All Hail Summer Reading!

The summer holidays are nearly upon us. However for you bookworms, who are mourning the loss of your school libraries, Norfolk’s book fest is just beginning. This year’s summer reading challenge celebrates the 100th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birthday. The reading challenge this year is aptly named the Big Friendly Read after our favourite giant.

The Summer Reading Challenge is an annual event which sees thousands of children across the country read 6 books from the library. The annual Summer Reading Challenge helps get three quarters of a million children into libraries each year to keep up their reading skills and confidence. The challenge is targeted at all children. Anyone of any ability can join. A wide range of reading material and genres counts towards the challenge such as; fact books, joke books, picture books and audio books.

The challenge is split into three sections. Every time you read two books you receive a reward. Certificates are awarded to children who complete the challenge in an award ceremony. Having done the challenge,  since it first started,  I can definitely vouch for it being a brilliant advocate of children’s literature. Through the challenge you can discover new genres and uncover brilliant books. The summer reading challenge is also a great way to meet new children with similar interests as you. Some libraries also host special events and workshops connected with the summer reading challenge. For example, Fakenham library is hosting author events and a workshop where they will try to create the longest story ever. Some of these events do require booking. For more information visit Norfolk libraries website or visit your local library.

The summer reading challenge is aimed at children aged from 4 to 11. However for older children there is a different challenge focusing on the creativity released by reading. This is the perfect activity for anyone interested in art, drama and creative writing. Anyone from 10-18 can take part in this alternate challenge as well as the summer reading challenge. Imagination is now in its third year. It was designed by young adults. You’ll get a log when you join, with activities to choose from to help you express your ideas about what you have read, or record how a book made you feel. The great thing about the challenge is that you don’t have to worry about not being amazing at a certain skills e.g. art, as there are so many other options: drama, music and photography. You will also get the chance to be part of a collaborative artwork being made in a library near you. You can share your work with other members on the imagination blog. To find out more about the challenges mentioned visit http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/   http://imaginationeast.org.uk/sample-page/ . Alternatively visit your local library to find out more and sign up to challenges.

Please consider taking part in the summer reading challenge and Imagination. The both are great projects which will lead you into the magical and amazing world of reading. If you complete them you will feel a real sense of achievement. This summer head to your local library and delve into an adventure. I like to finish my blog with the inspirational tagline of the Summer Reading Challenge, “Because everything changes when we read.” How right they are!

Happy Holidays Bookworms!!!!

 

 

 

Bookface selfies – library display and quiz

ficturesThank you to all those students and staff who sent in their “Bookface” selfies, for our library display. Please come and take a look – there are some brilliant photos.

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Can you guess the staff member behind the Bookface selfies below? If so, why not have a go at our Bookface competition click here for quiz sheet or simply pick up a copy from the library. Identity as many staff members as you can and return the completed form to Mrs Berry by Friday 1st July. The winner will receive a £10 book token and 3D bookmark.

 

book face 5book face 4Book face 3

 

 

 

 

 

In the mean time we would love to receive some more photos. Please email to your selfies to Mrs Berry (berry_c@litchamschool.net) or come into the library, select a book and take a photo yourself using the library camera.

 

The Teenage Guide to Stress by Nicola Morgan – a review by Amelia Year 8

 

ficturesMental health is a growing issue for young people with 1 in 10 young people having a diagnosable mental health issue. To help combat this public libraries across England are launching a scheme. This will enable young people to borrow a range of books that offer support to young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing. The books have been written by experts. They offer the advice on how to deal with a range of mental illnesses. Eleanor Hebden one of our fantastic Reading Hack volunteers will be reading Faceless (a poem ) by Benjamin Zephaniah at the launch of Shelf Help at Dereham Library on 1st June. We wish her the best of luck! Shelf Help is a brilliant idea and having read one of the books on the programme, I really think they will make a difference. Helping young people to combat a serious issues through reading.

The Teenage Guide To Stress is an interesting and informative book that helps and informs the reader on all areas of stress. It is split into three sections; section one (dealing with what’s and whys of stress), section two (your worries and questions), section three (on how to prevent stress.) The author presents the information in a clear and concise way. Unlike other guides, books and talks on stress, after reading the book you are given actual and more importantly do-able things to combat stress. The book is comforting and reassures the reader they are not alone. Although the author is an adult you feel likes she truly understands you and the world of teenagers with the inclusion of quotes from real teenagers. The book covers a wide range of issues relating to stress including exams, relationships, social media, depression and drugs & alcohol. The book has a wide age range and so younger readers may find they can’t relate to or are disturbed by issues covered.

The cover of The teenage Guide to Stress

The cover of The Teenage Guide to Stress

The book gives an unbiased views on techniques used to combat stress, analysing them in depth. Some readers may find the book disturbing and upsetting,  however having read the book this is unlikely as the author cleverly peppers the text with funny stories that help lighten the text. The book is a reasonably easy read with a good layout, font and size of text. As mentioned above, the book is split into three sections meaning the reader can dip into the book. Useful websites and links are given in the back. All in all a great book. I would recommend to any teenagers suffering from anxiety/stress, also to teenagers who don’t suffer, as it can help you to understand and relate to your friends. This book I feel would be great for parents to help them understand their children and the issues that affect them.

 

Litcham School ‘Reading Hackers’ visit our local primary schools

Over the past week our “Reading Hack” representatives Eleanor Hebden, Amelia Platt and Madeleine Ridout, have been visiting some of our local primary schools, to talk to Year 5/6 pupils about reading at the Secondary phase, to recommend books and to promote a cluster primary book quiz that we shall be holding at the high school on the 14th June.

It was really enjoyable visiting all the different classes and we were made to feel very welcome. It was also a brilliant opportunity to meet some of the pupils who will be joining us in July and we were very interested to hear what their favourite books and authors were. Harry Potter has made a definite comeback!

For our students Eleanor, Maddy and Amelia it was very much a trip down memory lane, as we visited two of their old schools Great Dunham and Harpley Primary. Below are some of their comments on the visits.

087“To advertise the ‘Litcham Cluster Book Quiz’, me and my fellow Kid’s Lit Quiz team mates visited the cluster primary schools. It was really brilliant, as it was great to see such avid young readers. We enjoyed talking about our favourite books and helping to inspire them. It really boosted my confidence. During the presentation we discussed why reading is so important, the advantages it can bring, popular children’s books, the Kids’ Lit Quiz and of course the upcoming cluster book quiz. My favourite part of the presentation was learning the pupil’s favourite books. They were all so enthusiastic! A popular book among the students was ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar – a brilliant choice! The trips were really fun and it was great to experience the different cluster schools and to visit my own primary school again.” Amelia 8B

“Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the local primary schools in our catchment area, to talk to them about books and the sport of reading. We are hosting a book quiz in June for all the local primary schools. We decided to go and visit them to talk to them about the quiz and the benefits of reading in the short and long term. The students were all very kind and considerate and answered all our many questions, once the shyness has worn off. They told us their favourite books and in return we offered some books they might like to read. The students were all very interested in what reading materials Litcham School has to offer and we hope we have encouraged more students to be interested in books.

Being a Year 9 I haven’t been in a primary school for a few years. It was wonderful to see all their hand-designed classroom displays and the fun activities they take part in. I had the pleasure of going back to my roots and it was weird entering my old classroom as a guest rather than a pupil.” Eleanor 9W

 “Our trip to the cluster primaries was exciting, although it was quite nerve wracking standing up in front of a whole class. It was nice visiting my old primary school even though my brother was in the audience! We promoted reading and different books and talked about some quizzes they can or will be able to take part in. We also found out about books they like to read and discovered that many Year 5/6s are very well read.” Madeleine Ridout 9W

 

400th Anniversary Shakespeare Quiz

norfolks-great-big-read-2016_cropTo mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death on April 23rd, we are running a quiz all about Shakespeare in the school library. The quiz has been created and put together by Amelia Platt in Year 8, who is one of our Norfolk Library Reading Hack representatives. Simply pick up a quiz sheet from the library or click on the following link Shakespeare Quiz and print. Please return completed sheets to Mrs Berry by Tuesday 3rd May. The winning entry will receive a £10 book token and 3D book mark of their choice.

Litcham School to Host “Shelf Talk” Blog

ficturesAfter half-term, Litcham school will be hosting the Norfolk Library Service blog for young people called “Shelf Talk” visit:   http://norfolkshelftalk.edublogs.org/shelf-keepers/blog

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On Monday, our Reading Hack representatives Eleanor, Amelia and Madeleine, visited Old Buckenham High School the current host, for the official handover of the blog. It was a great opportunity to meet with other students who share a love of reading and who were able to give us some useful hints and tips on how to manage the blog page. “Shelf Talk” will provide an excellent opportunity for Litcham school students to share book recommendations, reviews and other literary links with other schools and young people in the community. We hope that all students will take the opportunity to blog about the books they are reading, share pieces of creative writing or write film/game reviews. Further information about the blog site will follow next term.

“On Monday we ventured to Old Buckenham High to talk about the Shelf Talk blog that we will be taking over shortly. We discussed the ins and outs of the blog and how it worked with students from the school. They were really enthusiastic about it and gave us lots of tips on how to manage it”. Eleanor 9W

“Over hot drinks and biscuits we discussed our favourite books, interests and ideas for the blog. We shall be launching the blog after half-term and we hope to establish a long lasting link with Old Buckenham High School. We came away with many new ideas for our school library, including lots of Harry Potter ideas. A big thank you to Old Buckenham for hosting us so well”. Amelia 8B

“It was really good fun to see how other schools layout their library and they had an amazing Harry Potter display. Everyone was really down to earth and we came up with some great ideas we plan to use soon.” Maddy 9W