“Primary Reading Scores A Goal With New Books For Reluctant Readers”
In a unique collaboration, educational publisher Ransom has teamed up with Portsmouth FC and ChildLine to launch Goal! – a series of 48 football-themed books especially written for high interest age, low reading age students., now availiabe from Keen2learn.
The series desinged for priamry schools children who are reluctant or struggling with reading which launched at a special event at Fratton Park, uses a synthetic phonics approach, and closely follows the ‘Letters and Sounds’ programme produced by the UK government. Inspiring, credible and ‘cool’, Goal! will motivate older kids who have never got to grips with conventional reading schemes by offering them material that indulges their interests while catering for their reading ability, however low that may be. Progressing over five levels, the series can also accompany other reading schemes at KS1, while the higher level books are perfect for boys who just want to read about football – whatever their age!
The series includes fiction and non-fiction titles covering a wide range of football-related topics, and also features books written by Portsmouth and England goalkeeper David James, Portsmouth’s Nigerian winger John Utaka and top women’s footballer Rachel Yankey.
England Goalkeeper David James, who attended yesterday’s series launch and is one of the National Literacy Trust’s Reading Champions, is in no doubt about the importance of his role in promoting literacy.
“I’m not a politician or an educationalist. I play football for a living,†said James. “But I can still see that we are failing kids in terms of basic skills like reading. Every day I meet kids at the training ground and it becomes obvious to me that so many aren’t achieving what they are capable of. I’m in a privileged position so I use my position to do what I can. Kids look up to me, and so many kids love football, so it’s the obvious way to get kids reading.â€
“We were delighted to become involved with the Goal project when it was suggested to us,†he continued. “Our study centre here at the club does a fantastic job with the kind of kids who will benefit most from these books, so it is great to contribute something to the important work they do. I get asked a lot of questions by kids, so I know these are books they’ll find interesting and want to put the effort into reading.â€
The powerful alliance of football and reading is widely recognized and has generated a wide range of initiatives that target underachieving pupils with significant results. Since 2002, The National Literacy Trust’s Reading the Game initiative has worked to promote literacy through the medium of football and has achieved particular success in reaching an audience of particularly stubborn reluctant readers, many of whom risk leaving primary school unable to read at all. Similarly the Department for Children, Schools and Families ‘Playing for Success’ scheme has established study support centres at football clubs that provide out of school support to underachieving pupils. The problem remains however, that despite their enthusiasm for football these pupils are a notoriously difficult audience and there is very little reading material out there catering for them. All the indications are that schools, teachers and parents will welcome the Goal! books:
“At last a publisher has recognised that children want to read when the material is relevant to them. The Goal! series has taken on children’s interests and reaches older readers, usually boys, who have not yet mastered reading. It is a real challenge to engage these pupils and material like this is hard to find. By starting right at the beginning, the Goal! books give low achieving students another go at learning to read, as well as shifting their attitude away from ‘reading is boring’ or ‘not for me’,â€Â comments Margaret Coleman, Head Teacher at Manor Primary School in East Sussex.
In further recognition of Goal’s target audience, and the direct correlation between poor reading ability and anti social behaviour, crime and unemployment, each book also takes the opportunity to promote ChildLine on its back page. Four times as many girls as boys currently call ChildLine, and the helpline is concerned that boys may be reluctant to get in touch, perhaps because asking for help is sometimes seen as being unmanly or weak. However, it is hoped that the involvement of football stars and clubs will lead to more boys calling ChildLine, instead of keeping their worries to themselves.
To view BBC coverage of the Goal! series launch including interviews with David James and John Utaka please visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7587047.stm
Alistair Owens Keen2learn
