Teach-Reading-and-Writing-Issue-22

www.teachwire.net | 27 PARTNER CONT ENT and dismissed by parents or teachers. All reading for pleasure is good reading – whether it’s a graphic novel, comic strip, non-fiction picture book, or an audiobook. 10 tips for fostering reading for pleasure 1 Create an environment where a range of books and other reading materials, including audiobooks, are readily available. 2 Invest in new children’s books whenever you can afford to – raise money at events such as summer fairs, from the PTA or other sources, like the Children’s Book Project or your local library. 3 Make time for reading. Dedicate time for reading aloud; and set aside quiet times for children to simply relax and lose themselves in a book of their choice. 4 Celebrate books and authors, especially on World Book Day. Invite authors from diverse backgrounds into school to inspire the children and demonstrate that reading (and writing) is for everyone. 5 Be a reading role model and talk about the books you read with the children. Encourage them to talk about the books they’re reading too. 6 Host regular sessions with parents on the power of reading. Support them, where required, with information in their home language and emphasise that reading for pleasure in the home language brings most, if not all, the benefits of reading in English. 7 Use a reading and phonics programme such as Reading Planet or Rocket Phonics, that build in a love of story and reading from the get-go and includes a wide range of genres with diverse and inclusive characters. 8 Support less able readers with targeted interventions, bring in reading helpers), and use appealing reading resources, such as the Astro strand of Reading Planet – a vibrant collection of high-lo readers, including graphic novels with accessible language. 9 Take classes to the local library. Encourage students to explore all the different books, genres and resources available. Find out about special events and workshops hosted in the library and any other services they can provide. 10 Look out for activities and events taking place next year for the National Year of Reading. The campaign will bring together schools, parents, libraries, publishers, and literacy experts so we can all play a role. Together, we can work to give as many children as possible one of the most precious gifts you can give to a child – a love of reading. Helen Parker is senior lead product manager for primary literacy at Hachette Learning and spearheaded the creation of Reading Planet and Rocket Phonics. hachettelearning.com/ trw-mag-reading-planet REVERS I NG THE TREND Hachette’s Raising Readers campaign aims to raise awareness of the decline in the number of children reading for fun and encourage everyone to make reading for enjoyment part of children’s daily lives. l Making the most of authors’ connection with their readers, letters will be printed at the back of Hachette books by authors writing for adults, sharing the importance of encouraging a child’s life-long love of reading. l This campaign aims to raise awareness that reading for fun is the single biggest predictor of a child’s future success – more than family circumstance, parents’ education, or income. It impacts academic results, mental health, wealth, communication skills and ambition. Learn more at raisingreaders.co.uk Reading Planet is a whole-school reading programme for ages three to 11, including our Rocket Phonics programme (ages three to seven) which aims to create a firm foundation for literacy from a young age. We work closely with authors, diversity and inclusion experts, literacy experts, partners, and schools to create books to help every child reach their unique potential, by featuring: • traditional tales, religious stories and important figures from around the world • characters and settings that represent all backgrounds • thought-provoking and relevant topics • inspirational real-life and fictional stories about people from varied cultures, places and professions Reading Planet launches children into a life-long love of reading. With 800+ books, there is something to support every learner at every stage of their reading journey. Learn more at hachettelearning. com/reading-planet