Welcome to the second edition of our ExemplaRS series, which celebrates some of the great work being carried out in our primary Reading Schools across the country. Focusing on a particular key area each time, we hope to provide schools with ideas and inspiration, but also to help showcase the range of experiences a key area can cover.
This page covers the work of primary schools across Scotland. If you’re keen to see the work of secondary schools in this key area, explore ExemplaRS Edition 2: Secondary Reading Schools.
Staff across the school demonstrate how they are readers themselves; the normalisation of reading for pleasure as an activity for everyone throughout their life.
In Falkirk, the staff at St Francis Xavier's RC Primary’s Reading Leadership Group were gifted little Christmas reading bags, with a book, a bottle and crisps. They all had the same book to read over the Christmas holidays and began a reading group book club.
During Book Week Scotland, staff at Douglas Primary in South Lanarkshire shared their all-time favourite books with pupils and families. They talked about the books they read as children and how they shaped the types of books they prefer to read today. A teacher talked to her class about three of the books she loves most and what they taught her about friendship.
All Saints Primary in North Lanarkshire decided to do a ‘Guess the Staff Reader’ competition. Reader Leaders loved organising this and the children got really excited guessing which teacher was reading which book.
We love seeing staff reading their own books from home during DEAR time. Here’s a lovely example from Killin Primary in Stirling,
The staff room reading corner at Mossend Primary in North Lanarkshire is enjoyed by all.
At Masterton Primary in Fife, staff and learners shared photos of places they like to read for World Book Day.
Staff book swaps are a great conversation starter. Here’s an example from Dingwall Primary in the Highlands. This has been really successful at prompting staff to recommend other books to each other, too.
Mr Laird, the janitor at Northmuir Primary in Angus, was presented with the ‘Staff Bookworm of the Term’ award by the P1 Reading Champions.
Teachers read too! This display at Alexander Peden Primary in North Lanarkshire caught the eye of learners but also got them talking about books and recommending them to each other.
Resource: Staff being seen as readers themselves(this will open in a new window)
Case study: Visible staff role modelling at St. Vincent's primary school(this will open in a new window)
