By Jon Biddle, Primary School Teacher and English Lead. Former winner of the Reading for Pleasure Awards
As a teacher, being part of the reading journey of a class can be one of the most rewarding aspects of the job. We have the opportunity to get to know our pupils individually as readers, to learn about their reading habits and, most crucially, to guide and nurture their reading identities while they are with us.
At the start of each academic year, I carry out a reading survey with my pupils, which provides me with a useful starting point for our journey together. It tells me how they see themselves as readers, whether they read regularly out of school, what their views are on class story time, the types of books they enjoy - if any - and much more. By doing this, I get a small, but incredibly valuable, insight into their reading lives.
We talk about and celebrate our reading identities regularly over the year. By sharing my reading life (I often mention what I’m reading at home, books I’m looking forward to and whether I’ve had any reading ‘moments’ such as visiting a library or bookshop), it becomes an embedded part of our daily conversation in class. Most importantly, it encourages the children to reflect upon their own. We create reading identity posters a couple of times each academic year, once near the start and once towards the end, which we display in the classroom. These are a great way for the children to reflect on how their identities have evolved as well as to learn about each other as readers. I tend to leave it as quite an open task and ask them to record what they think their friends would like to know about their reading life and how they view themselves as a reader. Because book talk is such a big part of our daily routine, I find that they are generally very honest and reflective with what they share.
Something I do at the end of each academic year is write a letter to my class looking back upon our reading adventures together, both as a class but also as individuals. I print it out and give to them as a reminder of their time in Deer Class. I’ll often record significant reading moments throughout the year so I can personalise it as much as possible. These might include when a child discovered a new author or poet, the time they got emotional about our class story, when they read to Nursery or Reception, the first time they performed Poem of the Day, the fact that they’re a valuable source of Manga recommendations to their peers, literally anything that has helped shape their reading identity.
The first part of the letter is about the fact that they should consider themselves as readers. I try and explain the difference between being able to read and being ‘a reader’, and follow it up with a few examples from across the year.
Because you make wonderful recommendations to each other and talk about books all the time. Because you remind me about Poem of the Day whenever I forget it (which is pretty often). Because you’re all so helpful when we’re visited by children from classes further down the school who want a book recommendation. Because whenever I walk past the library on the way to the staffroom at lunchtime, I see you reading stories and poems with younger pupils.
It obviously varies from class to class but there will always be many moments to celebrate and look back on.
I then write a sentence or two about each of the pupils in turn. I’m currently teaching a mixed Year 5/6 class, so I only need to write something about half of them each year, which does make it slightly easier.
Amelie, you’re a reader because you’ve read every book in the classroom that mentions horse and ponies (and you’ve loved them all). I always enjoy watching your reaction when we get to an emotional part in our class book.
Max, you’re a reader because everyone respects your views about books. You’re always so keen to share your recommendations. The way you think so carefully about which books you’re going to read to the younger children continually impresses me…
Sorayah, you’re a reader because you know everything there is to know about our class collection of graphic novels. Just as impressively, you always seem to know who else is reading them, how far they’ve got and what their opinions are.
Billy, you're a reader because you just didn't give up. It took a while, but you found the type of books you love in the end. Keep with it!
Because I teach Year 6 pupils, I finish the letter by talking briefly about their transition to secondary school, how it is important to make friends with the school librarian and how much I hope they will continue reading. However, it could work equally as well by mentioning the transition to their next class in primary school. It would be worth getting a couple of pointers from their next teacher about what is coming up (I know how much Mrs Smith is looking forward to reading you Varjak Paw next year).
It does take time to put together but, if you make a few notes about each child as the year goes on, it should be possible to come up with something worthwhile and personal about all of them. I find it to be a valuable exercise as it really makes me consider the reading identity of every child in my class and helps ensure that I do as much possible over the year to nurture it and allow it to grow, whether by recommending books, being a visible reading role model or simply providing a quiet space in the classroom for them to read at lunchtime (pupils frequently mention on their reading surveys that they lack somewhere peaceful to read at home). It is also very well received by parents and carers because they know that you have made the effort to learn about their children as individuals.
I have published several of my previous letters on my Reading for Pleasure blog (https://childrenreadingforpleasure.blogspot.com) over the past few years. Please feel free to take a look and adapt them for your class if you think they would help.
Dear Class,
As you’re leaving school soon, to move on to the next exciting stage of your life, there’s something really important that I need to tell you. Do you realise that you’re all readers now, every single one of you? I don’t mean that you all can read, because you’ve been able to do that for a long time. I mean that you’re all readers; real, genuine, passionate readers. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it over the past few days and I’m pretty sure that I’m right.
How do I know? Because the evidence is everywhere.
Because you start getting ready for story time and moving the cushions to the floor before I've even noticed. Because you make wonderful recommendations to each other and talk about books all the time. Because you remind me about Poem of the Day whenever I forget it (which is pretty often) and keep it going when I'm not there. Because you have the confidence to read books by a wide range of authors.
Because you loiter around the desk whenever you see a new brown parcel arrive, just in case it's a new book (and, let's be honest, it usually is). Because you come into class early to tell me about the books you've read over the weekend or during the holidays. Because you give up your lunchtimes to help keep the school library and Reading Shed running. Because you’re all so keen to have your turn organising the Pupil Recommendations shelf.
Because you understand that reading is far more than books, and that magazines, newspapers, riddles and jokes all count. Because I can hear you talking about books and making recommendations on the way to assembly, even though I pretend I can't. Because you’re all so helpful when we’re visited by children from classes further down the school who want a book recommendation. Because the first conversation I have with most of you each morning is about what you’ve read the previous evening. Because whenever I walk past the library on the way to the staffroom, I see you reading stories and poems with younger pupils.
In fact, now that I’ve started, let me be even more specific…
Ava, you’re a reader because you’ve read every single book in the classroom that mentions horse and ponies…and you’ve loved them all. I always enjoy watching your reaction when we get to an emotional part in our class book.
Liam, you’re a reader because everyone respects your views about books. You’re always so keen to share your recommendations. The way you think so carefully about which books you’re going to read to the younger children continually impresses me.
Maheen, you’re a reader because you know everything there is to know about our class collection of graphic novels. You’ve enjoyed so many over the year. Just as impressively, you always seem to know who else is reading them, how far they’ve got and what their opinions are. Thank you for keeping my book bill down!
Chloe, you’re a reader because your recommendations are outstanding. You have such great empathy and match books to readers so well. You’ve encouraged so many other children to read books by Tamsin Winter and Rebecca Westcott. Thank you.
Mila, you're a reader because you have an opinion on virtually every book that's in the classroom and you make me work really hard whenever you want a book recommended to you that you haven't already read. You've also pointed me in the direction of some fantastic books over the year.
Akshay, you’re a reader because you read the books that you enjoy and you don’t mind what other people think about them. You read the Mr Wolf’s Class graphic novel series and you loved them. And then you read them again. And then you read them again. And that’s absolutely fine.
Jordan, you’re a reader because you can remember exactly what happened on page 264 of Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief (and on any page of any other Percy Jackson book). It’s so clear how much you love the series. You’re always keen to help out in the library whenever someone is absent, which is enormously appreciated.
Miles, you’re a reader because you were really keen to continue with the Once series after we’d read the first ones. The fact that you were so honest about how much you enjoyed them and how emotional they made you really impressed me. I’m glad the ones you read lived up to your expectations.
Leah, you’re a reader because you’re incredibly passionate about poetry. I love how you’re always keen to fill the gap whenever there’s a blank day. You’ve also started to widen the range of books you read lately by listening to recommendations from your friends.
Owen, you're a reader because you just didn't give up. It took a while, but you found the type of books you love in the end. Keep with it! Your contributions to our class discussions about books are always worth listening to.
Aaliyah, you’re a reader because you’ve single-handedly kept the Reading Shed going this year. You’re always happy to open it, tidy it up and organise the books in there because you know other people enjoy using it. You love reading and you want others to as well.
Sofia, you’re a reader because you’re our resident Manga expert. So many other children have started reading Manga because of your passion and expertise. It’s wonderful that you’re always keen to share the latest series you’ve discovered. You’re definitely an influencer!
Luca, you’re a reader because the excitement in your face when you found out there was going to be a third Aveline Jones book will always stay with me. You’ve never once forgotten when it’s time to go and read to the younger children.
Eve, you’re a reader because you seek me out every break and lunchtime to tell me all about your latest book. You read widely and with such enthusiasm! You always have a reading plan…this is what I’m reading next and then this is what I’m reading after that.
Amber, you’re a reader because you think very carefully about which picture book you’re going to share with the children in Reception at story time. You’ve done so much to help promote reading around the school over the year and that’s amazing.
Sam, you’re a reader because you have such a strong individual reading identity. You were one of the first to read the Heartstopper series and, because of that, lots of other people read them too. You’re a brave reader and I love how you want to try new books.
Amer, you’re a reader because you got so emotionally involved when we read A Street Dog Named Pup together. The way you listened so intensely was amazing. The enthusiasm you have for Poem of the Day has spread to everyone around the class.
Niamh, you’re a reader because you live and breathe books. You’ve been a wonderful Reading Champion this year, you’ve given up your Thursdays to open the library and you seem to have read every book in school. Just as importantly, you’ve recommended as many books to me as I have to you over the past few years.
I could go on for a lot longer, but I won't as I've made my point. Also, the summer holidays are almost upon us and we've all got a lot of reading to be getting on with. Have a wonderful break and enjoy your time at secondary school. Find the library, make friends with the librarian, keep reading books and make the most of every single minute. I’ll miss you all.
Mr Biddle
*Names have been changed
Jon Biddle
Jon Biddle is an experienced primary school teacher and English lead. He currently teaches at Moorlands Primary Academy in Norfolk. Jon is a passionate advocate of Reading for Pleasure, winning the 2018 RfP Experienced Teacher of the Year award and the 2021 RfP School of the Year award. He coordinates the national Patron of Reading initiative, which is focused on schools and authors developing long term relationships, is an advisor for Empathy Lab and is part of the UKLA national council. Jon writes a regular column about Reading for Pleasure for Educate magazine, where he shares practical ideas that can be introduced into the classroom, and regularly contributes to other publications. He is also part of the editorial team for English 4-11 magazine. Jon loves reading children’s books, and is a particular fan of graphic novels.
Bluesky