Reviews Jon Biddle, English lead and NEU rep at Moorlands Primary in Norfolk, is passionate about fostering a love of reading for pleasure. Here he shares ideas and tips for schools to try.
We are the champions, my friend CREATING a whole-school reading culture requires widespread support and isn’t something that an English lead (or reading lead) can achieve on their own. With supportive staff and parents, the job feels manageable, but when ownership and responsibility is shared with the children, it becomes a pleasure. Over the past couple of years at Moorlands we’ve introduced a team of reading champions, made up of year 6 pupils whose objective is to help develop Reading for Pleasure across the school. The original idea was for them to promote the annual summer reading challenge, which they did superbly, ensuring that we had our highest ever number of pupils take part. Because they were so passionate about reading and sharing their love for it, we then explored ways for the role to be expanded. Specialist subject: graphic novels We now have a team of eight champions from year 6, and eight who shadow them from year 5. We selected them for a variety of reasons: the majority because they already loved reading; some because they didn’t love reading; some because they were ‘specialists’ in a certain area such as graphic novels; and some because we believed it would really help their self-confidence. There’s a reading champions meeting held every few weeks to discuss ways to promote Reading for Pleasure, which is also open to any interested staff. We’ll sometimes talk about how to roll out ideas that have been successfully introduced in some classes, such as the pupil recommendations shelf and poem of the day. They’re also keen to share their own ideas. Several have been wonderful, such as putting reading blankets out on the field during the summer and becoming reading buddies with children in reception. Some were perhaps slightly less practical (although I love the idea of unlimited bacon rolls for library helpers). They’ve already organised and led reading assemblies this year. In the most 40
Read more ideas from Jon next issue (Left) Reading champions sharing some of their favourite books (Below) Summer reading challenge poster
recent one they put together a very convincing case about why graphic novels should be in every classroom. They have full responsibility for one of our corridor display boards. It changes regularly, and includes information about new books, a list of current class reads, reading recommendations, news about book awards and a ‘help’ area where pupils can ask for suggestions of books they might enjoy. Sharing their love with younger pupils Some of our reading champions visit classes in early years and key stage 1 to read picture books and poems with them. The thought and care that they put into their choices never fails to impress me, and it’s lovely to hear them practising their reading aloud in the classroom at lunchtime before they read to the pupils.
educate Your magazine from the National Education Union (NEU)
The fact that the children have increasing ownership over the direction of reading in their school is something they’re very proud of, and I’m continually surprised by how innovative and creative their ideas are. As well as promoting reading, the idea has created friendships and given certain children a wider sense of purpose in the school. Although I still have an overview of the work they do, it’s exciting to have reached the point where it’s almost self-sustaining. Update: Since writing the first draft of this piece, some of the pupils have suggested creating a display in the library featuring books to help reassure children worried about the war between Russia and Ukraine. I couldn’t be prouder.
@jonnybid
