REGISTRATION is open for the schools and young people looking to take part in the First Minister’s Reading Challenge.
The scheme, which aims to encourage more reading for pleasure among Scottish school children, is open to all primary pupils, and for the first time this year, S1-S3 pupils in a special pilot programme in six schools.
Around 70 per cent of schools in Scotland took part in the challenge last year, with prizes awarded to a handful of pupils during the summer holidays.
Last year Luke Grundy from Brisbane Primary School, North Ayrshire, was awarded the Pupil Reading Journey – Primary 4 Award for a Harry Potter themed record of his reading journey.
“To begin with it took me a long time to read anything. The Reading Challenge has changed my literacy, I am a faster writer and reader. I like Harry Potter, Bear Grylls, Steve Backshall, nature and survival books and Minecraft. After reading a book I sometimes write a story including things I liked about the book,” Luke said.
Ellie Lenzi from Blackwood Primary School, South Lanarkshire, was presented with the Pupil Reading Journey – Primary 5 Award for the huge change in her reading that the Challenge has had.
Before the Challenge, Ellie’s teacher said she did not like to read, never visited the library and didn’t enjoy listening when texts were read aloud in class.
Ellie said: “I only used to read comics because I didn’t like reading. I am now collecting the Horrid Henry books and once I stop reading one I go to read another or I just read the same one again! I have now got the reading bug especially at night time before I go to sleep.”
Thomas Macfadyen, age 9, from Lochwinnoch Primary was awarded the Pupil Reading the Most Books Award after reading an incredible 420 books.
The Renfrewshire bookworm said: “My Gran was the person who got me into reading and I’d like to thank her a lot. I was surprised when I won, because I assumed that someone older than me would read more than I would. I would like to get everyone out there to read loads because there is so much to learn.”
Marc Lambert, CEO at Scottish Book Trust, who run the challenge which is funded by the government, said: “The response from schools and pupils to the first year of the Reading Challenge was fantastic and, with the expanded ages it is now open to, we are looking forward to even more children from across Scotland getting involved.
“Reading is a key life skill and so reading for pleasure needs to be encouraged whenever possible, particularly among schoolchildren who can have a lot of competing demands for their time. Locking in a love of reading at this age is very important."
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