Fun at Love Literacy 2016

April 13th 2016

  On 19th April, we made our way down to Birmingham's Botanical Gardens to host the first ever Love Literacy, an event that aims to inspire teachers and librarians, and improve literacy in young children. With top speakers and a range of fascinating exhibition stands, the day was a huge success and we're quite sad that it's all over for another year. To help remember the great time we all had, we're looking back on one of our favourite days of 2016 so far. 

Coffee, anyone?

  The day kicked off with coffee and tea in the exhibition area, where the likes of the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) and Tute were holding stands where they offered up a number of services and ideas that aim to help improve literacy standards. It also provided our guests with the opportunity to network with other like-minded people, giving them the chance to share different ideas and tools they can use in and out of school.  

First set of talks

  Once everyone had got to know each other, they were directed to the main hall where they were treated to inspiring talks by Jonathan Douglas (Director of National Literacy Trust), and top children's author, Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Both discussed the importance of children reading for enjoyment, without the pressure and expectancy of being assessed. We also got treated to some comedy and reading from Frank, which was a true joy!  

First round of workshops

  Once the first set of talks were over, our guests split up into three different rooms for the first round of workshops. In one room Kim Mole and Kate Evans from Achievement for All, were discussing achievement in literacy and why it matters, and in another Andrea Sherratt was instructing our guests on what to look for in quality literacy intervention. In the main hall, Judy Clark was emphasising the power of reading for enjoyment, and got all of the teachers discussing their own reading journeys and preferences.  

Final rounds of workshops

  After a short break, our lucky guests were treated to another instalment of inspiring workshops, with topics ranging from getting children to read for pleasure, to how teachers can use core texts in primary learning. Plus, following a delicious lunch, three additional speakers held workshops, including the animated and entertaining Phoenix Comic presentation by Neill Cameron.  

Inspiring schools

James Bell led the final set of talks that followed the workshops, and provided an insight into the data available on children's literacy levels, and how teachers can attain certain standards with Renaissance Learning. Librarians and teachers were also left inspired by Julia Etheridge's talk on how, with Peters Books' help, her school managed to create a library that both students and teachers love and utilise on a daily basis.  

Cressida Cowell

  There was only one way we could end such a brilliant day, and that was with a thrilling talk by the famous children's author, Cressida Cowell. Cressida indulged us with stories of her childhood, and how her experiences of holidaying on a secluded Scottish island inspired her stories, including her How to Train Your Dragon series. She also shared how she hopes to inspire young readers, by creating fun and engaging texts that make reading her novels fun, and not a chore.  

Let's get kids reading for enjoyment!

  As the day came to an end, it was clear what the main message of the day was. Instead of pressuring young children to read more and more, we must engage with them by providing them with texts they can genuinely enjoy (whether that's by reading or being read to) without feeling the pressure of being assessed.   What a day! We can't thank you enough for joining us for Love Literacy. We had so much fun on the day, and hope that you not only enjoyed it but were also inspired to go away and implement what you learnt into your day-to-day teaching.