Miss Mitchell talks reading, books and grabbing a bargain!
Powerful Panthers LOVE to read! They are having a drive across school on Reading for Pleasure and I have shared my top tips with staff to create a real reading culture in all our classrooms.
Did you know that reading is the number one factor in success in life? Even more so than money and circumstances. It really does open so many doors if you can read and enjoy reading- no easy task with social media and technology competing for our attention in today's busy world. A national study was released recently, which found that only one in three children aged 8-18 enjoy reading in their free time. The staff are determined to buck the trend at Greenfields to give the children the best possible start in life.
One of the key barriers to reading is only having access to a limited supply of books. Let's face it, they ARE expensive to buy new, with the average RRP for children's books being between seven and eight pounds!
So, I wanted to share with you how I get around this and make sure my children have quality books for a fraction of the cost and I'm hoping it might inspire some of you to do the same!
Charity shops are RAMMED FULL of high quality, often brand new, never read or read once books. After Christmas is a particularly good time for this as people are having a sort out of books to clear space and there are even brand new, celophane wrapped sets of books, which are either unwanted or repeats of books children already have. I buy charity shop books every couple of weeks and usually spend between 25p and 50p per book. I set myself a limit of £1 for a book in exceptional condition, and which I know will be passed around my whole class to enjoy. If at least five children read it, it has made its money!
Facebook Market place is a treasure trove for children's books! Twice, last week, I managed to bag two lots of Wimpy Kids, Beast Quests and Cathy Cassidy (PP favourites) which were completely FREE! I even bagged a free bookshelf on there too! My class were so excited! I am not a Facebook user really, but it is worth joining just for the Marketplace bargains. Last year, I managed to get the complete catalogue of David Walliams books for free- which the current Super Sharks devoured!
Powerful Panthers have a moto in class, "If you read a great book, pass it on!" This is another great way to increase your access to books- my children write down their 'next three readers in line' on their bookmarks and pass the book on when they have finished it. It really gets us talking about books. Great to try, if you want to experience that reading buzz too. It has caught on with parents in Panthers too, who regularly bring in books that their child has finished, so that we can "pass them on". Several of my parents also do this amongst themselves and their children too, when they have bought books. It works with adult books too and I have loved swapping books with parents- Bella's mum, Charlotte's mum, Remy's mum and I are all fans of a murder mystery and swap books between us.
I love books and I love a bargain- I hope it is catching! I would love to see your photos of bargains, reading fun, best buys, etc! I have attached pictures of some of my bargains and efforts so you can see the kind of things which are out there! Enjoy.
Just a reminder too, that while we ask you to 'hear your child read' five times a week- it is just as valid to read TO your child (and they love it!).
Happy reading and book bargain hunting.