1. Reading Gladiators 2017-18 Year 2 Challenge
Readinggladiators.co.uk
@RGladiators
Sam Keeley

2. I’ve booked Reading Gladiators – what next?
18 July – introductory webinar links sent to registered schools
End of July lead teachers enrolled on RG website – please let us know if additional group leaders need registering. We will need names and addresses to enrol them
End of July discussion guide available online
Beginning of Autumn term delivery of Reading Gladiators books, hard copies of discussion guide, Gladiator badges
This webinar outlines the Year 6 challenge for

3. In a nutshell…
Reading Gladiators is an annual reading challenge which is designed to develop adventurous reading choices and sustained reading for pleasure, purpose and understanding. The year 2 final challenge is a family workshop designed to share the reading journey that parents have gone on with their children.

4. Reading Gladiators book choice
8 books chosen to take the children on a reading journey from the beginning to the end of year
Start with most accessible texts and work towards a more reflective read.
Focus on high quality writing and authors that are not the ‘usual suspects’
Emphasis on recently published books but with some familiarity

5. It’s all about the journey

6. 2017 – 18 Book Choice

7. ‘I had a parent thanking me for getting
her son to read books that he wouldn’t usually pick up.
The children are reading more and are enjoying
the discussion with their friends. A bit of positive peer
pressure works wonders!’
Clare Matthews, Rayne Primary School
“I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to work with my most able readers. The programme has also encouraged me to read a wider variety of books appropriate for my year group. It is true to say, that the benefits are not just for reading; I have noticed that exposure to high quality texts in Reading Gladiators has enabled children to transfer literary devices and effects in to their own writing. I feel we are seeing better cohesion, more adventurous vocabulary choices and an improved awareness of audience.”
Jane Baker Filton Avenue

8. The Reading Gladiators Session
The organisation of Reading Gladiators varies from school to school
Lesson time or reading club?
Length of session?
Number of sessions a week?
Who leads the session?
What works for you?

9. Supporting Discussion Guide
General guidance
Focus on high quality dialogue and discussion
Sustained reading between sessions
Organising and managing the group
Generic ideas for initiating and deepening discussion
Guides available online from the resources area of the website end of July
Hard copies sent with books early September

10. Supporting Discussion Guide
Book specific guidance
Reading rate
Introductory session
Middle sessions
Final session
Further reading suggestions
Mini-challenge outline

11. Key dates Key Dates Month Book Mini-challenge date Webinar October
The Moon Dragons
31st October
The book selection and Working with parents
November
Grey Island Red Boat
24th November
Developing Independence
December
I (Don’t) Like Snakes
15th December
January
Ossiri and the Bala Mengro
26th January
Deepening Understanding 
February
Message From the Moon
23rd February -
March
The Secret Railway
23rd March
April
Don’t Cross the Line
11th May
The Final Challenge 
May
Erica’s Elephant
15th June

12. Mini-challenges Monthly mini challenges
Collaborative tasks designed to stimulate discussion and deepen understanding
Prizes – usually books or author related prizes
Optional – enter those that interest your Gladiators rather than feeling under pressure to enter every challenge
Some of our schools provide opportunities for children to work on the challenges outside the regular Gladiator sessions
Particularly keen groups have been known to request time to work on challenges during non-lesson time!
Challenges are uploaded via the website – guidance will be sent at the beginning of September
Larger files e.g. films can be submitted via WeTransfer

13. Webinars There are 4 webinars for teachers in the year 2 programme
These are linked to different skills and aspects of development of the programme
They are optional, Reading Gladiators can be effective without them but they provide an excellent CPD opportunity and will help you get the most from the programme
Dates for the webinars are in your discussion guide
Working with parents
2. Developing independence
3. Deepening understanding

14. Working With Parents
Partnership with parents remains crucial in Year 2 and is built into the programme
Weekly home tasks include discussion of questions, storytelling, summarising etc.
Opportunities to share picture books at home and to support reading of longer books

15. Website readinggladiators.org.uk
Teachers registered to the website by the 24th July
We will be requesting s for group leaders so they can be registered on the website
Group leaders will be sent login information
Additional resources mentioned in the guide are available when you login e.g. Powerpoints, activity cards, graphic organisers

16. Find Your School Select your school from the drop down menu
Selecting your school will take you to your challenge groups
You can post updates to your group
And see what other schools in your challenge area are up to

17. Updates The website is our community of readers
Post updates to show other schools and what you have been doing
The Reading Gladiators team will respond to your posts
You can also comment on posts from other schools
The update app is quick and simple to use
Take a photo and write a short description
You can bookmark the app o a mobile phone for quick posting
You can also post from a computer, if you prefer

18. Final Challenge
The final challenge for year 2 takes place in the second half of the summer term.
The Gladiators will work with a member of their family where possible who is also familiar with the books.
There will be an opportunity to discuss their favourite books.
Children and adults will work together to create a collage which represents their reading journey using all eight books.
Full details will be sent out at the beginning of the Spring Term

19. Contact information
Please get in touch if you have any questions and we will be happy to help.
Reading Gladiators Team
Nikki Gamble Programme Director and Year 6 Co-ordinator
Vicky Edge-Baron Programme Manager
Caroline Bradley Year 4 Co-ordinator
Sam Keeley Year 2 Co-ordinator