In The News
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In The Newswww.DavidASpencer.com/rainesfoundation/inthenews.html |
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What's new at Learning Design Learning Design, 6th December, 2002 http://www.learningdesign.biz/new.html#1
Learning Design publishes several publications a year. Our most recent publications include:
1. The Chelsea Bunny by Paul Blum
Mean, moody and maverick! Your class will love the antics of this football-mad rabbit in the run-up to Cup Final day! Quirky, alternative literacy materials for demotivated readers Reading ages 7-9 Chelsea Bunny rules OK! You better believe it! 'What team do you support, mate?' It's the only question that matters to a football mad rabbit or a football obsessed pupil. The Chelsea Bunny Literacy Workshop came about from the grass roots of pupil power. The central character, Chelsea Bunny, is already dear to the hearts of many demotivated readers all over London. Essentially bored in most of his lessons, due to distinctly non-academic inclinations and poor reading and writing skills, the rabbit flicks paper at his mates, reads his book upside down and shouts out the names of all his favourite footballers, rather than getting on with his work. In his spare time he's out at matches, brawling with other teams' supporters. The rabbit is a die-hard football hooligan, whose head is constantly covered in bruises. Every time he loses his temper, which is almost on every page, he head butts the nearest object. Floors, walls, tables and other football supporters come in for some rough treatment! Divided into lesson-sized bites, the stories are a quirky satire on the 'macho values' that a lot of boys and increasingly, some girls, bring into the classroom with them. The stories are illustrated by gifted and talented cartoonists from Years 9 and 10 at Raine's Foundation School in London. The book is a punchy alternative to the National Literacy Strategy Key Stage Three Progress Units. It has pupil-friendly word level, sentence and text level work to be done at the end of each lesson. The reading age of the materials is around 9 so they make a user-friendly alternative way to engage in important language work. The book is probably best used as a group or whole class text in Year 7 and 8, especially suitable for reluctant readers who have given up hope that they would ever read anything that dares admit to the bravado and violent swagger of their adolescent sub-culture. This book is a 'must' for imaginative English and Literacy teachers.
Review comments on Paul Blum's earlier series 'The extraordinary files':
2. The eXtraordinary Files By Paul Blum
They are detectives. She's got attitude. He''s scared of the dark. She's a karate black belt. He's a computer geek. He fancies her. She isn't interested. But they are 'buddies' in a secret service team. Where the high-ranking Commanders often weave a web of lies around the ghosts, aliens and mysteries that make up EXtraordinary Files. The Extraordinary Files are:
Key Stage 3 and 4 High interest, low aged readers. Or independent reading for Key Stage 2. Reading Age 7-9. Great for small group literacy sessions. Science Fiction with good narratives and character build up. Produced by Tower Hamlets Gifted and Talented Pupil Project - Connect Five.
Reviews:
Copyright © 2002 Learning Design |
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Further information about Raine's Foundation School today can be found at: www.rainesfoundation.org.uk
Further information about The Old Raineians' Association can be found at: www.oldraineians.com
Further information about individual Old Raineians, including their memories of the school and their teachers, a message board, a list of famous pupils and some school photographs, can be found at: www.friendsreunited.co.uk
