The Reading Groups for Everyone group has a survey to find out the books that people love talking about because they divide opinion. What’s your reading group’s favourite “marmite” read? Fill in the survey by the 25th May for the chance to have your choice included in the final list.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FQ3NNQZ

Glasgow University has a website with resources for parents and teachers working with children who excel in literacy and numeracy, including those with dyslexia. It’s worth having a look if you’re looking for ideas on how to challenge able learners. http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/education/ablepupils/resources/

The National Literacy Trust have teamed up with Boots the opticians to create a fundraising idea to help children with little to no access to books. All you have to do is host a Tales and Teapots party, where people bring along their favourite book to talk about and enjoy some afternoon tea, giving a donation which you then send on to the NLT so they can help others. To find out more and to sign up for a party pack, go to http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/support/fundraising_and_events/tales-and-teapots

On Wednesday I was lucky enough to attend a seminar with Sue Palmer on the foundations of literacy, at which she emphasised the vital nature of developing early talking skills. Attached is a poster that can be printed onto A3 and displayed in nurseries, schools, libraries etc which contains ten tips for developing talk. I’ve also saved it in the parents and staff sections of the website.Top tips for developing talk

This Friday, Puffin Live are celebrating Terry Pratchett day in celebration of the weird and wonderful worlds that have encouraged so many older primary and secondary pupils to read. Puffin Live have a show about Tiffany Aching and the wee free men hosted by CBBC’s Ed Petrie and they also have free teaching resources designed for P6/7 to encoourage pupils to create their own magical fantasy lands at this link: http://puffinvirtuallylive.co.uk/WFMTeacher%20Resources_final.pdf

Standard Life, the Scottish Book Trust and Education Scotland have collaborated to produce a series of short stories for use in primary schools, aimed at helping young people changing the way they think about money.

Follow this link for the stories and associated resources: https://education.gov.scot/improvement/Pages/fined1-on-the-money.aspx?dm_t=0,0,0,0,0

World Book Day 2017 will take place on the 23rd April and there are a number of ways you can get involved. Why not help us Celebrate World Book Night with Sherlock Holmes and a host of fictional heroes in Station Square, Oban on Sunday 23^rd April 2017 from 4.00 – 6.00pm. Look out for our tent in and pick up your free book.

Welcome to Argyll and Bute’s literacy webpage. By following the links above you can navigate to the section of the page wich is most helpful for you, whether you’re a member of staff, a learner of any ability or age or a parent or carer. We will be gathering resources and populating the website over the next few months but if there’s something literacy related you’d like to see on here then please make a suggestion.