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The National Year of Reading – game on!
The National Year of Reading is in full swing at Christ Church with Senior and Preparatory boys, along with staff, taking part in a range of activities. With an emphasis on fun – the activities are designed to remind boys of the enjoyment to be gained from reading for pleasure.
Senior Teacher Librarian Greg Lindorff said the Senior Library had used a ‘gaming’ format to help promote the campaign. “The School’s National Year of Reading user manual was designed as a gaming book loaded with activities to encourage boys to talk to others about what they are reading, become involved more with the library itself, and to read more,” he said.
“Many boys play games as a leisure activity so we’re reminding them that reading is an important leisure activity too.”
Some of the activities that have already taken place include assembling Avengers characters and Champion Readers lunchtimes, where the boys are read to by staff from one of their favourite books. Recently, Headmaster Garth Wynne read an excerpt from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to the boys.
Mr Lindorff said the boys were right into the side quests including borrowing books from the Mobile Library, collecting bookmarks and badges and filling in the Hall of Champions page in the booklet. “We also have a number of challenges including creating posters, cover illustrations and graphic novels and lots more still to come,” he said.
In the Prep School, Years 4 to 6 boys have also been enjoying using their National Year of Reading competition manuals. Prep School Teacher Librarian Mary Hookey said the boys were having lots of fun deciphering the teachers behind the Mystery Faces posters and listening to Champion Readers on Fridays, including Mr Wynne and Prep School Headmaster Richard Wright.
Mrs Hookey said Pre-Primary to Year 3 boys had been borrowing their class’ ‘Grab bag of Books’ for a week while Year 5 and 6 boys were borrowing class kindles from the library. Year 4 boys recently enjoyed a meet-the-author session with Morris Gleitzman, one of Australia’s funniest and best-loved children’s authors. “The Book Fair was also an opportunity for all boys to buy books to take home,” she said.
Mr Lindorff and Mrs Hookey said many more activities were planned for the year and they hoped all boys would get involved in the various aspects of reading for fun. “Perhaps the parents would also like to get involved by encouraging their sons to participate,” Mr Lindorff said.