Pinterest

So I have been experimenting with Pinterest to create online, visual Reading Lists.

What do I mean by this? Well I have been creating Pinboards using Pinterest to collect images of book covers and grouping them into themes. I have had several requests from Science to create a reading list to support different curriculum topics, and this seems to be working quite well, although some of the topics have been challenging (if anyone knows of any fiction books which covers fizzy sports drinks – please let me know!). Students have picked a book related to their academic study and have gone onto write a review of their chosen book as a homework activity.

The benefits over a traditional list are:- no reprographic costs, new titles can easily be added, and they are easily accessible by students and staff.

These reading lists can be embedded in our VLE alongside the assignment and I have put a link to all the boards on our Oliver Homepage.

I plan to promote with other subject areas, as this is just one other way the MRC can encourage and support Literacy Across the curriculum and the Reading for Pleasure Agenda!

Click HERE to view my Reading List Boards!

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Drop in on DEAR 3.2 Hobbit

Click HERE to find out more about JRR Tolkien, his books, and Middle Earth

Book of the Week

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Carnegie the long list challenge to read them all 2012/13

A ghost story with a difference. Not your normal ghost story, and not your ‘normal’ hero. Instead a confused, bruised, overweight boy is dragged to a holiday park with his borderline alcoholic father, and meets a girl. Not your typical love story, but Daniel is attracted to this slip of a girl whose body is covered in cuts and bruises that get worse over time rather than better. Strange huh? Well worth reading to find out why.

Book of the Week

 Click HERE to find out if this book is still available from the MRC.

Carnegie – the challenge to read them all 2012/13

Sophia’s father suddenly arrives back from oversees and her life of freedom is over, instead she has to rebel against her cruel father who wants her married off as soon as possible. I would have been content if this story had followed this theme, of her trials and how she overcame the restrictions placed upon a “lady”, I even liked her nighttime adventures. But no the author has to twist in a spy plot, treason, and gunpowder. This, and the unsatisfactory ending, in my opinion, spoilt the main storyline.

Carnegie Long List the Challenge to read them all!

I told you I was on a roll! Here is my next review this time it is

The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce.

This book is a nice easy read, and since it is set in Year 6 will appeal to Primary age readers. The story is presented as if it was typed into a notebook with snapshots stuck in. The story is basically about two new students from Mongolia, they are a little bit different and adopt the main character is adopted as their “Good Guide”. They seem to be really superstitious and think they are being hunted by demons, and it is this story which leads to the emotional twist at the end. It is billed as “laugh out loud funny” but I’d have to disagree. I found the authors afterword to be thought provoking and I’d hope that students will go onto read this, as this provides the worthy inspiration for the story.
A simple read with a subtle political message.