The National Literacy Trust is launching a London-wide creative literacy project for schools which runs alongside the charity’s Books about Town campaign: a public art trail of benches shaped and illustrated as well-known book titles which is set to hit the streets of London this summer. Schools can now get involved in this exciting campaign, thanks to funding from the London School Excellence Fund.
With the new curriculum coming in from September, the National Literacy Trust’s Books about Town for Schools combines CPD training for Key Stage 2 and 3 teachers on teaching whole texts with the opportunity for each school to bring reading to life through designing their very own BookBench.
Books about Town for Schools links to the charity’s wider Books about Town campaign in collaboration with Wild in Art, which brings a unique opportunity for Londoners and visitors to explore the capital’s literary connections, to enjoy art from some of the country’s top artists and to experience the joy of reading for pleasure. From July, visitors will have the chance to discover 50 BookBenches by following literary trails around London. The texts depicted on the book-shaped benches can be studied in classrooms across London, with pupils being able to then design and decorate their own mini BookBench for their school.
For a contribution of £350, schools will receive:
Two half-day training sessions for one teacher on teaching whole texts and motivating children to read for pleasure
Resources for classroom delivery, top-up training and whole school embedding
A BookBench for pupils to decorate and display as part of the project
Networking opportunities with authors and online tips on teaching their texts and how to illustrate a BookBench
Additional project support and networking through a ‘Books about Town’ page on our online Network
Discounts on books to enable whole class study of the same book
Books about Town will take place during the summer or autumn term 2014 in 100 schools in London on a first come, first served basis. The National Literacy Trust is planning to open up the offer to schools across the UK in the next academic year.
When I was Joe is a gritty teen novel set in East London and is included in the Books about Town for Schools, aimed at Key Stage 3 pupils. Author Keren David says:
“I wrote When I Was Joe when I’d just returned to London after living abroad for eight years. The book was inspired by London, its good and bad sides, the many problems but also the energy and variety of the city and its people. I spent a lot of time eavesdropping on buses and in cafes! Nothing makes me happier than when London kids read my books and recognise something of their world in them. Books about Town for Schools is a fantastic project that celebrates literature with strong links to London and engages teenage readers by reflecting their own environment and concerns on the page.”
Schools can register to take part in Books about Town at www.literacytrust.org.uk/books_about_town or contact Anouk Galle at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
