The Royal Mail Awards and Paired Reading

The Royal Mail Awards and Paired Reading

You may choose to judge the early years category of the Royal Mail Awards in a paired reading scheme, involving P6 or P7 pupils reading the 3 shortlisted picture books to P1 or P2 pupils. Below are the details of a fantastic project currently taking place in Dundee called the Dundee City of Discovery Picture Book Award, run by Moira Foster, Learning Resources Coordinator at Dundee City Council and Stuart Syme from the Dundee Schools Library Service.

It is a book award for picture books which is voted for by primary school pupils, in which:

  • the older children get to know the shortlisted titles well
  • they discuss the text and the artwork; champion individual titles
  • they create a display around the titles for exhibition in their local library
  • they read the books to nursery/primary 1/2 children and talk to them about the books
  • they organise a vote for their class and the nursery/primary 1/2s to find the school's favourite title

Benefits of running a paired reading scheme

In Dundee primary schools taking part in the Dundee City of Discovery Picture Book Prize, and at Corrie Primary School in North Ayrshire who ran the Royal Mail Awards in a paired reading scheme in 2007, the teachers recorded the following benefits for participating pupils:

  • increase in pupil self-esteem and confidence, and their own awareness of this
  • improved reading
  • listening and talking skills
  • working with and reading to a younger audience
  • demonstrating independent learning and self motivation

and the following feedback from teachers:

  • "I think they learned more from doing the Picture Book Award than they have from any other project. It made me feel very enthusiastic about my teaching too."
  • "The children grew in self confidence. The tasks and responsibilities they were given allowed them to be much more independent and work on their own initiative."

and the following feedback from pupils:

  • "It made me feel like reading"
  • "I have learned that the P1s are more fidgety than I thought!"
  • "I really enjoyed working in the awards because it brought everyone close together and it was really fun. It also taught us a lot."

This scheme is also ideal for involving reluctant readers or children with additional support needs in the awards. Click here for more information.

Download suggested lesson plans from North Ayrshire Council for running the awards in a paired reading scheme

Register now to take part in the awards. Remember to tick the paired reading box to say you are judging the awards in this way.

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