Ark Blake Academy is determined to create an excellent reading culture where our pupils can enjoy the myriad lifelong benefits of reading confidently and with enjoyment.
As part of tutor time we have an excellent reading programme, including whole class reading in the morning and independent reading in the afternoon. In the morning, each House reads from a different novel, selected to reflect our values. To date, we've read novels including The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis, Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman, and Wonder by R J Palacio.
On Friday mornings, pupils read from our Anthology for Greatness. The anthology is a collection of short stories, articles and songs selected by our teachers. Each edition of the anthology explores one of our Blake values. For example, in a recent anthology pupils explored the value of bravery; specifically the concept of ‘quiet courage’ as described by Mary Ann Radmacher in her quote, “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.'"
For pupils who need additional support with their reading, we use Ruth Miskin’s Fresh Start programme. The Fresh Start programme, “teaches students to read accurately and fluently with good comprehension. It teaches them to spell correctly and compose their ideas for writing step-by-step.”