"Your manuscript is both good and original, but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.”
-Samuel Johnson

We all know who the great writers are...Shakespeare, for his contribution and development of the English language.  Joyce, for his post modern musings on the human condition.....

But, who do really read? And more to the point, what can we get students to read?

In a previous post we discussed how hard it is the modern world for any of us to find the time or indeed the concentration to sit down and read for an extended period of time.

Many of us think that reading seriously involves the great works of literature. But this isn’t always so.

To develop reading start anywhere. Read anything.  Read your crisp packet, your cereal box, the label inside your jumper.

In fact, a good way to foster reading is not to read at all...just listen instead.

This is what educators refer to as oral literacy. When young people hear words being used to express emotions they realise the value they have.

“Oral language competence is an important, yet often overlooked protective factor in young people”

http://www.olsel.catholic.edu.au/_uploads/_ckpg/files/Snow&Powell_Children%20%20Sociey_2008.pdf

Giving students exposure to a wider vocabulary gives them more verbal tools to communicate with...to better express their hopes, fears, aims and ambitions. They in turn can then access these words on the printed page in time.

Reading to students is great, as indeed are audio books. Here’s a great resource for some free audio books...they could bring out the writer in you! Happy listening!!

http://freeclassicaudiobooks.com/

http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/

"I hate words."
"Words suck."
"If I wanted to read, I'd go to school."
        -Beavis and Butthead

You like to read... Well, the fact that you're reading this suggests you probably do. However, how many of us read as much as we should? The recent PISA study on international literacy figures hardly flatters Ireland.
Joyce, Wilde and Shaw might indulge in a little grave rotation were they to browse at http://www.educationmatters.ie/2010/12/14/pisa-study-results-an-urgent-call-to-action/

On foot of this research in 2011 the Department of Education and Skills published “Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life: The National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011- 2020” .

The strategy sets targets for improving literacy and numeracy standards to be achieved by the year 2020.

You can check out its findings and recommendations here at http://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Events/Literacy-and-Numeracy/

Here at St Mary's the Learning Support Department  with the various other subject departments collaborate to improve literacy levels across all subject areas. When a student encounters a new module in a subject, they need to understand the new language that the new material involves. Similarly, each subject has its own language "register" or key words which are most important to know.

This is why when you visit our school you will see the most used key words or phrases displayed in different subject classrooms. For example, in English, how many of us really completely understand the difference between terms like "Discuss", "Compare", "Contrast" or "Outline"?

If you would like to find out the reading age of the books you or your children are reading, be it for school or pleasure, you can apply a simple little formula called the "Smog Test". You can do it manually or online at
http://www.readabilityformulas.com/free-readability-formula-tests.php

In our modern world we are constantly distracted by the bells and whistles of laptops, smartphones and
other gizmos. It is becoming increasingly harder for us all just to relax, sit down and read for pleasure in an uninterrupted fashion.

Author Alan Jacobs discusses this in his book "The Pleasures of Reading an Age of Distraction" (you can buy it here or check out reviews http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Pleasures-Reading-Distraction-ebook/dp/B004XVFLLU/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1/277-4002461-3073746 )

You can hear him talk about reading in the modern world here on the excellent blog at Saint Columba's College:
http://www.sccenglish.ie/2012/08/the-pleasures-of-reading-in-age-of.html