This programme shows an example of the CLPE's Power of Reading project in action, addressing the challenge of ensuring what children read is enjoyed and understood.
Year 2 teacher Catherine Gdula shows the work her class at Edmund Waller Primary School, Lewisham has done around the picture-book character Beegu.
The pupils empathise with the little alien character, interpreting both words and pictures to read different characters and their actions and then making their own little books.
The class then start work on a new book, Grace and Family; they already know the main character, but not her new adventure.
Building on the first few pages of the story using role-play and brainstorming fills the children with excitement and ideas which they write into an in-character diary.
Read a review of this video on the Teacher Training Resource Bank site.
Useful websites
Information about the CLPE Power of Reading project
Ofsted: Speech by David Bell HMCI
Download and read Chief Inspector David Bell's speech about reading for purpose and pleasure
UKLA: Raising Boys' Achievement in Writing
This research by UKLA/Primary National Strategy stressed the need for units of work which linked reading, writing and speaking and listening and which allowed greater flexibility in teaching
Newham Read and Enjoy Project, Key Stage 1: The intention behind this scheme was to stimulate, and in some cases re ignite, teachers' enjoyment of teaching literacy
