Balancing the books

I have been reading a couple of books on a literacy theme, Lost for Words by John Humphrys (Radio 4's Today programme) and Teaching Your Child to Read and Write by Valerie Douglas. Both are 'interesting' for different reasons.

I found Humphrys' book to be quite a polemic, summed up a quote from the book "I love arguing". He doesn't like linguistic rules being stretched too far, but neither does he like pedants picking up on every last error. It seems to me that the middle ground that is left is both very narrow and very hard to pin down. My confusion is perhaps down to the fact that I usually have to read each example of bad practice several times to determine what the problem might be.

Similarly Teaching Your Child to Read and Write has it's own individual perspective, written by an ex-teacher it is making the case for teachers not having the sole responsibility for a child's literacy skills. I felt that she wanted parents to both take a lead role in the development of children's reading and writing skills, but also to bow to teachers superior knowledge on the same subject. And again I was confused as to how to find the right balance.

To finish on a slightly more positive note, the Teaching Your Child to Read and Write was lent to me, by a reading mentor at Parkwood Academy, not to read cover to cover, but because there are a range of reading tests set out, that are indeed potentially really useful, so thanks Mandy.

Ideas from our Reading Mentors training

Last week we trained a new batch of Volunteer Reading Mentors, they are a great bunch, and I am busily trying to set them up with suitable places in schools to begin reading sessions. Sitting in was Melanie the Librarian from Bradfield School. She was full of great ideas for activities to use in reading partnerships.

• Head to your local shopping centre, eg. Meadowhall and pick up a map and a catalogue shop catalogue, you can then plan a Christmas shopping expedition together


• WOW! 366: Speedy Stories in Just 366 Words


• The Booked Up programme should be running in most school libraries and the books included in the scheme give a good overview of what's hot in the world of children's books, the accessible book options are particularly relevant

Thanks Melanie

Choose your own adventure

I have been covering some reading sessions at Parkwood Academy, and really enjoying it. Because I will only be spending a few hours with the pupils I did not want to embark on a long story. So as well as the usual games and activities we have been reading some 'Choose you own adventure' books.

I remember the Fighting Fantasy Books which I absolutely loved when I was younger, but we have been using the slightly more accessible Full Flight 5 range, which are great too.

The children I have been reading with are really excited by them and when the die horrible deaths are keen to have another try. Great for reading partnerships.

Sheffield Bag-A-Book Day 2009

Last week, during half-term Reading Matters had a stall at the Sheffield Fostering Service Bag-A-Book Day, at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium. It was a great day, lots of fun. It was the first time Reading Matters had been involved so we were not sure how to best particpate. Because of the setting I decided on a set of football word games, but these were put to shame by all the othe activites on offer; paint-a-pot, face-paining, mask-making, urban poetry, street dance, stadium tours, story-telling and lots lots more. So next year we need to think of something really exciting, suggestions very welcome!

Rhyme and Reason Bookshop Books at Hillsborough

Parents' Week 2009

I spotted a poster for Sheffield Parents' Week, and thought I would investigate further. I found some very useful stuff, in regards to Reading Matters and as a parent myself.

Parents' Week started today (19 October) but most of the activities and information will be useful at anytime, for example Reading Matters very own Parents and Carers as Partners.

If you are in Sheffield one of the easiest ways to get involved is the Sheffield Information Link Photo Competition, I suggest pictures of family reading sessions.

[pic credit: swan-t]

Comic Book Guy

A great post on the great blog Trapped by Monsters all about comics got me looking for some free online comics that might just engage a reluctant reader:

• Free Online Comic List - an exhaustive list


• Image Comics - first issue of each range is free


• Marvel - weekly editions for free


• Golden Age Comics - comics from yesteryear

You would need to check the content, some comics especially graphic novels, have quite an adult theme, but I think there is going to be something here for most young people.

Author's websites

In a previous post I asked about books with a local connection and had a couple of really good suggestions, I am definitely going to check out The Voyage of the "Silver Bream" by Theresa Tomlinson and Dear Nobody by Berlie Doherty. Perhaps even better they both have fantastic website's, in particular Theresa Tomlinson's has some fantastic short stories to download, including one called The Sheffield Thwitel, which is great.

This got me looking at other author's websites, starting with those recommended on the Kids' Books UK blog.

So in no particular order are some of my finds:

• Andy Stanton's Mr Gum - too much to list; games, newspaper, and downloadable stuff (check out the The Mr Gum Card Game)
• Jacqueline Wilson - In the picture - create book covers and scenes of yourself in Jacqueline's books
• Julia Donaldson - around the site are some nice activity sheets to download and use, plus audio and book extracts
• Neil Gaiman - As it says on the site 'cool stuff and things' (this is secretly my favourite, I read his online Journal before blogs were invented)
  
• Philip Pullman - Download book extracts, other writing and audio clips
• Darren Shan - read some short stories online, plus lots more
• Benjamin Zephaniah - read poems online
• Alan Gibbons - Poems and Jottings
  
• JK Rowling - Get a Harry Potter fix
• Terry Deary - Extracts and games
• Eion Colfer - Artimis Fowl's Inner Circle Game
  
• Anne Fine - Nice notes for how to use Anne's books in schools
• Malcom Rose - His tips for writers are good

What do you think? Any other suggestions?

New Children's Laureate - born in Sheffield

Just a quick post in the first week back after the summer holidays. Thanks to the Sheffield Libraries webpage, I have just learnt that the new Children's Laureate, Anthony Brown, was born in Sheffield! I always thought his books had a very Yorkshire feel to them, I think it's those tanktops.

Inspired by the Welsh Valleys

Last week I was holidaying in Wales, we had a great week, but lets just say the weather was far from great.

The misty, rain soaked welsh hills really reminded me of Alan Garner's The Owl Service, which I read recently. It has inspired me to check out his other books, especially The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, which I read when was younger and loved.

It also got me thinking about location specific books, a great way to connect with a book. There was a timely article in the Guardian about Beatrix Potter's links with the Lake District. More locally I recommend Malcom Rose's books especially the Traces series set in a futuristic Sheffield and The Kiss of Death about Eyam the Peak District 'plague village'.

I have set up a 'books with a local connection' reading list, it is a bit sparse, and I'd love some new ideas.

Summer Holidays (six and a half weeks!)

I have just come to the end of my first academic year with Reading Matters, and I'd love to say my head is spinning with all the exciting projects I have been involved with, but I am afraid my focus is purely on the six and a half weeks of summer holiday ahead.

My partner, Rhian, has stretched out her maternity leave, so we have the whole time off together with 10 month old Rose (who as you can see is shaping up into a keen reader herself), what a treat.
I'll be keeping an eye on things across the summer, check out my News from across the web, and I look forward to catching up with you next term.