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For lots of ideas on what books to read and reviews, for a whole range of abilities, visit the booklists, book clubs and reading ideas page.
Interested in using resources to develop your whole-school reading culture? Visit Reading Connects
Primary
Secondary
Resources for all ages
Book-based Reading Games, by Helen Bromley. This guide, produced by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), covers a wide variety of strategies for improving children's reading skills through group games. It includes instructions for how to make games for specific texts as well as more general advice, tips on how to use the games with different groups such as reception class or older inexperienced readers, how to explore their possibilities in the literacy hour, creating home-school links, and assessing children's reading when they play the games. ISBN 1872267238, cost £8.50 (£6.50 to schools in boroughs that subscribe to the CLPE).
Contact: Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, Webber Street, London SE1 8QW. Tel: 020 7633 0840. Website: www.clpe.co.uk.
Book-It Reading Clubs ContinYou has been helping schools set up Year 7/S1 reading clubs since 1998. Previously they worked to set up clubs, with an emphasis on reading for pleasure, rather than curricular development. They are now helping schools to set up and sustain reading clubs and can offer a practical package. Visit www.continyou.org.uk/content.php?CategoryID=387
Book Power, Literacy through Literature, Year 5. CLPE has produced Book Power, a practical guide to working with books to create a literature programme for the primary classroom. Featuring ten well-written and powerful books which were chosen because they will stir children's ideas and feelings, and involve them in discussion, the publication provides units of work on each, supported by learning aims, text level objectives, key teaching approaches and resources. For more information: www.clpe.co.uk/publications
Brainwaves. An 18-book series of easy non-fiction for ages eight to 13, plus three teacher books. Also available individually and in packs of six (readers only). The series is split into three levels, with increasing word counts. Each level is accompanied by a teacher book with lessons plans and copymasters for comprehension and writing. Available from Badger Publishing. ISBN 1 84424 161 0
Website: www.badger-publishing.co.uk. Tel: 01438 356907
Carousel: The Guide to Children's Books. This magazine is published three times a year in March, June and October and offers reviews, articles, news, and author profiles. Tel: 0121 622 7458. Email: carousel.guide@virgin.net. Website: www.carouselguide.co.uk
Dark Flight Books - A new variation on the bestselling Full Flight series, Dark Flight is an offering for young readers, exploring exciting subject matter in an accessible manner. The books are designed to appeal to young people (especially boys) who are struggling with their reading. www.badger-publishing.co.uk
Hungry to Read: new ways to promote reading. Good practice guide produced by the Campaign for Learning to outline the approaches taken by the first 100 projects funded by the BT Reading Challenge. ISBN 1903107040, cost £9.95.
Contact: Campaign for Learning, 19 Buckingham Street, London WC2N 6EF. Tel: 020 7930 1111 or visit www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk
Primary English Magazine. Published by NATE five times a year. Annual subscription £17.50.
Contact: Garth Publishing, PO Box 5034, Birmingham B13 8JA. Tel: 0121 449 0861.
Reading Differences. CLPE and QCA have produced a range of materials introducing children (Years 3-4 and Years 5-6) to a broader range of literature from around the world. It is about reading books and reading them differently. For more information, visit www.qca.org.uk
www.ltscotland.org.uk/storybook
Storybook Web is an online production from Learning and Teaching Scotland. This website contains activities for children aged 5-8 years that are based on popular children's stories by Scottish authors including Mairi Hedderwick, Debi Gliori, Scoular Anderson and Frank Rodgers. The authors also feature in video and audio clips, reading excerpts from their stories and answering questions about their work.
Take Off. A range of Heinemann non-fiction texts produced to help motivate reluctant readers, particularly boys who do not enjoy reading fiction. The series includes 32 geography and science titles, covering topics such as animals, insects, plants, planets, weather and countries, and more are planned. A readability level of 6+ and interest level of 9+ make them ideal for struggling readers. Free teachers' notes are available. Cost £4.99 for a set of 4 titles.
Contact Heinemann on 01865 314117 or see www.heinemann.co.uk.
The activity kit from The Reading Agency and ContinuYou is a new handbook for young people aged 11-14 years. It is full of practical ideas and lively activities that are accessible to all levels of reader. The kit supports wider reading and promotes reading for enjoyment, drawing on the best experience of schools' and libraries' work with reading groups. To view a sample page from the activity kit visit www.readingclub.org.uk Available in January 2005, price £15 + p&p.
Invisible Art: graphic novels for young people, complied by Joss O'Kelly. An annotated bibliography of graphic novels to simplify the task of choosing and promoting titles for 12-18 year olds, for use by teachers, parents and librarians. A useful introduction for those who are new to the format or are in need of an imaginative 'hook' on which to promote reading to reluctant youth. Cost £5.95 (including p & p).
Contact: Buckinghamshire Library and Information Service for Schools, County Library, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 1UU. Tel: 01296 382268. Email: jokelly@buckscc.gov.uk. ISBN 0 86059 594 3.
Home number one. A publication from loki books, written in a style easy for reluctant readers to approach. It is aimed at 12-18 reader groups. The subject matter is children in war and their stories as they try to survive. The title is available from www.lokibooks.com or all@lokibooks.vianw.co.uk
Manga Mania Manga Mania was the first manga promotion to be available to UK libraries and schools. Aimed at young people (13-16 years) and developed by The Reading Agency, Manga Mania capitalises on the rapidly growing interest in manga (Japanese comics) and anime (animated films). For further information on ordering please contact Alison Shakspeare on 0871 750 1207; email: alison.shakspeare@readingagency.org.uk
More Books to Enjoy: 12-16, by Wendy Cooling. A School Library Association publication listing a selection of titles that will appeal to secondary students. Cost £5 (£4 to SLA members).
Contact: School Library Association, Liden Library, Barrington Close, Liden, Swindon SN3 6HF. Tel: 01793 617838.
On the Edge is a series of books from Folens for reluctant teenage readers for reading ages six to 10 years. Designed like a soap-opera there are four levels, each with 12 books, plus teacher's guides and playscripts. For more information visit: www.folens.com or call 0870 609 1235
Reading Clubs report This report details the outcomes of 100 secondary school reading clubs set up by Education Extra (now known as ContinYou) in partnership with the Daily Mail and Camelot. It reflects not only the enthusiasm and commitment of the school staff in getting the clubs up and running, but also the role that business can play by working in partnership with others. The programme was established with the aim of providing evidence that reading clubs are an effective way of improving a child's reading capacity and the report documents evidence to this effect.
Contact: ContinYou, 17 Old Ford Road, London E2 9PL. Tel: 020 8709 9900. Fax: 020 8709 9933. Email: info@continyou.org.uk. Website: www.continyou.org.uk.
Riveting Reads: 15-19 Narrative Information is a booklist produced by the School Library Association to highlight non-fiction texts that have all the construction and tension of fiction. This type of book is often ideal for those, particularly boys and reluctant readers, who prefer real facts and information to imaginary stories. They can also help encourage young people to 'read around their subject'. Contact the School Library Association on 01793 791787 or visit www.sla.org.uk
Running a Succesful School Library Event. Geoff Dubber and Elspeth Scott, School Library Association, ISBN 0 900641 97 5 These guidelines look at range of issues involved in setting up an event including funding, planning and publicity, finding authors and other guests. It includes six case studies from primary and secondary school checklists and useful addresses.
Contact: School Library Association on 01793 617 838.
Armadillo. Children's online newsletter, which features reviews and articles written by children's writers and illustrators and aims to provide a wider forum for the discussion of children's books than was previously provided by mainstream publications and national press. Website: www.armadillomagazine.com/
Books for Keeps. Children's book magazine available on subscription; six issues per year. Contact: School Bookshop Association. Telephone order service: 020 8852 4953. Email: booksforkeeps@btinternet.com.
Booktrusted Booktrust has an online list of journals and magazines specialising in children's literature, visit www.booktrusted.co.uk/information/journals.php4
British Library education service resources. The British Library Education Department runs many programmes for schools, including some that promote an enjoyment of children's books and reading. Schools may register to receive a free copy of the Library's newsletter, Sources, as well as the resources catalogue, Publications for Schools (send A4 SAE to the value of 26p). Contact: British Library, Education Department, Euston Road, London NW1 2DB.
www.filmeducation.org
Film Education provides free downloadable teaching and learning resources based on popular films as a way of stimulating reading opportunities.
Helping Children Become Confident Readers
Distance learning package from Volunteer Reading Help based on the face-to-face training that the charity has developed for its volunteers over its 30-year history. It enables individuals to take the initiative and train to help children who find reading a challenge wherever they live. The enrolment fee of £150 covers nine modules, module assessment, a final distance proficiency test and a certificate. More details are available at www.vrh.org.uk, e-mail flexible.learning@vrh.org.uk or telephone on 0870 77 44 300.
www.lovereading4schools.co.uk
The love reading for schools website that provides reading lists for years 1-9 and enables schools and parents to set up their own reading lists.
The Newspaper. A national newspaper for schoolchildren in the UK aged 8 to 14. It is designed to engage children in the world around them by addressing the news in an accessible way. It is published six times a year and can be used in the classroom to support many areas of the curriculum. The on-line version can be found at www.thenewspaper.org.uk Schools on mainland Britain can subscribe for class packs of 32 copies per issue at £87 per annum. Multiple packs are also available. To subscribe call 0845 094 0646 or download a subscription form.
Oink! Money matters for kids! A business newspaper for children that is pink like the Financial Times, tabloid size and free. The paper is advertised-supported and free to schools, libraries, sports academies and clubs. For more information call 0870 755 0820.
www.readingzone.com
Readingzone.com provides a range of resources to help teachers use children's literature across the curriculum and to encourage reading for pleasure. It is free for children and families, schools must subscribe.
The Spoken Word - children's authors British Library audio CD featuring 10 children's authors - including AA Milne, Anne Fine, JRR Tolkien, Raymond Briggs, Roald Dahl and Philip Pullman - reading extracts from their own books. Recordings are a mixture of items from the library's archives and new recordings made specially for the CD. The CD lasts 72 minutes. Cost £9.95. Buy online at www.bl.uk/acatalog.
Teachers' TV - reading week (w/c 27 February 2006) saw their site focusing on how reading and literacy is taught in schools. Find out how to improve your school's reading culture by using their resources which include programmes, downloads and clips. The site also features a Reading Connects school case study which presents Shirley Warren Primary School's approach to reading as well as their use of innovative literacy projects. Visit www.teachers.tv/reading
Enjoy England has created Storybook England to encourage families to discover the places that captured the imagination of this country's greatest authors. This website includes an interactive map, as well as a teachers pack. Visit www.storybookengland.com
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