Reading Resources for JCSP Students

By Sarah Ball, Librarian Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola Falcarragh, Co. Donegal

Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola

View from the school playing fields

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PCC Library

As part of the JCSP Demonstration Library Project, a library was set up in PCC in the summer of 2002.

There are now 30 JCSP libraries, each staffed by a professional librarian.

PCC Library currently has 6,873 items and is expanding rapidly.

Today I will look at:

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How to select reading material for JCSP students

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What types of reading resources are available

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Where to source the material

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Some suggestions for using your resources

Selecting Reading Material •Take time to select books and other materials •Survey your students – ask them what subjects they are interested in •If you are setting up a reading corner you could actively engage the students in choosing books – trip to local book shop, asking other students what they would like, looking at book suppliers catalogues and websites.

•Beware of donations! Students will not want to read old, dirty or tatty books.

•Important to select both fiction and non-fiction. The most popular books in PCC library are non-fiction.

•Boys prefer fact based books

•Don’t be too precious about so called “good books” or “classic literature” •JCSP students will generally have lower reading ages. Look at Hi – Lo books (High interest, low reading age) •Consider buying series of titles •Consider a variety of materials •Graphic novels •Readalong books •Audio books •Literacy/numeracy games •Magazines and newspapers

Purchasing Books

• • • • • • No VAT on books in Ireland Look for a discount – between 10% and 20% Free delivery Be sure to order laminate covers. Usually available between 50c and €1 per book Supply as much information as possible e.g. ISBN, title, author etc.

Use catalogues and order forms

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Purchasing Books

Keep track of orders online.

Books may take some time to be delivered as your supplier may have to source them from companies in the UK or the title may be out of stock. It usually takes anything between 2 weeks and 2 months for books to arrive.

Let your students unpack boxes and stamp or label books. It can create interest and excitement.

Shop around – great difference in prices

Some 3 rd year JCSP students unpacking and stamping new books

Hi – Lo publications

• Barrington Stoke www.barringtonstoke.co.uk

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GO! for 11+ reading age 6 Entry level fiction for struggling secondary students Solos Fiction for 10-14s reading age 6.5

4u2read Fiction for 9-12s reading age 7 gr8reads Fiction for 12-16+ reading age 7 Fiction for 9-12s reading age 8 Fiction for 12+ reading age 8 Reality Check Non-fiction for 10-14s reading age 8 Fiction for 14+ Reading age 8

Many Barrington Stokes titles are dyslexia friendly with clear fonts and off-white paper.

We use their titles for individual reading and also for group reading (class sets)

Examples of downloadable resources from the Barrington Stoke website

Evans Publishing Group

• www.evansbooks.co.uk

Shades • • Sharp Shades Graphic Novels • Go for it!

Ransom Publishing

www.ransom.co.uk

Many titles come with teachers books containing lesson plans and photocopiable worksheets Goal Boffin Boy Cutting Edge (Interest Age Teens & Young Adults | Reading Age 12+) Trail Blazers (Interest Age 8 - 14 years | Reading Age 6 - 7 years)

Robinswood Press

www.robinswoodpress.com

High Interest Series Comes with Teachers Handbook

Rising Stars

www.risingstars-uk.com

The Jags - series available in paired reading packs.

Very popular with first year boys

Badger Publishing www.badger-publishing.co.uk

First Flight 1 & 2 20 titles Hi-lo fiction and non-fiction books spot-on for boys. Reading age 6 6.5, interest age 7-14.

Full Flight 1-3 30 titles Hi-lo fiction and non-fiction books spot-on for boys. Reading age 7.5 8, interest age 8-12.

Dark Flight 10 titles Hi-lo fiction books with a darker edge. Reading age 6.5-7, interest age 10-14.

Rex Jones 8 titles Accessible superhero stories.

Reading age 6.5-7, interest age 10-14.

Audio Books and Readalong

For quiet reading and to encourage pure enjoyment of being immersed in a story, audio books are invaluable

A few ideas for using your books...

• • • • • • Reading aloud individually or as part of a group Quiet reading Book reviews (fiction and non-fiction) – Written, oral, video Reading Journal Reading Initiatives (reading challenge, millionaire etc.) Using the book as the basis for creative writing

Sample written activities for students to use with a class set.

•Interview a character from your book. Write at least ten questions that will give the character the opportunity to discuss his/her thoughts and feelings about his/her role in the story. However you choose to present your interview is up to you. •Imagine that you are the author of the book you have just read. Suddenly the book becomes a best seller. Write a letter to a movie producer trying to get that person interested in making your book into a movie. Explain why the story, characters, conflicts, etc., would make a good film. Suggest a filming location and the actors to play the various roles.

•Write a feature article (with a headline) that tells the story of the book as it might be found on the front page of a newspaper in the town where the story takes place. •Be a TV or radio reporter, and give a report of a scene from the book as if it is happening "live". •Write a letter to a character in the book. •Write a different ending for your story. •Write a letter to a character in the book.

•Make a list of character traits each person has. •Interview a character. Write at least ten questions that will give the character the opportunity to discuss his/her thoughts and feelings about his/her role in the story. However you choose to present your interview is up to you. •Pretend that you are going to join the characters in the story. What things will you need to pack? Think carefully, for you will be there for a week, and there is no going back home to get something! •Write a multiple choice quiz of the book with at least ten questions. •Tell what you think the main character in the book would like for a Christmas present and tell why. •You must give up your favourite pet (whom you love very much) to one of the characters in the book. Which character would you choose? Why? •Write an ad for a dating service for one of the characters.

•Write the plot for a sequel to this book.

Suppliers

The Book Nest Unit 9A Cleveragh Business Centre Sligo, Ireland Tel: +353-71-9148263 Fax: +353-71-9148262 www.booknest.ie

Contact person: Mr. Frank Kelly Imprint Educational Books / Evans Publishing Ltd.

28 Sandhill Gardens, Belfast, BT5 6FF Mobile (IRL): 086 8719249 Mobile (UK): 07809 120842 www.evansbooks.co.uk

Contact person: David McGinty

International Education Services www.iesltd.ie

Weston Industrial Estate, Salmon Leap, Leixlip, Co. Kildare Telephone - (01) 621 0310 Very good website. Category for reluctant readers Lists all recent awards in children's literature Surgisales www.staeducational.ie

S.T.A. Ltd., 252 Harold’s Cross Rd., Dublin 6w.

Phone (01) 4966688 Fax (01) 4966899 Comprehensive range of literacy and numeracy resources. Also special needs.

Carroll Education Ltd.

www.carrolleducation.ie

Caroline Meaney

Sales Representative Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon & Donegal (087) 6685523 [email protected]

Books, literacy and numeracy software and support materials. Particularly good for games and puzzles. Also maths and science equipment.

Comics and Collectables Courtyard Shopping Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.

(048) 71369787 [email protected]

Suppliers of graphic novels, comics and related materials

Some useful websites

www.lovereading4kids.co.uk

Recommendations of books for all ages and for reluctant/struggling readers Will e-mail with latest news www.amazon.co.uk

Invaluable website. Useful for checking ISBNs and publisher information.

www.puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com

Useful for making word searches and other puzzles

Sarah Ball, JCSP Demonstration Library, Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal.

www.pccfalcarragh.ie

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: (074) 9180580