21st March 2019

2018 was a big year for Coram Beanstalk as, among other projects, our very first Coram Beanstalk OU/UKLA book group was launched. Made up of a small group of our dedicated reading helpers, they explored lots of different children’s books and spent the sessions discussing the books and experimenting with how they can be used in reading sessions.

The group was a result of a piece of research that concluded that whilst educational professionals embraced adult fiction and believed reading to be hugely advantageous to children, they know little about children’s fiction (Cremin et al 2009). The group aimed to find books that would engage reluctant readers, extend current knowledge of children’s books, finding more non-fiction picture books and researching picture books suitable for Key Stage 2. 

Coram Beanstalk has received huge support from both the OU (Open University) and UKLA (the United Kingdom Literacy Association) to ensure the success of these book groups. Not only have the two organisations sourced leaders of the groups and helped Coram Beanstalk to set the groups up but they provided training and ongoing support to the leaders of the group. 

The Coram Beanstalk OU/UKLA book group met for the first time in Birmingham and they began the meeting by sharing experiences they had encountered while reading with children who were classified as struggling or reluctant readers. The reading helpers quickly realised they were all having similar experiences as they made comments such as ‘They didn’t like reading and couldn’t see the point’ and ‘(he) refused to open any picture books on the basis that they were “too babyish”’. Rebecca Kennedy, UKLA, led four meetings where members of the group were able to explore a variety of children’s books that they had not read before. Picture books and chapter books were read that covered wide topics, including war and immigration.

Having the freedom and time to explore new authors and books with other like-minded adults really allowed members of the group to experiment with new books in their reading sessions with children. Many members said that the book group has enabled them to be more adventurous with their book choices and bring even more fun to reading with books, such as The Book With No Pictures by B.J.Novak.

Coram Beanstalk, in partnership with UKLA and the OU, book groups will continue to run in the South East and London until the end of the academic year, and new groups will start again in Birmingham and the East of England in September 2019. Coram Beanstalk hopes that we will be carrying out a book group in each region that we operate. Keep visiting our website for more information!

A full case study has been created that studies the book group and can be found via the Research Rich Pedagogies website, managed by the Open University. (https://researchrichpedagogies.org/research/example/beanstalk-volunteer-reading-group)