UK Literacy Trust survey on home reading practice

Young People’s Reading: The importance of the home environment and family support

This paper explores the types of resources young people have at home that support literacy and how this differs according to demographic background, and how home resources relate to reading enjoyment, attitudes and behaviour as well as reading attainment.
It also explores who in their family encourages young people to read, who in their family is seen reading and how frequently young people talk with their family about what they are reading. It also outlines how these differ according to demographic background, and how each of these relate to reading enjoyment, attitudes and behaviour as well as reading attainment.

http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/assets/0000/4954/Young_People_s_Reading_2010.pdf

UK Literacy Trust website

The ever wonderful UK Literacy Trust website has a vibrant new look - do visit and explore... http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/

There is an amazing range of resources available - here are just a couple I came across which I hadn't seen before...

Top tips for choosing a book
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/assets/0000/3043/choicetips.pdf

Heroes and villains booklist
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/assets/0000/2073/Heroes_and_villains_book_list.pdf

Tommy Donbavand "Too Ghoul for School"

Each month, the National Literacy Trust (in the UK) interviews a well-known figure in the world of reading and literacy. Here, international bestselling author Tommy Donbavand talks about how to get kids excited about books, the necessary trend for authors to embrace new media and the importance of setting up a positive school reading environment.

http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/About/interview_tommydonbavand.html

When asked "If you could change one thing about schools what would it be?" his answer started, "Tough question! When I arrive at a school for a visit, I immediately get a sense of whether it is a 'book school' or not. From shelves of books in prominent, easy to reach places to wall displays and more - book schools appreciate the importance of reading and writing and help bring stories to life. Some other schools, however, simply don't do it that way...

And on the subject of technology he has this to say... "I appreciate that some people fear the use of new media will lead to the death of books (it won't, of course) but, simply put, a story is a story whether it's read from the pages of a novel, between the covers of a comic or by browsing a website. Teachers, librarians and authors should capitalise on this explosion of technology rather than try to fight it." and "I see the proliferation of blogs and social networking sites as vital to the future of books. Children embrace new media as a completely natural method of communication and, as that's where our potential readers are, that's where authors should be as well."