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Space Hop The 2010 Summer Reading Challenge
One giant leap into libraries!
This year's summer reading challenge (which runs in approximately 95% of UK library authorities during the summer holidays, as well as internationally in Eire and through British Council centres) will encourage readers age 4 to 12 years to discover the joy of reading all sorts of books in a fun, achievable challenge, whilst discovering more about the science of space travel. We're in discussions with the
The National Space Centre and BBC Learning, to help promote this summer's Space Hop as part of the BBC Year of Science.
Research demonstrates that the Summer Reading Challenge helps keep children's reading levels up during the long summer holidays, and schools and libraries are working closely together to invite families to take part. |
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Further info and order forms (for library services)
www.readingagency.org.uk/children/summer-reading-challenge/ |
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Volunteering Guidance Pack
We have developed a Summer Reading Challenge Volunteering Guidance Pack for libraries which you may find useful if you are looking to start or extend using young people as volunteers, to help support the Challenge.
The guidance pack, and any supporting activity material, will also be available to download from the Summer Reading Challenge resources microsite In 2010 we are running a SRC Volunteering project funded by Laing Integrated Services and v, the national volunteering charity for 16 to 25s. There are 20 pilot authorities. |
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Chatterbooks in the UK and Cairo
Research shows that reading groups can be an engine for change - building children's reading confidence and range, and also their social skills. So, we've been excited to bring those benefits to children overseas by extending our Chatterbooks reading group network through the British Council's Connecting Classrooms initiative. This picture shows pupils from Mostafa Kamel Experimental School in Cairo reading What planet are you from Clarice Bean? by Lauren Child under the pyramids while pupils of Tower View Primary in Staffordshire have been reading it in the snow. Find out more about Chatterbooks and
Connecting Classrooms here and for more about Chatterbooks in the UK and how your school or library can get involved see
www.chatterbooks.org.uk.
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My Voice
Contact with writers can be hugely inspiring, so we work to build lots of different ways of making this happen. The latest is the My Voice project that matches young writers with author mentors. At Birmingham Central Library up and coming writer and lyrical rapper Maryam (18) who has been working with Mobo award winning rapper Akala on a collection of poems, showcased some of her poetry.
So I guess I own 99 personalities but MY one seems missing. I just wanna paint my room pink and come home to a cuddly toy. I don't wanna come home and be stripped of my dignity by AK's from a convoy." Extract from Forgotten War-Child by Maryam |
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Abid Hussain, Diversity Officer, Arts Council West Midlands, said: "Last night was brilliant, there were some really lively discussion and some great performances!"
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Reading Partners
One of our roles is to broker partnerships between publishers and libraries which result in exciting opportunities for local readers and library users. We run a big partnership scheme with 34 publishers to make this happen. As part of Reading Partners, we are celebrating Penguin's 75th birthday with a Decade Read Off between two pairs of rival cities. Using the new Decades series (five of the best books from every decade from the 50s to the 80s) two pairs of UK cities will represent each decade and libraries will encourage people to read the five books. Readers from the cities, which have been chosen because they have a geographical or sporting rivalry, will then debate the merits of one decade against the other face-to-face.
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Quick Reads
We champion the development and use of reading materials for adults who are only just starting to read because it's so important that they have access to the right books. Ten new Quick Reads titles were launched on World Book Day on 4 March - the fifth anniversary of the initiative for emergent readers. As in previous years, we've created materials to support use of the new Quick Reads in a whole range of formal and informal settings, including the Quick Reads 2010 Guide and, new for 2010, the Quick Reads 2010 Writing Pack which offers readers ten branded templates linked to the new titles. Download both packs either from the
Quick Reads website or from
www.readingagency.org.uk/quickreads.
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Six Book Challenge
This month we heard about Lilian Vickers from Kath Morgan, a Skills for Life tutor who ran the Six Book Challenge very successfully at Bolton Community College in 2009 with students and employees from Warburtons Bakery.
Lilian Vickers is dyslexic and had long wanted to read more. When she was made redundant she took the Six Book Challenge. We often hear about the difference that the Six Book Challenge makes to people's life chances but hers is a particularly nice story. |
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"Reading has opened up a new world for me. At the end of the Challenge, Kath suggested that I have a go at creative writing classes. I've always made up stories in my head but I've never had the confidence before to write them up. But I've started writing. Not to show anyone, but I write all sorts of things, like perhaps a little poem that might come to me. I've even started to write a book.
"It feels like I'm seeing things with a new pair of eyes. There is no way at all, ten year ago, that I'd ever have thought I'd be writing a book." Six Book Challenge 2010 has got off to an excellent start. 67% of library services across the UK have signed up, several are working with a broad range of partners including children's centres, groups with mental health issues, day centres and local council staff as well as with colleges, adult education, the WEA, prisons and other workplaces. To find out more, blog about your experiences or sign up to the Challenge, visit www.sixbookchallenge.org.uk |
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Reading for pleasure and digital innovation - win a prize TODAY!
Research tells us that reading for pleasure motivates and inspires adults with literacy needs as well as improving their skills. But can computer or online games and other digital technologies achieve the same effect? Fill in our surveys by the end of today, 9 March, to win a prize! There's one for
practitioners who work with learners and one for
games producers/developers.
If you'd like to be part of the feasibility study about the use of multi-media and gaming as engagement tools for adults with literacy needs, that these surveys are part of then we'd love your help. To find out more and get involved email Genevieve.clarke@readingagency.org.uk |
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Reading and Health
Our research into reading and health is progressing really well. The team (The Reading Agency, LISU and Professor Neil Frude) has now finished stage 1. So we now have a comprehensive evidence framework and a summary of the consultations with key opinion leaders. We are beginning to analyse the findings of the survey which had an excellent return rate and set up the case studies. We will also be getting back to people who expressed interest in our reading and health training programme in the next week or so. Keep up to date at
www.readingagency.org.uk/new-thinking
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Training programmes
Chatterbooks for schools: For teaching and non-teaching staff who want to set up Chatterbooks. It covers how to set up and run a group, how to make the most of Chatterbooks to develop children as enthusiastic and successful readers.11 May, RIBA, London and 24 September, Newcastle Library, Newcastle upon Tyne
More information and
book a place here.
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Look out for...
After a highly successful pilot, we're looking at how
Reading Detectives could be rolled out nationally - so watch out for the online survey as we'd love to know your views! For more information contact ruth.harrison@readingagency.org.uk
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Keeping in touch
For information about all our projects and resources visit the website, follow us on Twitter and tell use what you think at the discussion forum. To unsubscribe click here or send an email to reading.agency@readingagency.org.uk
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