School Zone

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Information for Schools

Here in the School Zone you can find information to support pupils (or the whole class!) taking part in the Summer Reading and Winter Mini Challenges, with resources to inspire all your students to read for pleasure.

Download our quick guide on encouraging children to read for enjoyment here.

By getting involved in The Reading Agency’s Reading Challenges, your school can:

• Enhance and support its reading initiatives and involve parents and the wider community
• Celebrate the joy of reading whilst ensuring all children are able to read well by the age of 11
• Continue to support pupils’ learning during the holidays
• Help to prevent the trend for children’s reading skills to dip over the holidays
• Ensure your pupils return in the autumn term ready for a great start to the new academic year

Here are some ideas for enjoying the Reading Challenges with your class:

• Create a piece of class artwork! This could be drawing their own characters or taking inspiration from the things that they read.
• Read an extract from your favourite book or poem to your class or on social media. You can find more information about this in our Teachers’ Toolkit. Sign up below to receive the Toolkit for free!
• For the Summer Reading Challenge 2020, we created a Silly Squad School Assembly PowerPoint that you could share with your class or school – this could easily be shared in a virtual class setting or with parents/carers. We will be creating a new Assembly Powerpoint in 2021 with our new theme to be announced in January.
• Share the Silly Squad book collection with your pupils so they can get some ideas of funny books to read.
• Share the Heroes book collection with your class this winter.
  
• Direct children to the Book Sorter here on the Reading Challenge website. Over a million books have been added by children using this website. Children can use the Book Sorter to receive reading recommendations and read book reviews.
• Share this website and the Home Zone with parents and carers and support those who might find it harder to take part or engage with library services.
• Celebrate the achievements of pupils who participate in the Challenge when they return to school in the autumn and winter.
• Parents and supporters of the Summer Reading Challenge and Winter Mini Challenge can find more news and our latest children’s reader development offers on our Facebook page
• The Winter Mini Challenge starts on the 1st December, 2020. More information here.
• The Summer Reading Challenge 2021 will be announced in January and will launch in July 2021.

What next?

The Teachers’ Reading Challenge

Join your own challenge by signing up for the Teachers’ Reading Challenge, running from July 2021 – September 2021. Get rewards, resources and start conversations with other teachers as you discover brilliant children’s books this summer. Even though you missed the 2020 Challenge you can still create an account and access the resources and recommendations from 2020.

Chatterbooks

The Reading Agency also co-ordinates a national network of reading groups for children called Chatterbooks.

Chatterbooks reading groups run throughout the year and are mostly based in local libraries and schools. You can find out more by signing up to our Chatterbooks newsletter.

Find out more about the resources available for you to set up your own children’s reading group here.

Visit our Shop to order a Chatterbooks group leader toolkit and to see our latest reading group offers. You can also find hundreds of free resources including reading group guides and activity packs on our resources page.

If you would like more information about Chatterbooks please get in touch

Reading Well for children

Reading Well for children provides quality-assured information, stories and advice to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Books have been chosen and recommended by leading health professionals and co-produced with children and families.

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.

Find out more about the scheme and access supporting resources here.

Young Adult Reading Recommendations

If you’re a fan of YA lit or are looking for books to engage young people, check out our latest YA reading recommendations, all chosen by young adults.
See their suggestions on the Reading Hack blog.

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