Keep it short and find what you enjoy: how to start reading for fun

Are you joining us for our upcoming webinar about the importance of book choice in primary schools? We'll be joined by our Writer in Residence Matt Goodfellow and @debbiethomas.bsky.social from @openuni-rfp.bsky.social for research, practical insights and more 👇 https://bit.ly/4qvcFv8

I’ve never really ‘got’ Where the Wild Things Are

Help discover the next generation of storytellers! Love reading stories? BBC 500 Words is looking for teachers, teaching assistants, SEND staff, and library staff to help read and judge stories written by children aged 5 – 11. 👉 Find out more and sign up here: buff.ly/zQYuq8G

Happy #NationalPoetryDay www.linkedin.com/posts/wandle...

Hooray! Today’s the day! Jump straight to these pages of resources to pick a poem to share with your classes - lots of choices for EY, KS 1,2,3,4 & 5. @poetrydayuk.bsky.social forwardartsfoundation.org/national-poe...

FREE EMC TWILIGHT We can't wait for this free event at our Webber Street base featuring two of our favourite writers. Book your place on our website while tickets are available @darrenchetty.bsky.social @theclpe.bsky.social @literacy-trust.bsky.social

Aged 5-25 and looking for poetry magazines, competitions, or writing groups? Check out our Poetry Opportunities database on Young Poets Network: ypn.poetrysociety.org.uk/poetry-opportunities/

So @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social are offering a 'Beyond the Secret Garden' book pack. 1 BTSG book, 24 discounted children's books & some specially written discussion plans and a voucher for training with @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social and me! More here: www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page...

I'm about to set off on a month-long Reading for Pleasure research journey as part of my Churchill Fellowship! I’m exploring how EdTech, AI and wider initiatives are helping children and young people develop both the skills of reading and a love of reading.

Imagine the Future ... southbankcentre.co.uk/create-learn... #PoetryForChildren #DirigibleBalloon

Do share - The Summer Reading Challenge launches 🚀 today! At your local library! 📚 @jonnybid.bsky.social @whatsfsaid.bsky.social @smithsmm.bsky.social @rcharlesworth.bsky.social

We are so, so grateful to Matthew ❤️

It was great to run the Hackney Half last week, raising money for @booktrust.org.uk (and to get my first sub-2hr half marathon!) 🏃🏻📚

My first ever picture book is out May 1st. A lovely review -and link to order - here: www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page... I'm Going to Make A Friend is illustrated by the amazing Sandhya Prabhat and published by @littletigeruk.bsky.social

We thought we might start a blog series… …and so we shall. If you want to get ahead, just sign up as a site member.

The Reading Comprehension Advocacy Network (RCAN) is a group of researchers, teachers, leaders and members of the education sector committed to ensuring reading comprehension is central to the curriculum and teaching. Find out what we do here: wp.lancs.ac.uk/rcan/

Displaying the covers of some of the fantastic books published each year is a simple way to interest children and get them thinking about their future reading. There's real value in the book talk it enables. There's a link to a folder containing the covers I used on my Padlet: shorturl.at/JHXO2

At Wandle English Hub, we are delighted to be working with @britishlibrary.bsky.social to organise a fully-funded conference on Reading for Pleasure, social justice & opportunity taking place on Friday 4th July. The conference is fully-funded. Tickets and details: bit.ly/TurningPagesChangingFutures

On Tuesday 25th March, @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social and I will be talking about Beyond the Secret Garden at Brixton Library. It’s a free event. Come along!!

📢Exciting news📢 ✨ My new book on disciplinary literacy in primary schools is available for pre-order! 🌟 🔗https://amzn.eu/d/4I9zY4L Special thanks to all everyone who supported the book.

And here's what's in store for the other age categories in the Spark! School Book Awards - so get them in your diaries and submit your pupils' questions!

Looks like a great course for secondary colleagues interested in #ReadingforPleasure

I really enjoyed the first episode of the @mywordsmybook.bsky.social podcast with Joseph Coelho and @laurahallain.bsky.social. It was lovely to hear Joseph reflect on his time as Children’s Laureate, including his Library Marathon and Poetry Prompts @booktrust.org.uk

It was really interesting to join this @openuniversity.bsky.social seminar and hear about @lashaps.bsky.social and Prof. Jessie Ricketts’ work on teaching the skill of reading and fostering reading motivation as children move into secondary school @teresacremin.bsky.social

📚Exciting book post at school! Sitting and reading all of the Spark! Book Award short listed books counts as work, doesn’t it? @sparkbookaward.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social @flyingeyebooks.bsky.social @coralrumble.bsky.social @tompalmerauthor.bsky.social

With keynotes from @benniekara.bsky.social & Jeffrey Boakye, this conference is being hosted by the five Research Schools across London & the South-East. 🤩 Find out more about the conference, browse the workshops on offer & BOOK TICKETS HERE ⬇️ www.unlock-ed.org @theeef.bsky.social

📢LONDON TEACHERS! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! Bookings are now open for our FREE Primary Schools Programme Monday 19 May - Wednesday 18 June! We're providing over 21,000 FREE places at our outreach sites all over London and you can check out our full programme right here www.barneskidslitfest.org/schools/

Hello Bluesky! 👋 We’re World Book Day, the reading for fun charity. We champion the fun of reading, because it seriously improves lives. World Book Day is taking place on 6th March! Head to our website to see how you can get involved. 📚 www.worldbookday.com/2025/01/64074/

Anne’s Reading Matters round ups are so helpful for anyone trying to keep up with the world of children’s literature. Great for English Leads and school librarians. Thank you Anne!

Brilliant evening at the launch of the important Beyond the Secret Garden book written by @darrenchetty.bsky.social and @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social, published by @engmediacentre.bsky.social

Huge thank you to @darrenchetty.bsky.social for leading a brilliant webinar for the Wandle English Hub. I highly recommend Darren’s new book, written with @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social and published by @engmediacentre.bsky.social

Yesterday I got the opportunity to speak on the Nurseries & Schools panel at the brilliant #ReadingRights summit organised by @booktrust.bsky.social & @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social It was great to hear @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social @juliangrenier.bsky.social & @cressidacowell.bsky.social speak

Lovely new book shelf at the entrance of Chesterton Primary School, which will profile books from the school’s focus author. Put in place after our OU RfP Schools Programme Conference which focused on social reading environments 📚 @teresacremin.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social

Great to join the @justimaginecentre.bsky.social Poetry Panel event with @bardymum.bsky.social, @jamescarterpoet.bsky.social and Simon Lamb

I’m really looking forward to @darrenchetty.bsky.social leading a webinar for the Wandle English Hub on Monday 27th January Tickets are fully-funded and can be booked here: www.wandleenglishhub.org.uk/training-cpd

I absolutely loved hearing the poets shortlisted for the TS Eliot prize performing some of their work yesterday the Royal Festival Hall

Currently reading! ⬇️ And -yes- what a fab quote from @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social

It was wonderful to work with @teresacremin.bsky.social yesterday to lead the OU Reading for Pleasure Schools Programme conference day at Chesterton Primary School. The day was focussed on building a rich reading culture and we specifically explored Social Reading Environments & Informal Book Talk📚

Schools! We're kicking off 2025 with a bang - our first #BookTrustRepresents virtual event of the year is such a good one! Join us at 11am on 15 January for a fantastic event with @ellemcnicoll.bsky.social - it's completely free! Book your spot: www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/p...

Brilliant to hear @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social profiling the benefits of reading aloud and shared reading, as he guest edits @bbc4.bsky.social’s Today show www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Did you hear Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social guest editing the Today Programme this morning? If you want to find out more about Frank's #ReadingRights campaign and what he's getting up to during his time as #ChildrensLaureate, head this way👇 bit.ly/4goxoLH

Lit in Colour: research, engagement & impact to date (21 Jan 2025, 16:45 – 17:30) Join this FREE online session for a deep dive into the Lit in Colour 2021 & 2024 research, look at other free resources, & discussion. #TeamEnglish #EduSky #Teaching #Resources englishassociation.ac.uk/lit-in-colou...

The best book post! 📚 I can’t wait to read this important book from @darrenchetty.bsky.social & @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social “If you truly believe in the power of chn’s lit & the right of every child to feel equal & valued in society, please read every single word” - @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social

Thank you for this fab poster for our school library! @whatsfsaid.bsky.social @davemckean.bsky.social

It was brilliant to meet @cmckinnellmp.bsky.social, Minister for School Standards, and @marshadecordova.bsky.social last week to speak about the work we do at the Wandle English Hub and Chesterton Primary School to support Reading for Pleasure and early reading in schools in our region.

If you’re a teacher &thinking about what the findings of the important #ReflectingRealities research mean for you, sign up to our fully-funded Wandle English Hub webinar. The brilliant Farrah Serroukh will explore the key findings &implications for practice www.wandleenglishhub.org.uk/training-cpd

I’m leading a webinar tomorrow afternoon about the power of reading aloud for @greenshawrs.bsky.social Free tickets can be booked here: researchschool.org.uk/greenshaw/ev...

Reading aloud every day, re-telling texts, involving parents , building a library of class favourites - yes yes yes and yes! #nooutsiders