Close
Children and adults share their favourite stories as part of Reading Recovery Read Aloud
17 March 2021
As part of the 2021 Reading Recovery Read Aloud in England, Scotland, Ireland and Malta, adults are sharing their favourite stories with children throughout March.
Reading Recovery, based at 香港六合彩中特网 Institute of Education鈥檚 (IOE) International Literacy Centre, is a school-based literacy programme for the lowest achieving children aged five to six. The Reading Recovery Read Aloud events increase awareness of children who struggle to read and ensure they get the attention they need.
Unlike previous years鈥� events, many of this year鈥檚 activities are taking place online. The theme for 2021 is 鈥楾ell me a story鈥� and special guests including author Alan Durant, presenter Carol Smillie, and actor Elaine C. Smith have been reading to children and talking about their love of stories.
Elaine C Smith shared her book 鈥楾he Glasgow Gruffalo鈥� and she also enjoyed listening to some stories read by children in East Renfrewshire who are benefiting from Reading Recovery. She said:聽鈥淚 was absolutely astounded to see the progression of the children in the Reading Recovery programme. As they sat reading to me, sounding like any other 5- or 6-year-old reading, I couldn鈥檛 believe that only months before these children had been classed as 鈥榥on-readers鈥�. Reading Recovery is a vital tool to help address the inequalities that a lack of literacy, and particularly reading, are to too many children and their families.鈥�
The month of Read Aloud events includes opportunities for children to enjoy responding to stories and encourages children who are part of the Reading Recovery programme to read to others. Reading challenges have been set each week to encourage children to read to family, teachers and friends at school and even to their pets and teddies.
A new group of stories is being released each week in March. Along with guest authors, actors and presenters, the IOE has also supported the event. Professor Lynn Ang, Head of the Department of Learning and Leadership read a favourite story called Liang and the Magic Paintbrush.
Professor Sue Rogers, Interim Director of the IOE, also reinforced the importance of reading aloud with children. She explained:聽鈥淩eading Aloud is a fantastic initiative! Sharing stories is such a powerful way to spark children鈥檚 imaginations and support literacy and language development. I鈥檓 reading aloud 鈥楧anny, The Champion of the World鈥� by Roald Dahl over Facetime with my grandson at the moment. It鈥檚 great fun, it鈥檚 helping us to stay connected and support his reading skills.鈥�
Reading Recovery National Leaders, Glen Franklin, Dr Sin茅ad Harmey, Dr Sue Bodman and Dr Helen Morris, have all recorded either a favourite story or a story they have written themselves. Dr Sam Duncan, Co-director of the International Literacy Centre and author of 鈥極ral Literacies: When adults read aloud鈥� shared her daughter鈥檚 favourite story, 鈥榃ild About Books鈥�.
On World Book Day, Professor Gemma Moss, Director of the International Literacy Centre commented on the value of reading aloud. She said: 鈥淩eading is a great escape - into other worlds and away from the troubles of today. In lockdown, I've discovered new authors and new titles as well as revisiting books that are old friends. Think what we could have done for children out of school, if we had flooded homes with books for parents to read to children, and for children to read for themselves? How much catching up they would have already done!鈥�
Dr Helen Morris, a Reading Recovery Europe National Leader, explained the motivation for the event: 鈥淟istening to stories plays an important role in early reading and language development. Shared story time teaches new things about people and about the world, introduces new ideas and language, fires up the imagination and most of all, creates a sense of closeness and well-being.
鈥淟iteracy is essential because it opens doors, breaks down barriers and reduces the chances of a lifetime of poverty. All children should receive the support they need to become effective, efficient and enthusiastic readers and writers and Reading Recovery aims to do just that.鈥�