Literacy Support Reading Room

St Colm’s High School is a co-educational post-primary school in Twinbrook on the outskirts of Belfast with over 500 pupils.

Ursula Mackel is a Senior Teacher in St Colm’s and her role includes responsibility for whole school literacy. In order to promote the need for reading the school bought into the Accelerated Reader programme and Ursula, along with her colleagues, identified the need to provide a safe reading space with plenty of choice in a comfortable non-school environment. As a result, in 2015, a comfortable, relaxed reading room was set up for KS3 pupils with the aim of nurturing pupils’ love for reading and raising their levels of literacy.

Ursula takes us through how they set up a reading room for KS3 pupils and how the pupils have benefitted.

Key Learning

• As pupils’ literacy levels improve so too did their confidence and self-esteem

• Setting up a reading room encouraged pupils to develop a love for reading

• Pupils responded positively to a comfortable, casual environment, selecting their own reading material, moving on at their own pace and taking ownership of their learning journey

Points to Consider

• If pupils require literacy support, consider Accelerated Reader as it supports them while also ensuring development

• Ensure pupils know what level they are at so that they do not become discouraged

• Plan a reading room that is inviting and comfortable for pupils

• Timetable classes to ensure equality of access to the room