develop reading and writing skills. Respond to the individual reading and writing needs of students. :Objectives Books 1,460,000 Provide all assistive tools enabling reading and writing for disabled students. Allocate a daily time slot for students to practice reading and writing activities. Introduce reading and writing courses in school curricula. 265 Train teachers to identify reading issues. Discover the talents and creativities of students in reading and writing. School Libraries Establish cooperation with local national organizations. Implement the latest contemporary and effective teaching methodologies. Graduate a generation who owns knowledge tools. Abu Dhabi Reads Award Developing student talents Events 45 The award discovers talented students in writing and innovative educators in teaching. Objectives 01 Promote the culture of reading and innovation. 02 Improve educational and teaching practices. 03 Discover, sponsor and nurture the talents and creativities of students and educators. Best short story category. The award is made up of two categories: Abu Dhabi Reads 2013 Identifying reading and writing issues 200 Training Tetchers Best innovative strategy to develop reading skills category. Abu Dhabi Reads 2014 The making of knowledge future Abu Dhabi Reads 2015 Arming students with effective learning tools