Literacy and reading ideas for teachers

Literacy resources

Suggested list of reading for pleasure training

We believe that teachers should have access to high quality Reading for Pleasure training. Here’s our list of recommended courses:

Scrapbook Challenge downloadable resources 

Discover ideas for how to fill in a reading scrapbook, a poster with different challenges and a certificate for pupils who take part in your school’s Scrapbook Challenge. 

Tips for schools

Tips for using Audiobooks 

Discover access to free audiobooks through Britannica’s 5‑Minute Really True Bedtime Stories and tips to share with school staff and families on how to get the most from audiobooks. 

Setting up a Buddy Reading Scheme in your school 

This resource comes with a PowerPoint for older students to help them on reading with younger pupils, a teacher guide with suggestions on how to implement this in your school and a prompt card for children to use when reading with their buddy. 

Build ​‘Book Buzz’ in your school 

A digital download of practical ideas to develop reading for pleasure in the classroom and build a reading buzz around school. 

Find out about pupils’ reading habits 

A downloadable pack that includes pupil reading surveys to print off for children to complete. This will support staff in schools to understand more about what children enjoy or find challenging about reading. The pack includes Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupil reading surveys, a guide on how to conduct the survey, suggested ways to process the survey and a reading identity poster for children to complete. 

Why is reading so important? 

Below is a quick presentation to share with staff and families to explain the importance of reading. 

Your Story Corner

Your Story Corner 2024/​25 Downloadable resource booklet 

Discover activities to support your new texts with Your Story Corner digital resources.

Interactive literacy resource downloadable booklet

Discover the Your Story Corner printed booklet, with top tips for developing a whole school reading culture and much more.

Literacy and reading resources for primary schools

Our Inspiration Pack is a PDF filled with assemblies, competitions, and class activities that support whole-school reading for pleasure and enhance the use of the Book Rocket Pack.

We recommend using the Inspiration Pack over half a term, following the activity order after receiving the Book Rocket Pack, with built-in instructions and teacher notes to support staff.

Recommended Book Bundles for your school

We have created a variety of book bundles that cover certain themes. Please download the following resources to view the texts we suggest, ideas for implementing these books and additional engaging activities.

Britannica’s 5‑Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime

In this compendium of five-minute really true stories, you will travel to ancient Egypt to explore the five beds of Tutankhamun, jet off into space to discover how astronauts get ready for bed, and plunge underwater to learn how hibernating turtles breathe through their bottoms. With up-to-the-minute, expert information that is beautifully read by British actress Joanna Lumley, this audiobook is the ultimate brainy bedtime companion for young children.

Visit Britannica’s website here.