Thursday, February 08, 2018

The Big Idea Comp

Have you got a great idea for a children's story? Enter @thebigideacomp by 23rd February to win the chance of seeing your idea developed into a book – or more – by a well-known author. #TheBigIdeaComp is where the magic of storytelling begins! http://bit.ly/1os8jil 

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EMPATHYLAB: Read stories. Build empathy. Make a better world.

30 BOOKS TO BOOST EMPATHY IN 2018
EMPATHYLAB ANNOUNCES POWERFUL NEW CHILDREN’S COLLECTION
Teachers and parents are increasingly concerned about the potentially empathy-draining effect of social media on children, and new pressures caused by societal divisions and the rise in hate crimes. To combat this, EmpathyLab is harnessing the power of stories to build empathy, inspired by scientific evidence showing that reading can boost real-life empathy skills. EmpathyLab asked publishers to submit their best recently published children’s books with a strong empathy angle. Today they announce the titles selected for a 2018 Read for Empathy Guide.

An expert panel has chosen thirty books to strengthen children’s ability to understand other people’s feelings and perspectives, spark insights into different lives and inspire them to put empathy into action in their communities.
A linked book collection for 4-11 year olds is now available from school and library book suppliers Peters.  This is for parents, teachers and librarians to use in the run-up to Empathy Day on 12 June, and beyond.

The Panel praised the quality of submitted books, choosing 14 picture books, 2 graphic novels, 1 poetry book and 13 novels. They noted the many great books exploring the topical theme of displacement and migration, and the need for empathy to help everyone feel they belong.  They chose several strong tiles which help children understand how others experience and manage their emotions, and others which illuminate the experiences of children facing challenging circumstances, such as deafness, autism or bereavement.

The Panel noticed a big gap in the publisher submissions for poetry, and empathy-boosting books for 7-9 year-olds. Within the young fiction arena the panel chose two short novels: Atinuke’s The No 1 Car Spotter Fights the Factory (illustrator Warwick Johnson Cadwell), and Michaela and Elaine DePrince’s Ballerina Dreams (illustrator Ella Okstad). Joseph Coelho’s poetry in Overheard in a Tower Block makes an important contribution.
The panel members were especially keen to reflect the breadth of realities of our society and ensure the inclusion of quality authors and illustrators from our multi-ethnic community. The submissions received highlighted a shortage of available titles for primary aged children by black and minority ethnic authors and illustrators.  However the collection includes nine titles by writers or illustrators of colour and eleven featuring characters from a mix of ethnic backgrounds.
Nicolette Jones, panel member says: “In a world full of hate-mongering, I believe passionately in this drive to use books to expand children’s empathetic understanding. EmpathyLab’s work gives me hope for the future – it is very much needed”.
EmpathyLab Founder Miranda McKearney OBE says: “It’s time to make far more systematic use of books’ power to tackle society’s empathy deficit.This 2018 Read for Empathy Guide is part of an empathy movement to help us understand each other better. We’re seriously delighted to be working with authors, publishers and Peters to launch it in the run up to Empathy Day on 12 June”.

Ray Dyer, Peters’ Managing Director, says, “It’s been wonderful to see EmpathyLab burst onto the scene, with its timely drive for a more empathetic world. We’re excited to be working together to get empathy-boosting books into
children’s hands” .
The Read for Empathy books
Picture Books
·         Lulu Gets a Cat, Anna McQuinn, illustrator Rosalind Beardshaw, Alanna Books
·         The Parrot and the Merchant, Marjan Vafaian, Tiny Owl 
·         Perfectly Norman, Tom Percival, Bloomsbury Children’s Books
·         Colin and Lee Carrot and Pea, Morag Hood, Two Hoots
·         Can I Join your Club? John Kelly, illustrator Steph Laberis, Little Tiger Press
·         In My Heart: a Book of Feelings, Jo Witek, illustrator Christine Roussey, Abrams Appleseed
·         You’re Safe with Me, Chitra Soundar, illustrator Poonam Mistry, Lantana
·         15 Things Not to Do with a Granny, Margaret McAllister, illustrator Holly Sterling, Frances Lincoln
·         Here I Am, Patti Kim, illustrator Sonia Sanchez, Curious Fox 
·         King of the Sky, Nicola Davies, illustrator Laura Carlin, Walker Books
·         Willy and the Cloud, Anthony Browne, Walker Books
·         Grandad’s Island, Benji Davies,  Simon and Schuster
·         Leo: a Ghost Story, Mac Barnett, illustrator Christian Robinson, Chronicle Books 
·         My Name is Not Refugee, Kate Milner, Barrington Stoke
Novels, graphic novels, poetry
·         The Number 1 Car Spotter Fights the Factory, Atinuke, illustrator Warwick Johnson Cadwell, Walker Books
·         Ballerina Dreams, Michaela and Elaine DePrince, illustrator Ella Okstad, Faber & Faber
·         Me and Mister P, Maria Farrer, illustrator Daniel Rieley, Oxford University Press
·         The Wild Robot, Peter Brown, Piccadilly Press
·         The Road to Ever After, Moira Young, Macmillan Children’s Books
·         Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth, Frank Cottrell Boyce, illustrator Steven Lenton, Macmillan Children’s Books
·         Tender Earth, Sita Brahmachari, Macmillan Children’s Books
·         Sky Dancer, Gill Lewis, Oxford University Press 
·         The Song From Somewhere Else, A.F. Harrold, illustrator Levi Pinfold, Bloomsbury
·         Smart, Kim Slater, Macmillan Children’s Books
·         Overheard in a Tower Block, Joseph Coelho, illustrator Kate Milner, Otter-Barry Books
·         Charlie and Me, Mark Lowery, Piccadilly Press 
·         The Guggenheim Mystery, Robin Stevens, Puffin   
·         Illegal, Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illustrator Giovanni Rigano, Hodder Children’s Books  
·         The Island at the End of Everything, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Chicken House Books
·         El Deafo, Cece Bell, Amulet Books

The Selection Panel Chair: Miranda McKearney OBE, founder of EmpathyLab and The Reading Agency
Farrah Serroukh, Centre for Literacy in Primary Education
Jon Biddle, Moorlands Primary Academy and Patron of Reading
Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times’ Children’s Book Reviewer
Emma O’Donovan, The Booksniffer 
Tricia Adams, CEO School Library Association
Sarah Mears, Essex Libraries and EmpathyLab co-founder 


Empathy Day 2018
Empathy Day is now an annual event. In 2018, it is on 12 June and will have a major focus on using books – and talking about them - as a tool to help people understand each other better.  EmpathyLab is inviting partners to mount author events and workplace activities on 12 June, and to join in a mass crowd-sharing of empathy book-recommendations through a social media #ReadForEmpathy campaign. 
About EmpathyLab
EmpathyLab is a new not-for-profit organisation passionate about the power of stories to build empathy and the power of empathy to make the world a better place. It is developing an empathy, literature and social action programme for 4-11 year olds, and was  founded by Miranda McKearney OBE, who also founded The Reading Agency.  @EmpathyLabUK www.empathylab.uk

For more information contact miranda@empathylab.uk  or fritha@frithalindqvistpr.com

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PRESS RELEASE: Oxford University Press

On 19 March 2018, Headteachers and Literacy Leads are invited to visit Read Write Inc. Model Schools to see teaching in action.

“Before becoming a Read Write Inc. school, I visited a model school and spoke to the Headteacher.  She said she could demonstrate impact within the first year, proving she had made the right decision. When a child walks through the door at Broadford, 
we know they will learn to read - regardless of language status, special need or economic disadvantage.”
Lois Nicholls, Headteacher, Broadford Primary School, a Read Write Inc. Model School,
‘Overall School of the Year’ and ‘Primary School of the Year’ TES Awards 2017

What is a Read Write Inc. model school?

Read Write Inc. Model Schools demonstrate best practice teaching literacy using the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme. There are 61 Model Schools across the UK varying in size and demographic. They have all transformed their literacy teaching by using Read Write Inc. Phonics, a reading and writing programme created by Ruth Miskin. The programme draws upon experience gained in more than 4000 schools over 10 years and is published by Oxford University Press.
 
Headteachers in Model Schools know that reading is the biggest driver of social mobility.
 
“Reading ability at 10 is a predictor of earnings at 42” (Institute of Fiscal Studies).
 
Each model school:
 
·       Teaches Read Write Inc. Phonics five days a week to a consistently high standard
·       Releases their Reading Leaders to demonstrate lessons and coach staff
·       Holds weekly practice sessions to embed effective teaching principles
·       Achieves ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ in Ofsted and excellent outcomes for their children
 
Teachers in Read Write Inc. schools:
 
·      Make reading the core purpose of the curriculum in reception giving children the best opportunity to be ready for the curriculum expectations in Year 1
·       Give children books to read containing the sounds and letters they have been taught
·       Provide daily story time
·       Bring in regular training and updates from external experts to help teach literacy
·       Build in adult-directed learning through play until children are confident playing without adult intervention.
 
Model Schools have high expectations, enthusiasm, commitment and achieve results. All Model Schools are keen for teachers from local schools to watch lessons and see first-hand the impact Read Write Inc. Phonics has on results, behaviour and children’s engagement.
 
 “Our Model Schools demonstrate an inspirational passion and excitement for teaching. Their attention to detail and focus on continuous professional development marks them out and is the key to their success in getting every child to read by 6. No child should get left behind and with the right 
teaching and assessments we can ensure every child is understood and the gaps in their knowledge identified and addressed.”
- Ruth Miskin, Creator of Read Write Inc.
 
Model School results:
 
49 English Model Schools in the Phonics Screening Check averaged:
 
YEAR
National PSC Average
Model School PSC Average
2015
77%
88%
2016
81%
91.5%
2017
81%
97.8%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Testimonials:

“The headteacher at Ark Conway was generous and supportive, allowing us to see the amazing work their staff are doing. This will inspire us in new ways, giving us extra 'oomph' to drive our success forward and support our children to make rapid progress and move into the world of reading books! Lots is happening, these are exciting times.” 
- Gemma Sant, Assistant Headteacher, Riverley School
 
“We love Read Write Inc. Phonics and couldn’t be without it now! Seeing our children transform is so rewarding - they now have a love of reading and writing.”
Debra Simpson, Headteacher, Great Preston Church of England Primary School. 
This school went from ‘Inadequate’ to ‘Good’ in one year and saw their phonics screening check results leap from 33% to 93% in two years
  
Read Write Inc. and closing the ‘Word Gap’

Read Write Inc. schools are talk-a-lot schools where speaking and listening skills are developed through partner work. By developing children’s vocabulary, Read Write Inc. helps to address problems associated with the ‘word gap’, recently highlighted by the government’s Department for Education single departmental plan. The ‘word gap’ has been identified in children from disadvantaged backgrounds, who by the age of 3 are on average almost a full year and a half behind their more affluent peers in language development.
 
The aims in the DoE’s plan include:
 
1.     Closing the word gap. Boosting access to high quality early language and literacy both in the classroom and at home ensuring more disadvantaged children leave school having mastered the basics of literacy that many take for granted
 
2.     Closing the attainment gap. Raising standards for every pupil, supporting teachers early in their career as well as getting more great teachers in areas where there remain significant challenges
 
For more information on the Department for Education single departmental plan:
 
What to expect from the Read Write Inc. Model School Open Day
 
·       An introduction from the Headteacher about their vision for literacy teaching
·       Observing lessons in Key Stage 1 to see best practice Read Write Inc. lessons in action
·       The opportunity to meet other schools in the area
·       A question and answer session about Read Write Inc., challenges and successes
·       Advice on implementation, including space solutions and timetabling
·       See the impact Read Write Inc. is having on children’s progress. Take a look at creative writing examples, observe partner reading, and learn         about the positive impact on behaviour across the school.
 
Watch ‘What is it like to visit a Read Write Inc. Phonics Model School?’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVIk_PLReCE

Model School 19th March open day locations
 
School 
Address
Local Authority
Hendredenny Park Primary School
White Cross Lane, Hendredenny Estate, Caerphilly, CF83 2RL
Caerphilly
Trenance Learning Academy
Trenance Road, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 2LU
Cornwall
Arboretum Primary School
Corden St, Derby, DE23 8GP
Derby
North Walsham Infant School
Manor Road, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9HG
Norfolk
Broadford Primary School
Faringdon Avenue, Romford, RM3 8JS
Romford
Whiteknights Primary School
Fairlawn Green, Reading, RG2 8EP 
Wokingham
Abbey Catholic Primary School
Sutton Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B23 6QL
Birmingham
Ark Blacklands Primary Academy
Osbourne Close, Freshwater Avenue, Hastings, TN34 2HS
East Sussex
Hanwell Fields Community School
Rotary Way, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 1ER
Oxfordshire
Sedgefield Hardwick Primary School
Hawthorn Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3DA
County Durham
 
 
            ·       The event will run for approx. 2hr 30mins, with refreshments provided
·       The event is for Headteachers and Literacy Leads
 
For more information and to book a place at one of the schools teachers can visit this webpage:https://global.oup.com/education/content/primary/series/rwi/model-schools-open-morning/?region=uk
 
For booking enquiries please email oxfordprimaryevents@oup.com  

About Ruth Miskin Training – Get reading. Keep Reading. Change Everything.
 
Our core purpose is to teach every child to read. Readers have access to new words, worlds and ideas. They build an extensive vocabulary and gain knowledge for themselves. Children who read a lot do well at school – whatever their background.
 
Read Write Inc. Phonics grew out of Ruth Miskin’s work as a headteacher in Tower Hamlets. She knew for schools to be successful, every headteacher needed to adopt a consistent whole-school approach to teaching reading, writing and spelling.
 
Over the last 12 years Ruth has built a team of outstanding team who train all staff and provide intensive ongoing, in-school support.
 
Fidelity to the teaching programme, rigorous assessment, tracking and tutoring ensure that schools can guarantee progress for every child.
Ruth Miskin Training now provide a complete literacy training package, ensuring schools meet the challenge of the new national curriculum in leadership, grammar, handwriting and storytime plus the full training necessary to implement the core Read Write Inc. programmes.
 
Training is available either in-school or at central locations for individual staff members, smaller staff groups and members of the public.
Twitter: @RuthMiskinEdu
Facebook: @miskin.educationYoutube: youtube.com/ruthmiskintraining

About Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.
 
OUP is the world's largest university press with the widest global presence. It currently publishes thousands of new publications a year, has offices in around fifty countries, and employs some 6,000 people worldwide.
 
It has become familiar to millions through a diverse publishing programme that includes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, bibles, music, school and college textbooks, children's books, materials for teaching English as a foreign language, business books, dictionaries and reference books, and academic journals.

Further Useful Information

 
Read Write Inc. Phonics Promo film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0ABiTMRIU0
 
 
Oxford University Press Read Write Inc. Model Schools: http://global.oup.com/education/content/primary/series/rwi/rwi-model-schools
 
Ruth Miskin Training on RWI Model Schools: http://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/read-write-inc-model-schools/?edit_off

For more information and to book a place at one of the schools teachers can visit this webpage:https://global.oup.com/education/content/primary/series/rwi/model-schools-open-morning/?region=uk
 
For booking enquiries please email oxfordprimaryevents@oup.com 

For more information, images or to speak to one of the experts 
at OUP Education please contact publicist: 
Laura Smythe m: 07881555530 or email: laurasmythecontact@gmail.com

 
Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP t: 01865 354579
www.oxfordprimary.co.uk/readwriteinc Twitter: @OUPPrimary Facebook: @oxfordeducationuk

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