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This page covers the latest news from the last four
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The Times has reported on a national poetry competition that will be open to all children from the ages of 7 – 11 in the United Kingdom.
To take part, pupils will stand in front of fellow pupils and deliver poems from wide ranging genres and topic areas. The contest is called ‘Off by Heart’ and is organised by the BBC.
Winners will be whittled down from school finals to regional competitions held at local libraries, followed by a national grand final in April 2009.
Further details and the full article can be read at www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment
(The Times, 5 October 2008)
The Herald has reported on a council project in North Lanarkshire, Active Literacy, in which every primary one pupil has been given a magnetic whiteboard and magnetic letters as part of a drive to improve literacy.
The move is intended to help children learns the sounds of grouped letters and improve spelling skills both at school and at home. The project was launched in 2005.
Read the article at http://www.theherald.co.uk
(The Herald, 3 October 2008)
Launched on what would have been famous lexicographer Dr Samuel Johnson's 299th birthday, Wordia styles itself as "the world's first digital and democratic online video dictionary". It offers traditional definitions and spellings, but allows all contributors the opportunity to record and upload videos giving their own meanings or associations.
Michael Birch has teamed up with TV producer Edward Baker to create the site, Wordia.com.
The Open University, the National Literacy Trust and the publisher HarperCollins are backing the venture.
www.wordia.com
Read the article at www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/
(The Guardian, 19 September 2008)
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