Reading Newsletter November and December 2020 What a wonderful first half term we have had! It has been brilliant having the whole school back and having conversations with children about what they are enjoying reading. In the midst of this pandemic and with so much uncertainty ahead, I have recommended a small selection of books to support children with any worries or anxiety, and to promote their mental health and wellbeing. Books can be a wonderful opportunity to open up discussions about feelings and concerns with children, as well as what they are feeling happy and optimistic about, too! Also in this edition are details about our reading schemes/processes, school library use, how to get involved with next half-term’s reading newsletter, a helpful reading map and exciting dates/events. In January and February, you can look forward to book recommendations from children and staff, VIPERS bookmarks by Miss Cavell and an author spotlight. Miss Williams (Assistant Head and English Lead)
Source: Children and young people who usually get less than the recommended 9 hours sleep on a school night are more likely to feel that worries get in the way of school work (32% vs 22%), according to a survey of over 1100 1011 year-olds and 13-15 year-olds, carried out by Place2Be in 2019.
Book reminder Reading scheme books
Accelerated Reader
Reading journals
Children accessing our Letters and Sounds phonics programme are given two books (each Friday) matched closely to the sounds that they have accessed/are currently learning. These books are collected in the following Friday and quarantined before becoming available for reissuing. Those children less reliant on decoding and sound-talking have access to the Accelerated Reader programme. They undertake a quiz to identify their Zone of Proximal Development and can then choose a suitable book from this level. Once the book has been read, children can complete an online quiz to check their understanding. When pupils are ready to change their book, they are able to do so. These are checked once a week by a member of staff in your child’s bubble. Where a child has read 5 times, they are issued with 5 Dojo points to celebrate this achievement.
School library As well as the books available in classrooms, children have an opportunity to visit the school library each week. Owl Monday Kingfisher Tuesday Skylark Wednesday Robin Thursday Book return and quarantine Friday
Take over our next reading newsletter‌ Be featured in our 2021 January/February edition! What book would you recommend to your classmates? It could be fiction, non-fiction or poetry. What is so brilliant about it? Ask an adult to send a book review (either hand written or typed) along with the title and author of your book, to Miss Williams at williams.c@low.mmat.co.uk You could even include a photograph, too!
Bedtime stories Parents are reading to children less often (nationally) Reading to children is in decline. 2018 data reveals a year-on-year decline in reading to 0-2s and 5-10s. There was a small uplift with 11-13s.
Children are never too old for a bedtime story! Find a high quality book with your child and try to build it into a bedtime routine. Having that quiet time together to share a story is magical and a lovely, calm way to end the day. Plus, you also get to enjoy the story too! Before long, your child will soon be hooked on books (if they’re not already) and will be absorbing a wealth of rich vocabulary that they, in turn, can try using in their own writing.
Books to support and promote children’s mental health and wellbeing‌
The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11), but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers. The books are available to borrow from your local library. Selected titles are also available to borrow as ebooks and audiobooks. Visit your local library website to find out how to join the library and access books electronically. This book explores practical ways we can keep our minds in good shape as well as our bodies. By talking about positive selfimage, emotional intelligence, relationships, and mindfulness, this book will help children develop healthy habits and good coping strategies from the start.
What's Going on Inside my Head? By Molly Potter This picture book story explores feelings of anger in a lighthearted way using everyday situations that children might be familiar with. This book shows different reasons why young people might become angry, illustrates scenarios of them behaving angrily, and gives advice on how to calm anger in yourself and to be able to help other people. Feeling Angry! By Katie Douglass Amy May knows about webs of worries - so many people she meets are caught in them, from her own artist dad to newly arrived refugee Rima and her family. By being brave enough to open up her worry box, Amy May helps all those around her find a way forward.
Worry Angels By Sita Brahmachari
Manchester Reading Map The map, aimed at children aged 8-11, encourages children to read books from different lines by a wide variety of authors. It is the latest initiative from Read Manchester to promote reading across the city. The campaign from Manchester City Council and the National Literacy Trust to promote reading for pleasure has joined forces with Transport for Greater Manchester to encourage children to try different authors and genres of books using the Metrolink map as inspiration. We don’t need to be in Manchester to enjoy great books, though! Download the map: https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/manchester/read-manchester-launches-reading-map-transportgreater-manchester/
Exciting dates, events and competitions‌ November 2020
Blue Peter Book Award – Shortlist announced! Since 2000, the enormously popular and influential Blue Peter Book Awards have been recognising and celebrating the best authors, the most creative illustrators and the greatest reads for children. The Blue Peter Book Awards 2021 celebrates children's books published in the last year in two categories: the Best Story and the Best Book with Facts. https://www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/awards-and-prizes/currentprizes/blue-peter-book-awards
Early December
Royal Mail Letters to Santa Each year, Santa's elves at the Royal Mail can help you get a letter from Santa, if children write to him by early December. https://www.royalmail.com/christmas/letters-to-santa