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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.

Woman and child holding book

Reading Recovery, based at UCL Institute of Education’s (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’ events, many of this year’s activities are taking place online. The theme for 2021 is ‘Tell me a story’ 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 ‘The Glasgow Gruffalo’ and she also enjoyed listening to some stories read by children in East Renfrewshire who are benefiting from Reading Recovery. She said: “I 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’t believe that only months before these children had been classed as ‘non-readers’. 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.”

on Twitter

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: “Reading Aloud is a fantastic initiative! Sharing stories is such a powerful way to spark children’s imaginations and support literacy and language development. I’m reading aloud ‘Danny, The Champion of the World’ by Roald Dahl over Facetime with my grandson at the moment. It’s great fun, it’s helping us to stay connected and support his reading skills.”

Reading Recovery National Leaders, Glen Franklin, Dr Sinéad 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 ‘Oral Literacies: When adults read aloud’ shared her daughter’s favourite story, ‘Wild About Books’.

on Twitter

On World Book Day, Professor Gemma Moss, Director of the International Literacy Centre commented on the value of reading aloud. She said: “Reading 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!”

Dr Helen Morris, a Reading Recovery Europe National Leader, explained the motivation for the event: “Listening 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.

“Literacy 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.”

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