Beverley Taylor, Learning Resource
Centre manager at Reading School, Berkshire recounts how a
'Dads and Lads, Mums and Sons' reading club has motivated
pupils at this boys school to read more.
'Dads and Lads, Mums and Sons' was set up to encourage
our boys to widen their choice of reading materials. Getting
the parents on board was an essential element of the project,
as encouraging reading at home is the key to sustaining
pupils' interest in the books and the scheme.
The club is open to students in any year and the idea is
that the pupil and their parent agree to read six books
a year together. They agree on a title, read the book and
then both email a book review to the school. By taking the
time to write the review together, families have the opportunity
to discuss their opinions on the chosen title, even though
they may be reading the book at different times.
Initial family recruitment was made via a letter home,
in which the importance of a role model, particularly a
male, to encourage boys to read for pleasure was emphasised.
It was also very important to stress in this letter that
families had the freedom to choose titles and materials
that they felt comfortable with.
The club has been a great success, with 68 families taking
part last year, many of whom are keen to take part again.
To raise the profile of the great work that we received,
we made a display of every book review, together with illustrations
of the book cover. We also created a new "library"
of recommended reads and a booklet of the reviews. The next
step is to hold an event for all those who took part to
discuss their chosen books.
The families' feedback is testament to the achievements
of the project.
"This is a really good way for my
son and his father, who doesn't live with him, to take part
in a joint project and to share something."
"I was pleasantly surprised by the
range of titles and the quality of writing available to
young teenage boys."
In addition, the scheme's success can be demonstrated by
the number of requests for new titles, which has increased
by 100% on the previous year: a number that will certainly
increase in the coming months and years.
80px.gif)
