Izvleček
V želji po dodatnem znanju in primerih dobre prakse smo se ozrli na drug konec sveta, v deželo, ki jo zaradi kulturnih posebnosti pestijo težave v bralnih sposobnostih in se kažejo že med najmlajšimi bralci. Ker gre za razmeroma mlado državo, ki se je šele leta 1959 pridružila Združenim državam Amerike in v kateri še vedno biva ogromno število potomcev staroselskih plemen, je slab nivo znanja angleškega jezika pričakovan. Pa vendar večje število govorcev staroselskih jezikov ni edini razlog za slabo pismenost, saj vsi otroci z učenjem angleščine začnejo že v zgodnjih letih. Poleg tega raziskave soglasno poudarjajo pomen zgodnjega stika z branjem, ki naj bi se vzpostavljal v družinskem krogu, vse od rojstva dalje. Aljaska se slabe bralne pismenosti med otroki zaveda in se s problematiko sooča z raznovrstnimi prijemi. Uvajanja sprememb so se lotili v zakonodaji in jih podprli s številnimi projekti, ki so jih vpeljali že v predšolsko obdobje. Glede na najaktualnejše raziskave bralne pismenosti v Sloveniji bi se pri izboljševanju upada stanja pismenosti lahko v marsičem zgledovali po omenjenih aljaških zamislih.
Abstract
Reading Literacy across Borders – Alaska
In the desire for new knowledge and good practice examples, we took a look at the other side of the world, at a country that is dealing with reading difficulties even among its youngest readers due to its cultural peculiarities. As it is a relatively young country, which did not join the United States of America until 1959 and which is still inhabited by a large number of descendants of indigenous tribes, poor knowledge of the English language is to be expected. However, the large number of speakers of indigenous languages is not the only reason for poor literacy, as all children start learning English early on. Moreover, studies unanimously highlight the importance of early contact with reading, which is to be provided within the family, from birth onward. Alaska is aware of the poor reading literacy among children and is tackling the problem through different approaches. It has begun making changes to the legislation and supporting them with many projects that are being implemented from the preschool period onward. In light of the recent reading literacy surveys in Slovenia we could learn a lot from Alaska’s approaches to improving the declining literacy rates.