Literature in Learning

Literature in Learning is a joint initiative involving most literature organisations in Scotland.

Find out more about LiL

LiL News and Events - June

ITCHY COO
Itchy Coo has launched its new-look website. Created by Mirka Ryjackova, www.itchy-coo.com will tell you all you need to know about the award-winning Itchy Coo range. New features include a colourful Books Gallery and profiles of Itchy Coo Authors and Illustrators.

Itchy Coo has also agreed to administer the Education Committee of the Parliamentary Cross Party Group on the Scots Language.

TICKETS LEFT FOR BOOK FESTIVAL SCHOOLS PROGRAMME
Tickets to the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s RBS Schools Programme have been selling like hot cakes since they went on sale at the end of April. But if you haven’t booked up yet, fear not – there are still tickets left for some brilliant events with both new and well-loved children’s authors.

• Carnegie nominee Keith Gray gives a sneak preview of his latest book Hoodlum – not set to be published until 2010!
• New Zealand author Bernard Beckett discusses the fascinating topics of artificial intelligence and human cloning from his book Genesis (pictured).
• A storming line-up of poets - Liz Lochhead, James Robertson and Meg Bateman - bring Burns into the 21st century in Addressing the Bard.
• Animated historian and scholar S I Martin brings the lives of 19th century young black slaves vividly to life (pictured).
• Younger pupils can have fun and learn yucky dinosaurs facts with expert Charlie James.
• Benjamin Myers introduces his exciting futuristic science fiction series The Bad Tuesdays (pictured).
• James Jauncey’s teen thrillers have been described as heart-stoppingly good – come along and find out for yourself!

You can download the RBS Schools brochure now at www.edbookfest.co.uk. To book tickets simply fill out the Schools Event Booking Form at the back of the brochure and either post or fax it to the Book Festival.
 
If you have any questions about booking or ticket availability please contact the Book Festival’s Schools Booking Coordinator at schools@edbookfest.co.uk or on 0131 718 5651. She is available from 10.00am-4.30pm, on Wednesdays and Fridays only.

STORYRICH AT SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE
Creative Skills for narrative teaching and learning

The Scottish Storytelling Forum has been awarded £27,500 from the Scottish Arts Council through Learn, its education development fund, for a new national programme to resource and support probationer teachers and early-in-post teachers in their professional development. STORYRICH makes available 100 workshops to all local authorities in Scotland, plus tailor made resources and follow-up mentoring from the professional storytellers leading the workshops. 

For a decade the Scottish Storytelling Centre has been developing a consistent contribution to educational practice in Scotland and is now a recognised CPD provider working with ITE colleges and local authorities across Scotland. The STORYRICH training, for probationers and teachers of Primary 1 to 7 classes and early Secondary, is available from August 2009 to April 2010. The workshops will focus on personal narrative skills as applied in the classroom setting grounded in Storymaking and storyline approaches, and will be placed in a clear framework of curriculum thinking, supporting and enhancing the aims of the Curriculum for Excellence. Taster sessions for student teachers are also being rolled out at ITE colleges across Scotland. 

For more information contact Joanna Bremner by e-mail joanna@scottishstorytellingcentre.com

More about LiL

We are collaborating to support learning professionals develop creative uses of language with children, as well as disseminate example of good practice. LiL exists for the benefit of teachers, librarians, writers, storytellers, poets, playwrights, education advisers, cultural co-ordinators, university staff and parents.

Literature in Learning began as a shared project between Scottish Storytelling Centre, the Scottish Poetry Library and Scottish Book Trust. In its first incarnation it focussed on promoting the development of innovative and sustainable projects that explore the creative use of language in classrooms, with teachers, writers, poets and storytellers working alongside children to enrich their experience over an extended period of time.

The initiative aimed to ensure professional development for the adults involved, and looks to celebrate outcomes as well as finding ways of sharing effective practice. Literature in Learning will be investigating the long-term impact of projects on the adults and children involved.

Final report from phase 1. - download.

The new phase of Literature in Learning aims to build on the work from the pilot project, incorporating many more of Scotland's literature organisations who will work together to grow their relationship with the learning sector in a meaningful and impactful way.

In this section of the website you will find:

• Links to all of the literature organisations who make up Literature in Learning - taking you directly to the relevant areas of their websites.
• Information about A Curriculum for Excellence
• Case studies on extended creative language projects
• Advice on how to run your own creative language project
• Resources from each of the LiL organisations (under development)