LRC Online
Some exciting news from the LRC
The LRC will soon be launching the LRC Virtual Online Library of e-books, which will allow every student in the school access to thousands of e-books, to read remotely.
Each student will be isssued with a unique ID number, allowing access to a library of different genres of books.
In the meantime why not click on the e-books on the shelves of Mrs Austen's bookcase, allowing you to read the different stories, there are many to choose from.
Enjoy and happy reading.
Mrs Austen, LRC Manager
Welcome to Mrs Austen’s LRC ‘Online Library’
It can be hard to get reluctant children and teenagers to read when a phone screen, tablet, or games console offers easy and instant gratification.
Although a number of students love nothing better than to sit reading a book, there are still a number of students who have never read a book or enjoyed reading, and see it as something they consider as ‘work’ and getting these students to start reading can certainly be a challenge.
To ensure all students have access to reading books and resources, please make the most of these links to reading resources and useful websites, so everyone can keep up with reading, even if you can’t get to the library or bookshop.
Quick Links:
Whatever your favourite choice of read is, whether you like a classic read, Fiction or Nonfiction, Graphic novels, Spooky or funny stories, this is reading for pleasure and so you can keep the habit going, or you simply wish to challenge yourself and read something completely different, check out the reading lists.
Reading Challenge:
Why not challenge yourself and start a new hobby of reading: remember you don’t have to read it all at once, even if you start off gently and start with reading for 10 minutes a day and increase this gradually over time, research has shown even reading for as little as 20 minutes a day, improves your vocabulary and helps you improve in all subjects.
Forming a habit involves having a cue and a reward. The cue might be finding somewhere comfortable and quiet and going there specifically to read, or making yourself a drink or a snack to have while you’re reading.
You could set a challenge for yourself to read a certain number of pages – it’s really good to feel like you’ve achieved a goal and it’ll make you more likely to want to do it over and over again!
Obviously with the majority of us working remotely from home, with most libraries and shops closed, there aren’t many places to go and get books, but there are many websites available online, offering access to free books.
Included is a list for you with various links, Just by clicking on the link, opens up a world of possibilities, free books or lists of recommended reads for different age groups.
Strategies to encourage children to read:
- Encourage pupils to switch off devices half an hour before they go to bed, and read instead. It’s a habit, and they only need 20-30 minutes a night regularly. Start with shorter times if needed. Taking away the blue light will also ensure that your child gets better quality sleep, allowing the brain to process the day’s learning and ensure what they have learned is remembered.
- Use rewards to help motivate your child to read if they are reluctant, and praise and encourage them as they read
- Talk to your child about your reading habits, or books you enjoyed at their age
- Take advantage of all the amazing free reading resources online during the lockdown – see below.
- Read to your child – you’d be surprised how much even grumpy pre-teenagers actually like being read to – even if you think they are too old for it
- Let them listen to audio books as an alternative
- Don’t discourage them from reading non-fiction, graphic novels , comics or magazines – everything helps. Similarly, don’t comment on their choice of book even if you think it is too easy – get them reading first, and they are more likely to move onto more challenging reads later.
- Ask them about their reading. Get them to read their favourite bit to you. Ask them questions about what they think will happen next. Borrow their books and read them and then discuss them.
- Help them with reading at home by checking they understand the words, directing them to a dictionary to check unfamiliar words, getting them to read it to you or summarise it for you.
- Build in some quiet reading time into the day – maybe half an hour after lunch – then chat about what they have read.
Websites to find book recommendations: (Click on links)
Amazon – look at second hand and used options as they are often a lot cheaper than brand new.
Another option for students who would rather sit quietly and listen to someone read, there are many audio books available, just click on the link, find the book of your choice, sit back and listen.
Shorter Read
For those who sometimes find it hard to finish a lengthy book, why not try reading a short story instead, here are a few mystery stories you can try out.
- A fable
- Problem with no solution?
- A ghost story
- A grisly horror story
- A creepy twist on a lottery story
I’d like to get ready for GCSE or A Level courses – what can I read?
GCSE Literature
A Level Literature
- Othello – Shakespeare
- The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald
- Regeneration – Pat Barker
- My Boy Jack – David Haig
- War Poems – Wilfred Owen
A Level Language and Literature
Online Resources Free books
- Audible books for children
- www.researchify.co.uk/audiobooks.html – includes 6 free children’s classics as PDF and word docs, with accompanying audio books: Alice in Wonderland, Wind in the Willows, The Railway Children, The Jungle Book, Peter Pan Black Beauty
- Free books from Barrington Stoke
- A load of free on line children’s e-books including non -fiction
- David Walliams reads his stories here
- A huge selection of comics and graphic novels and also here
- Free audiobooks for teens 13+
Other reading themes resources:
- www.toppsta.com – a website full of book recommendations, including videos and activity packs. There are over 55,000 books reviews – all by children! It also has daily collations of various events happening on line: https://toppsta.com/blog/view/bookish-ideas-if-you’re-self-isolating-with-the-kids
- Cressida Cowell is reading How to Train your Dragon – a chapter a day! The early chapters are on Youtube.
- British Library resources– discovering children’s books, including How to Draw a Gruffalo https://www.bl.uk/childrens-books
- Don’t forget all the great extracts and master class videos on the World Book Day site!
- Harry Potter fans: https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/harry-potter-at-home
For younger siblings as well:
- Online resource with books being read by celebrities; https://www.storylineonline.net/
- https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/ – this is fab – full of ideas to help you support children from babies up to 11 year old children with literacy at home – include downloadables, video clips, recommended websites and apps.
- www.toppsta.com – a website full of book recommendations, including videos and activity packs. There are over 55,000 books reviews – all by children! It also has daily collations of various events happening on line: https://toppsta.com/blog/view/bookish-ideas-if-you’re-self-isolating-with-the-kids
- Cressida Cowell is reading How to Train your Dragon – a chapter a day! The early chapters are on Youtube.
- Also on the Book Trust pages – drawing with Ed Vere and David McKee reading Elmer
- Draw along with Jim Field – author of Oi Frog! https://www.jimfield.me/draw
- Michael Rosen’s YouTube channel- stories and poems for children – old favourites https://m.youtube.com/user/artificedesign
- A load of free on line children’s e-books including non -fiction
Some other websites
- The National Library
- Reading at home Links
- Oasis Academy South Bank online library
- 36 short stories you can read for free right now
- 100 Great short stories
- Commonlit
- Project Gutenberg - over 60,000 free e-books
- BBC 500 words - the stories
SEN resources
As well as all the resources on here, there are many more online, so worth taking a look !!