The Aldwickbury Reading Club

Tuesday 18th January 2011

The Reading Club

In the summer term of 2010 a particularly dedicated Year 8 boy regularly excused himself from lunch early to read with a Year 5 boy. The latter’s reading skills improved and in September 2010 the scheme was extended to include several Year 5 and 6 boys.

 

We now have a good number of Year 8 volunteers. One of our English teachers guides the pairings as well as the younger boys’ choice of books. Each pair has been given guidelines for recording reading and the questions to ask. The requirement is to read twice per week. The Year 8 boys are beginning to take responsibility not only for the younger boys’ progress with reading but also for guiding expression, pace and the development of vocabulary and meaning.

 

The ‘Reading Club’- was given its name by a Year 5 boy. Members shake hands at the beginning to welcome and also at the end to thank. There is a definite lunchtime ‘buzz’ in the library on Reading Club days.

 

Year 8 boys comment as follows: they feel they are ‘making a proper connection’ and they ‘like the satisfaction of helping someone.’ They ‘enjoy the responsibility.’

 

A Year 6 said, ‘It’s fun. It’s easy. It’s improving my reading a lot by helping me to express the words I say. I take care to notice commas and full stops now.’

 

Sincere thanks to all the Year 8 boys - their assistance is invaluable.