Reading for Pleasure Teacher Training Resources that are Enthralling, Effective… and Free

Your school is busy, budgets stretched, and demands high. But reading and writing for pleasure is not an "extra" - it's the foundation for developing confident, curious, and lifelong learners in all subjects (source: Institute of Education, 2013).

With the addition of Reading for Pleasure to the curriculum in 2016 came an explosion of resources - some free, others from existing reading scheme publishers. But look closely at many of these, and you may be forgiven for thinking they're just comprehension exercises by another name.

You'd be right. And while comprehension is important, it isn't necessarily the route to recreational reading.

It absolutely works the other way around, though! Spark the sheer joy of story - of hearing, sharing, and writing stories - and comprehension follows naturally. Even motivation for phonics can grow.

We are experts in raising recreational reading among young people because of the investment we've put into this area. As a result, our resources are not free - but that doesn't mean you have to pay for them.

We are a preferred supplier for English Hub, meaning you can approach them to request our teacher training, and even some of our in-school workshops, with their additional funding.

And if you'd like to sample the effectiveness of our methods, you can now do so free of charge courtesy of BookTrust.

Read on for more details…!

________________________________________

A Complete Online Course in Engaging Storytelling

Designed as a resource for primary teaching assistants, this course puts you in the experienced hands of our storyteller Chip Colquhoun, one of the world's leading experts in how to nurture reading for pleasure and use storytelling as a teaching tool (his work with European Lifelong Learning prompted a shift in Talk For Writing's approach, and did you see our newsletter last year in which he discussed his work with the National Literacy Trust's patron, HM Queen Camilla?).

By following Chip's guidance, you'll recognise what makes a story truly engaging, and discover how to incorporate those features into your own practice - for example, by making the reading session more of a dialogue, building in choice, and adapting provision for all children.

Click here to begin this course on BookTrust's website now!

________________________________________

Don't Have Time for a Course? Grasp the Basics Instantly

Chip's article for the BookTrust blog focuses on the insight that reading aloud well is not about showmanship. It guides you to draw out the magic that lies in recognising your learners' engagement in all its various forms - doodling while listening, closing their eyes, commenting to one another, etc - encouraging you to trust in the story rather than worry about your reading technique.

Read the article on BookTrust

________________________________________

Get the Best For Your Learners Now

The truth is that, if you want to make a lasting impact for your learners' literacy, the best resources are a little more costly.

But only a little more: £24.99.

For that price, you can access an entire lesson scheme, including teacher training materials, as commissioned by the Department for Education. It's called All the Better to Read You With, features illustrations from Korky Paul and a foreword by Prof Teresa Cremin, and contains virtually everything you need - stories to read, tips for enthralling your learners with your reading, and lessons that have been proven to raise enthusiasm for reading among even the most resistant readers.

Find it in all good bookshops.

________________________________________

Go Even Further

If your school would like full access to our training in reading and writing for pleasure (for both learners and teachers), we warmly invite you to contact us directly via Plan My School Trip.

But do try asking your English Hub first. Then you could be getting the best training and tools for little if any outlay from your school.

________________________________________

Let's Make It Happen

In summary...

• Enjoy the free course from BookTrust and/or read Chip's article
• Consider how Immersive Experiences can help you take the next step in making reading for pleasure an embedded, dynamic, and sustainable part of your school culture.

• Contact your local English Hub to request our training, or come to us for a discussion directly via Plan My School Trip