heart of heartlands lessons

World Book Day has been a staple in the education calendar for many years. Marked in over a hundred countries around the world, it creates an opportunity to celebrate reading and all that literature has to offer. In a world increasingly dominated by technology, it is essential that we encourage young people to engage with reading and see its value. World Book Day champions the value of fiction and creates a space to explore the many facets of imagination that build the exciting worlds that our favourite fictional characters inhabit. In doing so, we expose our children to a variety of different cultures, ideas and perspectives - teaching them creativity, empathy and resilience.

At Heartlands, we embraced the opportunities that World Book Day gave us to once again centralise literature in our students’ school lives. Often reading and the enjoyment of fiction can be left behind in primary school, meaning that secondary school students fail to see the value in devoting any time to simply picking up a book. As English teachers, we often find that students struggle to move beyond children’s fiction and find engaging material that challenges them. As part of World Book Day, we took the opportunity to share fiction with students that they may otherwise never come across, in a variety of ways. Around the school, students saw posters depicting what teachers read at their age; teachers dressed up as characters from much loved (but under appreciated by our students) children’s literature such as The Chronicles of Narnia and Oliver Twist. Through these activities, we stimulated discussion and reminded students that reading is about more than the quizzes they take; the reading ages they achieve and the extrinsic rewards that they are given. Rather, it highlighted the intrinsic benefits of reading and modelled teachers’ nostalgic appreciation of great literature.

We also actively encouraged students to participate with the ‘Decorate Your Door’ competition. In their mixed age tutor groups, discussions were sparked about the merits, values and themes of various books, ranging from those studied throughout the different key stages of school, to those quietly enjoyed at home, to those lost in the distant memories of nursery. The competitive element took hold and it gave them the opportunity to show independence and think deeply about the most important elements of their chosen texts and how to convey these themes. Older students took a leading role in inspiring younger students and nurturing their understanding and appreciation of the chosen texts.

Moving forward, it is essential that we do not lose sight of the importance literature plays in developing our students and shaping their understanding of the world and how to interact with it. We want passion for reading to be at the heart of our students’ everyday lives, both inside and outside of school. We can only do this if we continue to take time to speak to students, not only about their reading, but about ours.

Heartlands High School, Station Road, Wood Green, London, N22 7ST

Contact: Mari Williams, mari.williams@heartlands.haringey.sch.uk | www.heartlands.haringey.sch.uk