{"id":2300,"date":"2024-01-18T13:12:22","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T12:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/?p=2300"},"modified":"2024-02-13T16:04:22","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T15:04:22","slug":"antonine-ps-and-their-reading-schools-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/2024\/01\/18\/antonine-ps-and-their-reading-schools-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Antonine PS and their Reading Schools Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-2304 \" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125705\/Chn-in-library.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"279\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399\"><strong>Setting off on our journey<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Antonine Primary School in Falkirk hit the ground running with their Reading Schools journey.\u00a0 They had a clear idea of their reading culture and opportunities to develop. Prioritising reading and writing was identified through their school improvement planning, so there was a common focus to drive their activities.<\/p>\n<p>After undertaking\u00a0reading attitudes studies\u00a0with both learners and staff, Antonine Primary School introduced a Reading Leadership Group with Primary 7 Pupils, teaching staff, the Deputy Head teacher, and a librarian to promote reading for pleasure across the whole school.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>&#8216;Being a mini librarian has helped me get better at my alphabet. I loved making the shelf labels to help everyone find books.&#8217;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399\"><strong>Reading for Pleasure: The Reading Forest<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The leadership group\u2019s first task was to design and develop a Reading Forest: environment and mind-set to encourage and support reading for enjoyment, fostering a love of books and elevating their learners&#8217; experience. The Reading Forest involved:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Woodland-themed, leafy and tranquil reading areas with forest sounds to evoke the sense of being outdoors<\/li>\n<li>TREE (Together Reading Excites Everyone) time<\/li>\n<li>An outdoor library<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Having the Reading Forest as a core focus allowed learners to play an active part in planning and implementation. It also raised the profile of reading for pleasure through whole-school investment.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>&#8216;I like our new library, I can borrow lots of different books.\u00a0 I like all the books about insects and small animals.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2305 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125707\/Library-visit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"429\" height=\"429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125707\/Library-visit.jpg 504w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125707\/Library-visit-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125707\/Library-visit-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 429px) 100vw, 429px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The leadership group were involved in many administrative tasks throughout this process, such as indexing library stock and creating resources.<\/p>\n<p>Since receiving silver Reading Schools accreditation, Antonine Primary have developed two outdoor reading spaces to provide learners with the opportunity of reading for pleasure during school breaks.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399\"><strong>Impact on staff<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Antonine\u2019s Reading Schools experience was incredibly rewarding for staff. Opportunities arose for them to receive CPD training and become actively involved in the Forth Valley Regional Improvement Collaborative literacy group.<\/p>\n<p>The Reading Forest encouraged free reading time in the classroom and encouraged staff to read too, modelling reading behaviours and supporting learners to find their next great read.\u00a0 Every week, all learners across the school were invited to read for pleasure through a whole school initiative TREE (Together Reading Excites Everyone), where rainforest music is played through the school tannoy. When they hear this music, all learners pick up their chosen book and enjoy some quiet reading time.\u00a0 Staff also plan for reading aloud to their class twice per week through Forest Rangers.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2312 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/19164029\/Starbooks-Staffroom-Display-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"247\" height=\"329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/19164029\/Starbooks-Staffroom-Display-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/19164029\/Starbooks-Staffroom-Display-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/19164029\/Starbooks-Staffroom-Display.jpg 945w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>&#8216;The children are really enjoying seeing me read during TREE and will often ask what the book is.&#8217;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>&#8216;My class are constantly checking me for updating my door sign to make sure I have added my new book to this.&#8217;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Opportunities were created for more conversations around books using resources like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.readingschools.scot\/resources\/how-to-play-book-jenga\">Book Jenga<\/a>, monthly reading polls, book discovery QR code hunts and building scenes in shoe boxes. This allowed teachers to understand learners&#8217; interests better and find enjoyable and sometimes challenging texts.<\/p>\n<p>Staff also increased their knowledge of contemporary children\u2019s literature by using Scottish Book Trust resources and engaging with programmes such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishbooktrust.com\/learning-and-resources\/authors-live\">Authors Live<\/a>. Activities and resources were actively shared among staff, creating a positive culture for professional development.\u00a0 We now also have a Star Books display in the staffroom, displaying termly newsletters and suggested contemporary literature for teaching staff to use with the class.\u00a0 We liaise closely with our local librarian to update this termly.\u00a0 Similarly, all classes across the school have a Reading Spine box informed by Talk for Writing.\u00a0 This provides each class teacher with a range of quality literature to explore with their class throughout the session.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2307 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125710\/Supporting-families.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"378\" height=\"378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125710\/Supporting-families.jpg 432w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125710\/Supporting-families-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125710\/Supporting-families-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 378px) 100vw, 378px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399\"><strong>Supporting families<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>By surveying families and learning about their reading habits, Antonine developed a range of opportunities to meet families\u2019 needs, from building networks with the local library service to launching home reading challenges. The gap between home and school was closed, with families engaging in community book hunts and activities on social media, building on rich foundations and helping to foster a love of reading at home as well as at school.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>&#8216;It allows us to have some nice quiet family time together. It feels like we are all going off on an adventure together.&#8217;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<strong><em>[I enjoy] hearing my child&#8217;s reaction to stories \u2013 hearing my child&#8217;s progress in their own reading \u2013 the opportunity to spend quality time with my child.&#8217;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In working towards Gold Accreditation this session, both the Staff Improvement Group and School Library group are taking reading for pleasure into the local community with 3 new initiatives:\u00a0 Read While you Wait, Read Enroute and a Community exchange library.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2306 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125708\/Read-while-wait.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"370\" height=\"609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125708\/Read-while-wait.jpg 340w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125708\/Read-while-wait-182x300.jpg 182w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399\"><strong>Wider impact<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Reading Schools helped Antonine Primary cement reading activities and a framework to monitor their progress and success. Termly reading challenges became mainstreamed and linked to the Reading Forest, organising the schools\u2019 reading activities under one framework.<\/p>\n<p>Creating an evaluated driver diagram helped build momentum behind the fantastic work already undertaken while also identifying areas for improvement.\u00a0 This continues to be an approach we are currently using in aiming towards Gold Reading Schools accreditation.<\/p>\n<p>The programme provided a coherent structure and clear progressive route where all literacy activities would be celebrated and documented, knowing that they would contribute to the school\u2019s wider aims and priorities.\u00a0 Reading Ambassadors are celebrated weekly at whole school assemblies. What Reading Looks Like at Antonine, a reading policy, has been developed to provide all staff with an overview of all reading for pleasure initiatives that are now embedded across Antonine Primary School.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Setting off on our journey Antonine Primary School in Falkirk hit the ground running with their Reading Schools journey.\u00a0 They had a clear idea of their reading culture and opportunities to develop. Prioritising reading and writing was identified through their school improvement planning, so there was a common focus to drive their activities. After undertaking\u00a0reading &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2150,"featured_media":2304,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,8957,8951,8953,8956,8954],"tags":[3718,4614,3716,4088,8893,116,4089],"class_list":["post-2300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-literacy-skills","category-primary-literacy","category-reading","category-talking","category-writing","tag-active-reading","tag-closing-the-gap","tag-good-practice","tag-library","tag-uncategorized","tag-reading","tag-reading-for-enjoyment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/public\/LiteracyStrategy\/uploads\/sites\/1948\/2024\/01\/18125705\/Chn-in-library.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2150"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2300"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2314,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2300\/revisions\/2314"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/fa\/LiteracyStrategy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}