New Reading Initiative Encourages Book Wormery

September 10 2024

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The written word is celebrated at ESS through a new reading initiative that encourages pupils to reflect on the stories they read through a portfolio of creative tasks; recognised with a certificate at three levels of the pathway.

The English Department loves stories! We firmly believe in the transformative power of the written word so this year we’re recognising the magic of stories and celebrating independent pupil reading through a series of independent reading awards,” says Higher & Advanced Higher English Teacher, Kirsty MacDonald-Russell (below).

Kirsty Macdonald-Russell – Higher & Advanced Higher English Teacher

 

“Pupils in Classes 5 – 9 will have the chance to celebrate their independent reading through our new Reading Pathway Programme. This programme recognises the value of the written word and encourages young people to reflect on the texts they’ve read by choosing from a portfolio of creative tasks. They engage with the programme at their own reading level and their own speed: there’s no set level of challenge or pace to work at.”

At this level, pupils reflect on six books through a portfolio of creative tasks from designing a new cover, to making a quiz, writing a persuasive speech to peers to convince them to read it too, creating a comic strip, penning a letter to one of the characters, describing a film version, designing costume(s) for the main character(s), or alternatively pupils can write five questions for an author interview showing they have read their book; choosing a different task for each book. The next step is the Reading Explorer Challenge and then ‘Reading Pioneer.’

View: Reading Adventurer Booklet (PDF).

This new endeavour is the outcome of collegiate collaboration. Teachers of English from Classes 5 through 12 are working together to ensure there is a synchronised approach which leads pupils’ English progress from the Middle School right to the end of their time at ESS, and this programme forms part of that collaboration.

We are incredibly excited to see what our pupils read. All we’re asking is that every pupil has a book in their desk, and, when they have a spare moment, they choose to go on the adventure which is reading.”

Ms MacDonald-Russell

Pupils reading on campus during lunchbreak.

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