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What the Children SayWhat the Children SayMaggie PeakeMaggie Peake

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ContentContent

Objectives of researchObjectives of research Research Method and SampleResearch Method and Sample HighlightsHighlights RecommendationsRecommendations

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Objectives of ResearchObjectives of Research

In-depth look at Summer Reading In-depth look at Summer Reading Challenge (SRC)Challenge (SRC)

Children Children completedcompleted 2009 SRC 2009 SRC Their depth of understanding was neededTheir depth of understanding was needed Self motivated and brave to attend focus Self motivated and brave to attend focus

groups and still want improvementsgroups and still want improvements

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Research Method and SampleResearch Method and Sample

Five focus groups, each about an hourFive focus groups, each about an hour £10 book token, parental consent, good £10 book token, parental consent, good

attendanceattendance 34 children aged 6-11years (24 were 34 children aged 6-11years (24 were 9+)9+) Half boys and girlsHalf boys and girls Essex, Lambeth and Manchester librariesEssex, Lambeth and Manchester libraries Discussion guide but lead by children’s Discussion guide but lead by children’s

interestinterest

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HighlightsHighlights

Enthusiasm and energy talking about reading Enthusiasm and energy talking about reading and the SRCand the SRC

Rare. If only we could bottle it!Rare. If only we could bottle it! Wonder and excitement at finding a good bookWonder and excitement at finding a good book Main experience of SRC is the books they Main experience of SRC is the books they

choose choose Most of their SRC time is spent at home reading Most of their SRC time is spent at home reading

the six booksthe six books When asked about SRC often talking about the When asked about SRC often talking about the

books they read = don’t distinguishbooks they read = don’t distinguish

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Importance of book choiceImportance of book choice

Choosing good stories determines whether it’s a Choosing good stories determines whether it’s a good SRC or notgood SRC or not

Challenge is to get an interesting story that isn’t Challenge is to get an interesting story that isn’t too difficult to readtoo difficult to read

It’s the stories that keep them goingIt’s the stories that keep them going Too easy will be boringToo easy will be boring Realise that choosing something a bit difficult Realise that choosing something a bit difficult

can lead to a better storycan lead to a better story

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““Some people like easy ones. But if you pick easy ones…Some people like easy ones. But if you pick easy ones…not as many pages…it would be faster but it could be a not as many pages…it would be faster but it could be a disappointment cos you’ve got the whole summer and you disappointment cos you’ve got the whole summer and you don’t have any books left.”don’t have any books left.”

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SRC: positivesSRC: positives

Makes them feel happy, imaginative, pleased Makes them feel happy, imaginative, pleased with themselves, proud, clever and excitedwith themselves, proud, clever and excited

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SRC :positives (cont.1)SRC :positives (cont.1)

It’s a fun way of readingIt’s a fun way of reading Simple to understandSimple to understand

““A fun challenge. You get certificates and stuff if A fun challenge. You get certificates and stuff if you read books”you read books”

““You read six books and you get an award for it”You read six books and you get an award for it” Not competitive or like schoolNot competitive or like school

1010

““It’s a fun way for people who don’t read that It’s a fun way for people who don’t read that much. You enjoy reading and it’s also great fun.”much. You enjoy reading and it’s also great fun.”

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SRC: positives (cont. 2)SRC: positives (cont. 2)

Reading becomes easier and more fun with Reading becomes easier and more fun with practisepractise

Prizes (medals, scratch and sniff, moving image Prizes (medals, scratch and sniff, moving image cards) and activitiescards) and activities

Helps make school work easier and write more Helps make school work easier and write more imaginative storiesimaginative stories

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““If you read a lot of books…you get better in your reading…If you read a lot of books…you get better in your reading…you know how to read properly like…when you’re reading you know how to read properly like…when you’re reading it’s so easy to read because you’ve read so many books.”it’s so easy to read because you’ve read so many books.”

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SRC: negativesSRC: negatives

Can be boring if you pick a boring (too difficult/long) bookCan be boring if you pick a boring (too difficult/long) book““I put boring because of a boring book”I put boring because of a boring book”

““Last year I was relieved it was over because I read Lord of the Last year I was relieved it was over because I read Lord of the Rings! This year it was fine.’Rings! This year it was fine.’

Not challenging enough for older childrenNot challenging enough for older children Some believe they have to finish Some believe they have to finish everyevery book and will be book and will be

tested tested by librarian by librarian ““As soon as you finish your book you go to the library and they test As soon as you finish your book you go to the library and they test you on it.”you on it.”

Some believe they can’t take library books on holiday Some believe they can’t take library books on holiday (limits time available for SRC)(limits time available for SRC)

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SRC: Negatives (cont.)SRC: Negatives (cont.)

Very little awareness and usage of website Very little awareness and usage of website (surprising?)(surprising?)

Medals important … want SRC and year, Medals important … want SRC and year, not wearable - hole too small for ribbonnot wearable - hole too small for ribbon

One authority didn’t have medals this One authority didn’t have medals this year… it was noticed!year… it was noticed!

Some disappointment if prizes have run Some disappointment if prizes have run out (moving image card)out (moving image card)

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PostersPosters

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More postersMore posters

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More postersMore posters

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Responses to last 3 SRCsResponses to last 3 SRCs

Quest Seekers Quest Seekers loved by those interested in fantasy storiesloved by those interested in fantasy stories some children thought characters lacked personality and looked too some children thought characters lacked personality and looked too

scaredscared preferred in Essex (Dragon themed activities)preferred in Essex (Dragon themed activities)

Team ReadTeam Read most popular in the three groups in London and Manchestermost popular in the three groups in London and Manchester lots of happy characters to identify withlots of happy characters to identify with like sporty themelike sporty theme obvious it’s about readingobvious it’s about reading

Big Wild ReadBig Wild Read liked because it was also about saving the world liked because it was also about saving the world obvious it was about readingobvious it was about reading

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“…“…them three and the grandpa right and the dragon (it’s them three and the grandpa right and the dragon (it’s not a grandpa it’s a magician!) oh yes sorry…(what didn’t not a grandpa it’s a magician!) oh yes sorry…(what didn’t you like about the characters?)…their personality. you like about the characters?)…their personality. Sometimes they’re quite scared and I want them to be Sometimes they’re quite scared and I want them to be brave.”brave.”

2020

Recommendations (1)Recommendations (1)

More support in choosing a book… simple, More support in choosing a book… simple, visible system of highlighting popular booksvisible system of highlighting popular books

Book reviews by children… have an expert for Book reviews by children… have an expert for each genreeach genre

Dispel myths to make challenge easier…don’t Dispel myths to make challenge easier…don’t have to finish book if not enjoying, won’t be have to finish book if not enjoying, won’t be tested (enjoy talking about books), can take tested (enjoy talking about books), can take books on holiday etc.books on holiday etc.

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““All the people who like adventure books could All the people who like adventure books could recommend…and say you like detective books, action recommend…and say you like detective books, action books and spy books you could recommend and in that books and spy books you could recommend and in that way it would be better."way it would be better."

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Recommendations (2)Recommendations (2)

More of a challenge for older children… three-More of a challenge for older children… three-tiered system of medals (bronze, silver and tiered system of medals (bronze, silver and gold?) for reading more books (children who gold?) for reading more books (children who challenge themselves want to be noticed) challenge themselves want to be noticed)

Medals more special, collectable and wearableMedals more special, collectable and wearable Loyalty scheme for completing more than one Loyalty scheme for completing more than one

SRCSRC Include creative activities like writing storiesInclude creative activities like writing stories Website provide more support for book choiceWebsite provide more support for book choice

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““Have different reading challenges for younger and older. Have different reading challenges for younger and older. (For the younger?) They would have Quest Seeker prizes (For the younger?) They would have Quest Seeker prizes and they’d read 6 books. For the older ones more books and they’d read 6 books. For the older ones more books and a page limit so people challenge themselves and you and a page limit so people challenge themselves and you feel creative and imaginative.”feel creative and imaginative.”

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What next?What next?

Important to build relationships with Important to build relationships with these library advocates and users of these library advocates and users of the futurethe future

Involve these SRC Involve these SRC championschampions in in promoting SRC, sharing their promoting SRC, sharing their enthusiasm and experience, such as enthusiasm and experience, such as with posters and book with posters and book recommendationsrecommendations