The CCC Top 50 Reading Challenge is a great way to discover new books and develop as a reader. Each Year Group has been given a list of ten books, which are available from the library. The challenge is to read as many of them as you can. When you finish a book from the list, you then log onto the Google classroom (the code to join is zlufsmd), pick a reading challenge and complete it to win house points.

The reading challenges include: 

1. Writing and/or videoing a dramatic monologue
2. Creating a collage, drawing or other artwork on the book’s themes or characters
3. Storyboard or create a video for a film trailer for the book
4. Create a Found Poem from words and phrases taken from the book
5. Write a blog or film a vlog about the book
6. Create a diorama to explore/illustrate an important scene or theme from the book
7. Take a key moment in the story and turn it into a comic book, including speech and thought bubbles for the characters
8. Pick an important object or place from the story and create a poster to show what it looks like and why it is important to the story

However, if you decide you would like to explore the book in another way, you are welcome and encouraged to do so.

Here are links to the Year 7-11 CCC Top 50 book lists:

Year 7        Year 8        Year 9        Year 10        Year 11

More information to follow.

Bookbuzz is a reading programme organized by the charity BookTrust to help schools inspire a love of reading in 11 to 13-year-olds. Year 7 students at Coleridge get the opportunity to choose their own book to take home and keep. Thus every student in Year 7 is able to have at least one book that belongs to them. In October, they order the book they want from a list of 17 titles, all chosen by a panel of experts to encourage reading for pleasure. They receive their books, wrapped up as an early Christmas present, in December. There are copies of all the books on the Bookbuzz list in the library for students to borrow. Further information can be found on the website: www.booktrust.org.uk

Coleridge receives the School Library Pack which inclues a free pack of books that includes future classics, books for reluctant readers and non-fiction titles. All the books are aimed at students aged 11-14 and can be used in lessons, in the library, at lunchtime book groups or in reading interventions. There are a total of 40 books in the pack, which also has hints and tips for teachers and librarians as well as suggestions for enjoyable, social reading and discussion activities. More information can be found on the website: www.booktrust.org.uk

This is a national reading initiative that takes place every year from March until the end of June and the book that is voted outstanding by children’s librarians is awarded a Medal. The Award’s mission is ‘to inspire and empower the next generation to create a better world through books and reading’. 

Coleridge Community College fully supports this mission. The school takes part in the Carnegie Awards Shadowing Scheme every year. This engages thousands of children and young people in reading groups in schools and public libraries, supported by educational reading resources. 

The Coleridge Book Group have attended Carnegie Celebration Events and Coleridge has hosted one of these at the school. We look forward to doing so again in the future.

• March: Shortlist of books announced and Shadowing begins
• March - June: Shadowing groups read, review and take part in activities
• May - early June: Shadowers’ Choice Award voting open
• Mid June: Carnegie Medal Award winners announced

If you would like more information, please visit the Carnegie website: www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk

World Book Day is a worldwide celebration of reading, authors, illustrators and books. It takes place at the beginning of March every year. Coleridge organises many competitions and activities to celebrate World Book Day. So far these have included: a Year 7 Baking Competition based around the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; both students and staff dressing up as a character from their favourite book; quizzes about the authors Roald Dahl and Harry Potter; a literary murder mystery game and, most recently, Guess the Masked Reader. 

Students also receive a £1.00 Book Token which they can exchange immediately for a free £1.00 book; Coleridge works in partnership with Heffers Bookshop in Cambridge to organize this. Alternatively, if they prefer, students can take their £1 token to any participating bookshop to get a £1.00 discount on a book worth £2.00 or more. 

More information about this event can be found on the World Book Day website: www.worldbookday.com