February 2009 | Edition 3

News

Featured

Power of Reading Project

“I’m on page 99, Miss!” - The Power of Book Clubs

3.30, Thursday 11th September 2008, Hill Mead Primary School, Lambeth, Year 5 Classroom: two bean-bag seats, 6 large cushions, biscuits, jug of juice, 10 copies of There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom, 2 teachers and 8 Year 5 children (who look as if they not quite sure why they are here).

Teacher: Does anyone know what a book club is?

Children: Blank faces

We explained what a book club is.....more blank faces! So we decided to just give it a go. We read aloud to the children, who each had a copy of the book to follow along. We modelled book talk and they gradually joined in.

The book club was set up in response to concerns about the children’s reading levels. The children, mainly boys, either were not interested in reading or had made little progress.

Our main aim was to provide these children with a different experience of reading and one that was fun.

At first, our discussions were quite stilted but after a few sessions the children became more confident and animated and many wanted to read aloud to the group. One boy, at the beginning of book club was adamant that he didn’t like reading, couldn’t read, couldn’t follow as we read aloud and did not want to read at home. A few weeks later, we saw him reading at breakfast club and he proudly volunteered, “I’m on page 99, Miss!” He was now the child buried in a book at reading time, following with his finger during shared reading and who read every word of his reading assessment with great care.

After only six weeks, all bar two of the children had moved up at least one National Curriculum sub level, in one case 4 sub-levels and the boy who ‘didn’t like reading’, 3 sub levels.

We are now on our second book, Skellig by David Almond, and in a discussion about what ‘confide in’ means, one boy piped up, “that’s like Bradley Chalkers talking to Carla”.

What a result!

Becky Lawrence, CLPE Primary Advisory Teacher and Claire Wild, Year 5 Hill Mead Primary School, Lambeth.

Hillmead Primary School has been taking part in the Power of Reading project at CLPE for 3 years. Click here for more information about the project.

Bookpower 1 is here!

Bookpower 1 is the latest in the Bookpower series of practical guides to working with books to create a literature-centred curriculum.

It features 12 outstanding picture books chosen because they will excite and enthuse young readers and provide them with much to think and to talk in depth about. It includes books by some of the best contemporary children’s authors such as Julia Donaldson and Mini Grey as well as revisiting some classic tales.

Bookpower 1 provides units of work, exploring each book through a wide-range of activities such as play, drama and role-play, drawing and other visual approaches.

Each unit is supported by learning aims, links to the PNS framework and key teaching approaches.

The book is accompanied by a CD containing additional teaching materials. These include practical resources such as book-based games and instructions for puppet and book-making as well as electronic materials to use on the interactive whiteboard.

Bookpower 1: £13 subscribing schools, £15 non-subscribers

Order via our website http://www.clpe.co.uk/publications/public02a.html

CLPE’s Family learning and FACE IT!

For two years CLPE has been part of FACE IT!, a Socrates project funded by the European Commission. The 12-strong partnership has produced materials and training models to promote Active Citizenship, building on the partners’ experience in working with families and adults who have not previously engaged with education. By using methods taken from Family Learning practice in literacy and numeracy, families are empowered to become more involved in their communities and to recognise the importance of democratic processes.

As CLPE’s new family learning co-ordinator, I attended the Integrated Training and International Conference, held in Iasi, Romania, 2-4 July 2008. A substantial part of the project was the dissemination of materials and expertise through training at local, regional, national and international events. A handbook, CD and website have been produced. To find out more, visit the website at http://www.faceitproject.org

Clio Whittaker, CLPE Family Learning Co-ordinator 

Family Story Club

Families who attend the regular after-school Family Story Club at CLPE find out about a wide range of children’s books, authors and illustrators. Each session includes time for refreshments, listening to a book and a practical activity. The families are creating wonderful reading records and materials inspired by the books.

For more information, contact Clio Whittaker on 020 7902 2297 or clio@clpe.co.uk

Poetry Right Now!

Jenny Vernon - jenny@clpe.co.uk

CLPE has set up an exciting poetry project with teachers from all over London in collaboration with Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen. Michael got the project off to an inspiring start with a whole day of his unique poetry workshops, including ideas on how to develop a ‘poetry friendly environment’.

The group meets regularly to share their own and children’s growing enthusiasm for poetry. We have been delighted by video footage of performance poetry and moved by examples of children’s poetic voice.

Watch this space for further poetic developments!

For information about the project click here.

Events

Image from Into the Forest by Anthony Browne, Walker Books, one of the books chosen by CLPE for the Power of Reading project

Power of Reading Conference

Wednesday 22 April 2009 10.00am – 1pm

The CLPE Power of Reading project is raising children’s involvement and achievement in reading and writing. This conference will discuss latest developments in the Power of Reading research and provide opportunities to hear from Local Authority colleagues, heads and teachers involved in the project. For all those interested in hearing about the Power of Reading project and for schools and LAs interested in taking part next year.

Cost £75, including lunch at the end of the morning.

Apply to: CLPE, Webber St, London SE1 8QW Make cheques payable to Language Matters. For more information click here or email info@clpe.co.uk

Creativity in the Early Years Conference

Friday 12 June 2009 9.30am – 3.30pm

Keynote speaker: Tina Bruce

Contributions from CLPE, teachers and practitioners from a wide range of settings. Cost £125, including lunch and coffee.

Apply to: CLPE, Webber St, London SE1 8QW Make cheques payable to Language Matters. For more information click here or email info@clpe.co.uk

New books

Ann Lazim, CLPE Librarian recommends the following picture books which all have something special to recommend them, especially teachers of older KS2 children.

Listings

All courses £100 subscribing/£115 non-subscribing schools and LAs, except for ICT courses and Spelling course which includes a copy of Understanding Spelling.

To unsubscribe from this email, click here

© CLPE, 2009 | Design by Right Communications