The Literacy Classroom
Improving, inspiring and supporting
English teaching and learning
Children's Fiction
Reading for Pleasure
"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him." - Maya Angelou
Studies have found that reading for pleasure is more important to a child's educational achievement than their family's wealth or social class.
Tips for Developing a Culture of Reading
Displays in foyers, corridors, head's office and in the grounds
School entrance foyer
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Signs on display about reading - maybe a slogan such as Kids who read succeed, or XYZ Schoolchildren are readers, or quotes about reading
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Notices of reading events - challenges or incentives in-school, visiting authors, book awards
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Photos of children reading, staff reading, other reading role models
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The head's recommended "book of the week"
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Promotion of the public library
School corridors and noticeboards
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Signs pointing to the library, footprints heading in that direction - how many steps to the library?
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Library opening hours, pupils on duty
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Library quiz of the week - come to the library to find the answers and enter a competition
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Pupils' work about books - art, writing inspired by books, reviews
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Information about new books coming to the library, and events coming up
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Quotes about reading, favourite opening lines of books, favourite characters
The head's office
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Signs to show anyone visiting that the head thinks reading is important - quotes, favourite children's books, pupils' work about reading, books for parents about helping children be readers
Outside in the school grounds
Walking outside a school with a reading culture you might see:
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signs pointing to the library, footprints heading in that direction - how many steps to the library?
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a poetry walk around the school.
NUT's guide Reading for Pleasure
Booktrust's Reading for Pleasure: Reading for Life