We have a fabulous new senior paired reading team - some S6s are not in the pic - and all will make a difference to younger pupils' reading journeys. Thanks, hugely, to our Team EA seniors for volunteering for the paired reading programme 📚 🌟 🤩.
We said thank you and goodbye to our S6 paired readers.
Since last September, they have been reading and sharing books each week during library periods with S1 and S2 pupils. They have developed friendships, as well as helped to encourage motivation and confidence in the younger pupils' reading journeys.
Thank you to Mai Ali, Grace Anderson, Faith Caudle, Jagoda Dados, Gabby Donaghy, Hannah Orr, Jack Houlding, Jessica Logie, Kate McLuckie, Anna Malecka, Finlay Munro, Zara Munro, Alex Pearson, Keira Smith, Katie Tyczka and Harrison Wilson.
What a great S6 team we have! Our S1s love their paired reading times.
Thanks Kate, Harrison, Hannah and Jessica.
Well done to our S6s
It might have been grey and wet outside, but inside, it was warm and sparkly and day one of paired reading was great!
Our S1s loved the first taste of paired reading
Ready and enthusiastic about sharing books with younger pupils.
Mrs Toonen, our librarian, introduced the Paired Reading Scheme to Elgin Academy in 2012 and its benefits are acknowledged within the school community. The S6 students are paired with younger pupils in S1, with the aim of encouraging reading fluency and comprehension. This sharing of books and reading takes place in the library.
At the end of the academic session, Mrs Toonen interviews the outgoing S6 students about their experience of the Paired Reading scheme. They are interviewed on film and this is used during the induction day for the new S6.
The younger pupils are also interviewed and their responses are used to develop the scheme.
The library hosts a thank you party for the outgoing senior students during April, just before study leave.
"The paired reading programme makes a significant difference to the students, with their reading ages clearly improving. It unlocks literacy across all their learning, in all their subjects. It gives them the confidence to move forward in their reading and to work on a one to one basis with a positive role model." Mrs Grant, Depute Head Teacher.
"Being part of the Paired Reading scheme this year in the library has been fantastic. I have been able to build up a really strong relationship with my reader and improve my own communication skills. It’s been incredible to watch my partner’s confidence grow, as well as his reading skills, which leads to a lovely sense of pride. I think the Paired Reading scheme is important, not only for helping the younger ones develop their reading and speaking skills and confidence, but it also helps to cement relationships between different year groups and creates a feeling of community within the school." S6 pupil.