THE READING GAME

1. THE READING GAME

2. Brenda Conn 2

3. Brenda Conn 3 THE READING GAME Promote the �Healthy Reading� habit Encourage a varied reading diet HIDE SLIDEHIDE SLIDE

4. Brenda Conn 4 THE READING GAME Explore the Reading Game And you will find A world of books To exercise their minds

5. Brenda Conn 5 FIRST BEGINNINGS First played World Book Day 1998 at Harlaw Academy, Aberdeen Now regularly timetabled at Harlaw Offered to Aberdeen City school librarians in February 2002 Published by Carel Press June 2002 Since its very basic beginnings on WBD 1998, the Reading Game has been played on lots of occasions at Harlaw Academy. Since February this year librarians in Aberdeen city schools have had the game to try - very good reports coming back from them Originally the game just dealt with fiction. Now revised and expanded to include non-fiction reading such as biography, poetry and mythology as well as fiction. Carel Press. have made a wonderful job of turning my ideas for the game into reality - couldn�t have wished for better. Produced a pack of beautifully illustrated materials of superb quality, which exactly captures the fun spirit of the game while maintaining the educational aims behind the fun. Since its very basic beginnings on WBD 1998, the Reading Game has been played on lots of occasions at Harlaw Academy. Since February this year librarians in Aberdeen city schools have had the game to try - very good reports coming back from them Originally the game just dealt with fiction. Now revised and expanded to include non-fiction reading such as biography, poetry and mythology as well as fiction. Carel Press. have made a wonderful job of turning my ideas for the game into reality - couldn�t have wished for better. Produced a pack of beautifully illustrated materials of superb quality, which exactly captures the fun spirit of the game while maintaining the educational aims behind the fun.

6. Brenda Conn 6 WHAT IS THE READING GAME? A whirlwind tour of the world of books!

7. Brenda Conn 7 BOOKS AND THEME PARKS Bring excitement to choosing books Create a reading theme park? Created a sort of Theme Park Books, inspired by Disney, complete with theme park maps NEXT SLIDE Created a sort of Theme Park Books, inspired by Disney, complete with theme park maps NEXT SLIDE

8. Brenda Conn 8 THEME PARK MAPS Create excitement Highly illustrated Intricately folded Anticipation of attractions Satisfaction in ticking off the attractions visited

9. Brenda Conn 9 A MARRIAGE MADE IN ORLANDO! Visual excitement of theme park maps Dashing from one attraction to another Marking off the attractions visited Apply all this to books - then add a whistle! Game combines the excitement of theme parks Razzamatazz and rushing about Distinct themed areas Theme park map to mark up as you go from area to area Whistle? Wanted an easily recognised signal to move pu.pils from zone to zone Didn�t want to shout Tried whistle WBD 1998 - the pupils loved it! Fun to use - so many variations of pitch and tone! You can say a lot with a whistle! NB Whistle is NOT essential! Can use visual signal. Quieter colleagues report this works well, too. But try the whistle, just once at least! Great stress-buster! NEXT SLIDE Game combines the excitement of theme parks Razzamatazz and rushing about Distinct themed areas Theme park map to mark up as you go from area to area Whistle? Wanted an easily recognised signal to move pu.pils from zone to zone Didn�t want to shout Tried whistle WBD 1998 - the pupils loved it! Fun to use - so many variations of pitch and tone! You can say a lot with a whistle! NB Whistle is NOT essential! Can use visual signal. Quieter colleagues report this works well, too. But try the whistle, just once at least! Great stress-buster! NEXT SLIDE

10. Brenda Conn 10 WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY THE READING GAME The Reading Game pack Photocopied set of maps Selection of books for reading zones

11. Brenda Conn 11 Reading Game Samples

12. Brenda Conn 12 THE READING GAME - YOUR WAY Noisy or sedate - you choose! Ready-to-go or Pick �n� Mix - flexible format 24 different Reading Zones, fiction and non-fiction Different book selections for different ages and abilities NOISE The game is going to be quite noisy - 30 children talking animatedly about books won�t be quiet. Racing round and blowing whistles - not everyone�s idea of a library! Great fun, though. Never had any problems - and my library is not especially spacious. If space or noise is a problem - can tailor game to suit. One librarian friend instructed groups to move round in an orderly, clockwise direction. That wouldn�t work in Disneyland - but it was successful for her. FLEXIBILITY A Ready -to-go fiction map is supplied - covers 8 popular fiction genres. OR Make up your own combination from 24 different zones, fiction + non-fiction. Some zones can be used either/or eg Controversy - NF books on moral issues or stories about social issues like homelessness, abuse BOOK SELECTION defines the zone - so it�s endlessly variable. The skill in selecting books suitable for the children playing is crucial.NOISE The game is going to be quite noisy - 30 children talking animatedly about books won�t be quiet. Racing round and blowing whistles - not everyone�s idea of a library! Great fun, though. Never had any problems - and my library is not especially spacious. If space or noise is a problem - can tailor game to suit. One librarian friend instructed groups to move round in an orderly, clockwise direction. That wouldn�t work in Disneyland - but it was successful for her. FLEXIBILITY A Ready -to-go fiction map is supplied - covers 8 popular fiction genres. OR Make up your own combination from 24 different zones, fiction + non-fiction. Some zones can be used either/or eg Controversy - NF books on moral issues or stories about social issues like homelessness, abuse BOOK SELECTION defines the zone - so it�s endlessly variable. The skill in selecting books suitable for the children playing is crucial.

13. Brenda Conn 13 PLAYING THE READING GAME Groups visit reading zones A starter card determines the first zone Free choice of zones after the first When the whistle blows, MOVE! Playing the Reading Game Library is set out with 8 themed areas - ie 8 tables with display materials and appropriate books Pupils work in groups - number in group can vary 3 - 5 works well. Need enough seats at each zone for every member of group Each group given starter card and each player given map. Pupils move from zone to zone whenever the whistle is blown.Playing the Reading Game Library is set out with 8 themed areas - ie 8 tables with display materials and appropriate books Pupils work in groups - number in group can vary 3 - 5 works well. Need enough seats at each zone for every member of group Each group given starter card and each player given map. Pupils move from zone to zone whenever the whistle is blown.

14. Brenda Conn 14 WHAT HAPPENS AT THE ZONES? look at the books judge the books decide what makes a book shout CHOOSE ME!

15. Brenda Conn 15 CHOOSE ME ! attractive cover interesting �blurb� exciting start

16. Brenda Conn 16 READING GAME MAP Players enter their favourite titles at each zone into the map Players use the map as their personal list of �must-reads�

17. Brenda Conn 17 READING GAME EXPERIENCES Players enjoy the noise and activity discover new authors and titles clamour to borrow the books READING GAME EXPERIENCES I�ve played this game many times and I�ve always enjoyed playing it. Hearing comments like That was cool Ace fun Aah! Is it time to go? Are we coming back? (excited) Can we play that game again? I know the pupils love it. Book borrowing always increases immediately after - usually have a queue of reservations. I try to use books I have multiple copies of to prevent disappointment. Must have it now!READING GAME EXPERIENCES I�ve played this game many times and I�ve always enjoyed playing it. Hearing comments like That was cool Ace fun Aah! Is it time to go? Are we coming back? (excited) Can we play that game again? I know the pupils love it. Book borrowing always increases immediately after - usually have a queue of reservations. I try to use books I have multiple copies of to prevent disappointment. Must have it now!

18. Brenda Conn 18 READING GAME EXPERIENCES Teachers appreciate the serious aims behind the fun encouraging the �healthy reading� habit teamwork critical judgement communication skills Teachers The fact that the game has become part of the curriculum at Harlaw shows that teaching staff like it. Encourages classroom discussion of books Some have repeat visits to go round all the zones Some pupils like colouring in the maps - these are used for classroom display- promoting reading and discussionTeachers The fact that the game has become part of the curriculum at Harlaw shows that teaching staff like it. Encourages classroom discussion of books Some have repeat visits to go round all the zones Some pupils like colouring in the maps - these are used for classroom display- promoting reading and discussion

19. Brenda Conn 19 READING GAME EXPERIENCES Librarians welcome the opportunity to showcase stock encourage book borrowing promote the library as a fun environment Librarians I like being able to bring quality fiction to pupils� attention - wonderful books are often overlooked on the shelves. Pupils always find their way to the big names like J K Rowling, Jacqueline Wilson and Roald Dahl - then stumble! The game lets them see a wide variety of other authors they may never have thought of trying. - and invariable they find something they fancy trying. If every pupil find one new author each game, it�s worth a little noise and hurly-burly once in a while. The choice process is wrapped up in so much fun, they don�t seem to notice their choices are being guided to �the good stuff� Being seen as a �fun� place is great. The game is seen as a special treat, a reward for good behaviour during the rest of term, or a special celebration like WBD. Causes no problems regarding normal noise levels at other times.Librarians I like being able to bring quality fiction to pupils� attention - wonderful books are often overlooked on the shelves. Pupils always find their way to the big names like J K Rowling, Jacqueline Wilson and Roald Dahl - then stumble! The game lets them see a wide variety of other authors they may never have thought of trying. - and invariable they find something they fancy trying. If every pupil find one new author each game, it�s worth a little noise and hurly-burly once in a while. The choice process is wrapped up in so much fun, they don�t seem to notice their choices are being guided to �the good stuff� Being seen as a �fun� place is great. The game is seen as a special treat, a reward for good behaviour during the rest of term, or a special celebration like WBD. Causes no problems regarding normal noise levels at other times.

20. Brenda Conn 20 USING THE READING GAME suited to pupils in upper primary and lower secondary supports national educational initiatives such as the Literacy Hour in England and Wales and 5-14 in Scotland special events in public libraries I�ve tried this with ages 12 - 15. It would work just as well with younger pupils - the selection of books suitable to the age and interest level is the crucial factor. It could be used with post- 16 pupils in a toned down version - no whistles or rushing about. The display materials on their own could be used to set up themed displays of books for older students to explore at a more leisurely pace National Initiatives I�ve tried this with ages 12 - 15. It would work just as well with younger pupils - the selection of books suitable to the age and interest level is the crucial factor. It could be used with post- 16 pupils in a toned down version - no whistles or rushing about. The display materials on their own could be used to set up themed displays of books for older students to explore at a more leisurely pace National Initiatives

21. Brenda Conn 21 THE READING GAME HAVE FUN WITH THE READING GAME!