Today we are pleased to share the progress of the Northern Alliance Emerging Literacy Workstream. The attached 18/19 interim report (December 2018) summarises the progress made in taking a developmental approach to Emerging Literacy. The summary (pgs. 2 – 3) details the key points and recommendations moving forward for the remainder of the academic session.

CLICK HERE: Northern Alliance – RAILLC – Interim Report – December 2018

It was great to read in the Highland Council Winter Edition of the High Points magazine that the Literacy Ambassadors project between Dingwall Academy and Ben Wyvis Primary School picked up the award of ‘Supporting People to Learn and Thrive’ in the Highland Council Quality Awards. This is a brilliant example of peer education, with both junior and senior pupils developing key skills for learning, life and work. A big congratulations to all involved!

Growing up a Reader (GUAR) is an interdisciplinary research project  in collaboration between The University of Edinburgh, the Scottish Book Trust and Edinburgh’s Museum of Childhood. The project aims to understand what it means to be a young reader in the 21^stcentury.  New literacies are shaping children’s and adolescents’ reading experiences; however, there is a lack of research as to what attracts young people to different text types or what it means to be a reader from young people’s perspectives.

As part of this project, the team are inviting people involved in supporting children’s literacy (as well as children and young people themselves) to share their reading experiences by creating their own GUAR profile, which they will share on their website. Their research team have already started so there is a template for you to work from if you are interested in taking part.

All submissions should be 150-230 words, come with a photograph and finish with a little bit about you (e.g., current job). Any submissions are due by the end of January 2019, sent to Dr Sarah McGeown: s.mcgeown@ed.ac.uk.

CLICK HERE for the GUAR resources section with links to supporting a reading culture

Earlier this session we posted about the planned family learning work in the Culloden ASG through the support of High Life Highland libraries.

In January, following being awarded funding from the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), Read to Succeed is now expanding into a Thursday evening, 7pm – 8.30pm. Michelle Gowans, Network Librarian, would like to extend a welcome to Highland teachers as a career long professional learning opportunity.

Thanks to Michelle Gowans, Network Librarian (Culloden) for sharing the following.

The High Life Highland Library Service, through their Network Librarian, Michelle Gowans, and the schools in the Culloden Academy ASG, are going to be working collaboratively this session to develop family learning through the ‘Read to Succeed’ initiative.

With families from P6 – S6, a book group is going to be created. Unlike book groups with young people, the book group is for parents who have children in P6 to S6. There is no preparation required out with the book group; the texts will be explored during the sessions. The books will be teen fiction, exploring issues which young people are interested in. The core aim of the book group is to promote reading within the home environment, hopefully sparking off discussion in the home around the texts which are going to be explored.

Any queries should be directed to: Michelle.Gowans@highlifehighland.com

Into Film have a suite of resources to support schools and communities to develop children’s literacy skills through the medium of film. From classroom resources linked to texts, to developing a film club, check out the Into Film website to see how you can devleop listening and talking, reading and writing through film.

CLICK HERE – Into Film Website

This month’s ’50 Word Fiction’ from the Scottish Book Trust asks you to ‘Write a story about a winter feast.’

The deadline is Tuesday 11th December 2018. The two Young Writers categories are open to all children and young people from 5 to 18, and there is an all age catergory for Gaelic writers.

CLICK HERE – ’50 Word Fiction’

The 2018/2019 First Minister’s Reading Challenge for 2018/2019 is now underway. If you would like to find out more, or to register, check out the link below.

CLICK HERE – FMRC Information

Caol Primary School, Fort William, took place last year. Read about the award winning work that they did during the 2017/2018 through building a positive reading culture and family engagement.

We have previously featured Pobble 365 as a site which is filled with images which can be used as a stimulus for writing.

CLICK HERE Pobble 365

A newer facility which they also have available for schools includes a bank of thousands of examples of children’s writing. The examples can be used as a stimulus when analysing the writer’s craft as part of the reading into writing cycle.

CLICK HERE to create an account and find out more

The Scottish Book Trust’s Song and Rhyme Library is packed full of English and Gaelic songs and rhymes.

CLICK HERE – Song and Rhyme Library

Check out the following two Autumn inspired rhymes from the Scottish Book Trust Song and Rhyme Library.

CLICK HERE – Ten Red Apples