"We want as many adults as possible to realise
the pleasure of reading as well as the personal benefits
this can bring." - Phil Hope MP, Minister for Skills
The Vital Link reading for pleasure campaign is designed
to encourage a partnership between Skills for Life tutors
and library services, through which adult emergent readers
(in particular those around Entry3/Level1) can develop their
reading skills. This partnership can help to establish long-term
reading habits and provides learners and teachers with a
wider range of resource material. At the heart of the campaign
is the provision of appealing and appropriate books, including
the Quick Reads series, and a link with the BBC's RaW (bbc.co.uk/raw).
The Vital Link Reading for Pleasure campaign is supported
by the Skills for Life Strategy Unit and run by The Reading
Agency in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
'These resources are just what busy teachers need - inspiring
without being prescriptive. They help to enrich students'
reading experience.' - Skills for Life tutor
The Quick Reads titles have been published to encourage
adults who can read but who are not confident, or who do
not have much time, to pick up a book. Two dozen titles
were launched in 2006 and another eight for World Book Day
1 March 2007. See information
about how to get hold of the books and also audio and large
print versions.
The Vital Link has created materials to support the Quick
Reads which you can use in class or with reading groups.
For the eight new titles published in 2007, you will find
a 24-page handbook,
Starting with Quick Reads: The Vital Link Guide to engaging
new readers. You can either download this or order your
own printed copy from DfES Publications on 0845 6022260
(please quote reference SFLQR). A series of imaginative
web quests around the theme of each title is available from
1 March at www.quickreadsideas.org.uk
There are also downloadable
resources to support the Quick Reads published in March
and May 2006, and 2007. These have proved very popular with over 50,000
downloads recorded by the end of 2006.
Do you need ideas for using other reading materials? See
Resources for
learner engagement for further suggestions.
Need more books? You can find other titles which have been
fully checked out for their readability levels on First
Choice Books website - even more good material for adult
emergent readers.
"You addressed a very pertinent issue - how to get
learners to read for pleasure and read regularly."
- Delegate at Vital Link reading for pleasure event
The core curriculum is often interpreted in a rather functional
way, but enjoyment in reading can be a real driver. Readers
who get into the habit of reading for pleasure are being
presented with models of grammar and spelling and ways of
widening their vocabulary. Many also find that being able
to tackle and complete a 'real' book raises their self-esteem
and confidence as well as having a beneficial impact on
their skills. See How reading for pleasure works for learner
development .
Most of the speaking and listening targets in the core curriculum
can be addressed and also many of those for reading (text
focus) and some for writing using reading for pleasure as
a stimulus. Learning resources created by The Vital Link
to support the Quick Reads titles published in 2006 and
2007 (see above) are clearly annotated with core curriculum
references.
This downloadable
table maps the core curriculum areas addressed in a
discussion about books and a visit to a library.
"All members of the group …are reading more,
and reading authors they would ordinarily miss and are benefiting
from the experience" - Second Chance tutor
Adult literacy practitioners can:
- Use specific teaching ideas from the Vital Link resources
to support the Quick Reads listed above.
- Search the First Choice Books database to identify
other titles which emergent readers might enjoy.
- Invite the local library to send a member of staff
to visit the class and talk about what the library can
offer learners.
- Set up a visit by the learners to the local library
(see below).
Go to the case studies section
to see how Reading for Pleasure has been used in a range
of settings from basic skills classes in colleges and outreach
centres to family learning and prisons.
"I did like the trip to the library because it fascinated
me - all the different things in there." Adult
learner, Derbyshire
If practitioners work with the active support of library
staff, they can access a much wider range of resources and
encourage a lifelong reading habit. Library staff can also
help to establish reading groups, and refer clients to Skills
for Life groups.
Contact your local library to discuss possibilities. Prior
consultation is essential to establish common goals and
mutual understanding between the adult literacy and library
services. For more information on setting up a partnership,
go to Forging links.
Case studies of work done with libraries can be found in
the case studies section.
You can become a Reading for Pleasure Champion. If you would
like any further information about the Vital Link Reading
for Pleasure campaign or would like to get involved, please
contact Genevieve Clarke (genevieve.clarke@readingagency.org.uk).
Could you help inform staff in your college about Quick
Reads and the teaching resources? Could you invite the local
librarian to speak to staff on a training day? You might
set up a drop-in session in your learning resources centre.
Put on a display of the Quick Reads or other books from
the First Choice database; any publicity material you have
access to, or work done with adult literacy groups; and
copies of the activities downloaded from the Quick Reads
resources web page. If you have access to computers alongside
your display, link them up to the new Quick Reads web quests
or the BBC's RaW site.
The PowerPoint presentation below can be used to explain
the Reading for Pleasure campaign partnership between Skills
for Life teachers and library staff.
Reading
for pleasure: Skills for Life and the library service
The Reading Agency is currently reviewing its training programme
and is planning more training events for 2006-07. To register
an interest now and receive early notice of new courses
and their locations, email liz.dubber@readingagency.org.uk
Go to Five Minutes - that's
all it takes to read your child a story to find out about
a new promotion aimed at getting fathers involved with reading.
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