International evidence indicates reading for pleasure offers significant benefits, cognitively, socially and emotionally. In England it is an overarching aim that pupils develop a ‘love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment (DfE, 2013). This conference will help you develop your knowledge of children’s literature and create an authentic, flexible and interactive reading for pleasure pedagogy that supports young readers. The author and illustrator Alexis Deacon will join us! His books include: Slow Loris, (shortlisted for the Blue Peter Award), Beegu, (shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway), the award-winning A Place to Call Home and I Am Henry Finch. Alexis also illustrated Russell Hoban’s books, Soonchild and Jim’s Lion.
As part of the conference, we are excited to launch a vibrant, research-informed OU Reading for Pleasure website based on UKLA’s Teachers as Readers project. All workshops, led by teacher members of the website’s advisory group will offer challenges and new ideas based on that research.
