Our school is supporting an exciting project called ‘Project READ – Reading Everywhere Across Derbyshire’. The project’s aim is to support children’s reading across 43 different primary schools in Derbyshire! If applicable - The Supported Summer Read event that you attended in June at Uttoxeter Racecourse was organised by Project READ.

You have been selected for a very important job! Welcome You have been selected for a very important job! You will be supporting a Year 7 pupil’s reading skills and helping to build their confidence, by becoming a… Reading Buddy These resources are aimed at Y10 pupils becoming Reading Buddies to younger pupils (Year 7). If your school attended the Supported Summer Read event in June at Uttoxeter Racecourse The older Buddies will be those who attended the Supported Summer Read event and they will be Buddy to the new Year 7 who they were buddied up with on the day. Please email hayley.carter@projectread.org.uk if you have any questions or need a list of target pupils/Buddy names. If your school did not attend the Supported Summer Read event in June at Uttoxeter Racecourse The older Buddies should be passionate about reading and able to support new Year 7s with their reading and as they begin at your school in September. The older buddies will pair up with Year 7 pupils who attended the Supported Summer Read event in June 2018 with their primary school (please see the list of pupils provided by Project READ). Please email hayley.carter@projectread.org.uk if you have any questions or need a list of target pupils.

Objectives of Today’s Training To know what your role is and the commitment that is expected To understand why the role is so important To develop a better understanding of how to be an effective Reading Buddy. Discuss these with Y10 students to help them become as effective as possible. Their role is vital to helping the targeted Y7 students settle in and develop as a reader. They should see this as a position of responsibility.

What is a Reading Buddy? A Reading Buddy is someone who: enjoys and feels enthusiastic about reading can encourage others to read and share your love of books is a great reading role model gives some of their time each week to help other pupils improve their reading skills.

What do I have to do? You will be paired with a pupil from Year 7, who you may have met at the transition event at Uttoxeter Racecourse. You will: read with your Buddy twice a week for 15 minutes support your Buddy and help them to improve reading skills help them to build their confidence about reading be a successful role model for reading keep track of your reading sessions on a reading record. From September Buddies will support the targeted pupils in the new Year 7 intake. As a school you will need to decide: -How frequently the sessions will take place (ideally twice a week, for a minimum of 10 weeks during the autumn) – please edit slide 6 with school’s preference -How long the sessions will last for – please edit slide 6 with school’s preference -The format of the sessions, dependent on ability (see slide 12 for ideas and edit accordingly if required)

When will I be a Reading Buddy? School to insert arrangements/ put in exact days and times and duration Possible suggestions: Before school/ during registration/tutor time/ assembly/ at lunchtimes/ break times/ after school Schools to decide on and insert arrangements. Stress the need for Buddies to be consistent/ reliable

What do you think makes a great Reading Buddy? Think – Pair - Share Discuss the students’ ideas before moving on to the next slide. Part of becoming an effective Buddy is understanding what skills are important to bring to the role.

It’s easy to be a good Reading Buddy! Be reliable and be punctual. Help select the right book with your Buddy. Ask relevant questions. Help your Buddy when they have difficulties. Big up your Buddy and be positive. Actively talk about reading with your Buddy. Be a good role model and show you enjoy reading. Effectively reflect on your sessions. Discuss the following in more detail, particularly any ideas that were not suggested by students in their discussion.

Role of a Reading Buddy You will help your Buddy to: enjoy what they are reading read aloud pronounce and understand difficult words build their confidence as a reader think about what it is that they’re reading.

Reading Buddy Cards To help you to remember what to do in your reading sessions, you will receive Reading Buddy prompt cards. Schools to encourage pupils to look after prompt cards. Schools to decide on arrangements for pupils to either keep or return prompt cards after each session. Schools can download, print and laminate extra Reading Buddy cards from www.projectread.org.uk – under the transition resources tab A limited stock of Reading Buddy cards/ lanyards can be purchased from Project READ. Please contact Hayley at hayley.carter@projectread.org.uk for further details.

Reading Buddy Sessions GIVE THINKING TIME: When your Buddy gets stuck on a word… encourage independence by letting your Buddy have a go suggest some further strategies which could help them wait until your Buddy has had a another go before you read the word to them. When a reader is stuck on a word, emphasise how important it is that older Buddies give thinking time – they could count for 6 seconds before they read the word to them. This will support young readers to develop problem-solving strategies. Discuss the “Attacking” Words sheet which could further help the Buddies.

Reading Buddy Sessions YOUR SESSIONS COULD BE: your Buddy reading to you as independently as possible you both taking it in turns to read a page you reading to your Buddy. Remember to discuss what you are reading to check their understanding. Most of the time, younger readers will be reading to their Reading Buddies. However, also emphasise that there is value in older Reading Buddies reading to younger Reading Buddies sometimes. This will support younger readers to hear fluent, phrased reading. The type of session may be dictated by individuals (E.g. age, confidence, ability).

Let’s go through each prompt card and discuss how these can be used effectively in your sessions. Handout prompt cards to Reading Buddies. Explain need to look after the cards.

1 2 3 4 5 Trainer to talk through each card with the group of Reading Buddies. Explanatory notes below: 2 – Teacher may wish to pre select a sample of texts for use with targeted pupils before the session. Model points 5 and 6. Box 6 explains what the Reading Buddy should recommend to their Buddy about the book choice, related to the number of words that they do not know. 3, 4 – Prompt questions for fiction and non-fiction books are available. It’s important to give pupils a choice of genres to read, related to their interests. 5 – Emphasise the importance of giving their Buddy time to think. Model appropriate reading strategies (e.g. sounding out a word). 6 – Model different ways of offering praise and encouragement, using intonation. Can your Buddies think of other ways to say well done? 7, 8 – Highlight the need to talk about reading to enhance a love of reading/ being a good role model 9 – Ask Buddies to reflect on their session so they can think about how to improve future sessions Bring a range of texts to this session to show Reading Buddies that they can read different kinds of texts together in their sessions. For example: ‘First News’ newspaper, short story collection, poetry collection, non-fiction books, comics, magazines, leaflets of local events, school newsletter, pupil pages on school website, fiction books. 6 7 8 9

At the school’s discretion, Buddies to complete a short review after each session (if appropriate for ability). Schools to photocopy the sheet for Buddies. The review sheet is available in your pack and available to download as a PDF from www.projectread.org.uk (under the transition resources tab). An editable version (Publisher) is also available from www.projectread.org.uk (under the transition resources tab).

Let’s go through a session together to see how it works Trainer to model a session (either 2 adults, or use a Reading Buddy and ask them to role play (ask them to get stuck on a few words)). You could also allow Y10 students to practice reading with each other with one student assuming the role of a Y7 Buddy.

Points to remember BE POSITIVE! Your Buddy will feed off your enthusiasm. BE FRIENDLY! Your Buddy needs to feel comfortable with you. BE A GOOD BUDDY! Your best effort will help others to do their best too. Emphasise the importance of their role and thank the Buddies for their support/ commitment.

Did we achieve our objectives? Do you know what your role is and the commitment that is expected? Do you understand why the role is so important? Have you developed a better understanding of how to be an effective Reading Buddy? Check that students have a clear understanding of their role after today’s training.

Good luck with your new role Thank you! Good luck with your new role