Welsh Government
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£500,000 to promote benefits of books to boys
The campaign, Read A Million Words Together, has been developed by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Basic Skills Cymru team with the aim of ensuring that more boys in Wales achieve the levels of literacy necessary to succeed.
Building on the success of Read a Million Words in 2007, the campaign focuses on making reading more accessible to boys, extending the range of reading materials in the curriculum to include more non-fiction titles, short stories and books which appeal to boys’ tastes.
Drawing on research into boys’ literacy by Dr David Booth from Ontario Canada, and targeting boys aged 9 to 14 who are reluctant readers, the campaign encourages boys to read with other boys and with male family members such as fathers, brothers, uncles, grand fathers and others in a caring capacity.
A copy of ‘Me Read No Way!’, based on Dr Booth’s and other expert’s research has been sent to all schools in Wales. The book promotes teaching methods which have already been proven to work with boys. The guide focuses on thirteen key strategies to encourage boys to become readers and to motivate them to read inside and outside of the classroom.
A £500,000 literacy resource grant distributed amongst primary and secondary schools in Wales will allow them to purchase more resources to support the development of boys’ literacy. A comic called Time Troopers will also be developed to encourage boys to relish reading.
John Griffiths said:
We know that boys sometimes struggle with their reading which can have an impact on their overall levels of literacy and attainment. A lack of positive role models and the assumption that reading isn’t ‘cool’ can have a damaging effect on boys’ willingness to pick up a book.
I want to make sure that boys across Wales know that men read, and through this campaign supported by stars such as Cardiff City’s Joe Ledley and Wales’ Ryan Jones I want to see boys pick up books, comics, sports programmes and much else, embracing all forms of reading.
And family is key. An essential part of the campaign is ensuring that male family members read with their sons, nephews, brothers and cousins.
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