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CHAPTER: CHildren And Parents Together Enjoy Reading

The Library and English Department have launched a ‘novel’ initiative – CHAPTER – to encourage parents to share a reading experience with their children during the summer holiday and perhaps beyond.

The simple idea is that parents and children read the same book and afterwards (or throughout) discuss what they have read, thereby sharing two key educational processes: reading and talking.

An ideal follow-up would be for the children to write book reviews in their reading records according to their individual teachers’ recommendations.

How can parents and children share the reading experience?

• Read the same book independently and then discuss
• Read the same book together – during the holidays or in the evening during term time
• Listen to an audio book together – perhaps in the car or relaxing in the evening when the TV isn’t working and the PC lies idle...
• A parent could share a favourite book with their child – or experience one of their child’s favourites!
• Read the book of the film and then watch the film together

The resources of the school, both staff and books, are always available but we would prefer your choice of book to be a family decision.

You may wish to consider reading appropriate titles from the 2010 Carnegie Medal shortlist or books by next term’s visiting authors. Copies of these are available in the school library.

If you have any queries about CHAPTER, please contact Gil Barrow, Head of English (GBarrow@clifton-college.avon.sch.uk), or Rebecca Clear, Librarian (RClear@clifton-college.avon.sch.uk).

This page is also available to download.

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