Library & Literacy

Reading at Home

This page has some useful links to reading resources and other tips to help keep reading engaging and positive. Please do share your own ideas and experiences with us too.

If you have any queries concerning passwords, reading levels, reading tips or how to find reading materials, please email our Librarian Ms Sojka at a.sojka@harrisbromley.org.uk or our Literacy Lead Charlotte Matheson, c.matheson@harrisbromley.org.uk. You can also email your child’s English teacher for specific queries relating to Bedrock or student progress.

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The latest 'must reads'

Click HERE to see the latest 'must reads' - suggested reading for each month of the school year to tie in with events happening that month.

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Reading Cloud

Reading Cloud is a library management system which enables access to our Learning Resource Centre at any time and from any internet enabled device. To log in from your Laptop, PC, tablet or smartphone click this link: https://www.readingcloud.net/

Reading Cloud enables you to:

• Search, reserve or download resources from the school library and across the Reading Cloud
• View recommended reads that are automatically generated, similar to books previously enjoyed
• Like and recommend resources to other students
• Write  book reviews
• Share your home library with friends at school
• Access pre-approved, curriculum relevant web links
• Plus much more...

Reading Cloud links real and virtual reading experiences to engage students and encourages a school reading community, join in and be a part of it! If you have any questions about the Reading Cloud contact Ms Sojka in the LRC or email a.sojka@harrisbromley.org.uk.

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How often should I be reading?

As often as you can! We recommend at least 30 minutes a day. At school, students read for 10 minutes each day in DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time, as well as for 20 minutes every Friday in Friday Book Club.  To help continue this habit while at home, we are encouraging pupils to read for at least 30 minutes a day - this could include reading aloud to a parent, sibling or even a pet!

After finishing a book, why not write a review and send it to our Librarian Mrs Woolcott and receive another book recommendation. Your review could also get featured in our termly Academy Magazine - Insight.

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The Bromley 100

The Bromley 100 comprises of 100 books that the staff, students and parents believe to be classic and contemporary books, which students should aim to read during their time at the Academy. For the current list of books, click this link. Bromley 100.

The Library at Harris Girls’ Academy Bromley has a wide range of reading materials within its catalogue; containing a wealth of different forms of literature ranging from the classics to young adult, Manga, non-fiction, newspapers and more. There is an array of literature and different genres which can entice even the most reluctant of readers!

Educational research has extensively documented the benefit of reading and its contribution to developed academic and social skills alongside well-being. This is actively promoted and encouraged within HGABR through our use of DEAR time (Drop Everything And Read.) All students have a daily twenty-minute window whereby they read in a focused environment, allowing themselves to become immersed in what they are reading. This practise is actively promoted as we are encouraging students to become independent readers outside of school, widening and broadening their reading material and genres. Students should aim to read at home and be encouraged to do so. The key to unlocking hidden knowledge, opening doors to new information, enhancing comprehension, vocabulary, communication skills, academic aptitude and awareness of the written word is by reading!

Incorporating reading into your daily routine benefits literacy and well-being whilst being very relaxing and enjoyable too! 

Please contact Ms Sojka with any book suggestions, reviews, or general library queries. You can see a list of our new books in the library here. New Book's.

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Bedrock Learning (Years 7-10)

Bedrock Learning is an innovative literacy improvement programme which delivers a curriculum designed to develop your daughter’s knowledge of a range of meaningful vocabulary whilst exposing her to a range of fiction and non-fiction texts. Your daughter will be set and required to complete two tasks a week on this platform. Due to the nature of the tasks and the importance of repetition when embedding new vocabulary, it is important that your daughter leaves at least 48 hours between tasks. The programme runs online at www.bedrocklearning.org. You should have received notification of your daughter’s login details as well as your parent access code. If, for any reason, you have not received this information or you are having problems with it, please do not hesitate to let your daughter’s English teacher know. Email into info@harrisbromley.org.uk, with your daughters English Teachers name.

‘Bedrock Brilliance’ Competition - Watch this space!

A Student Guide for Bedrock can be found here; or downloaded at the bottom of this page.

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Free access to ebooks, Audiobooks, Comics and Research Resources

• Oxford Owl - expert advice, educational resources and free eBooks to support children's learning at home, from Oxford University Press.
• David Walliams daily free audio story for 30 days.
• Audible.com - Free trial of audible books for all ages. There are a range of categories to choose from and the texts on offer cover a range of ages. Audiobooks are becoming increasingly popular and are predicted to overtake the sales of ebooks in 2020 (National Literacy Trust). The research review found that audiobooks can improve children’s reading skills and enjoyment of reading, support children’s emotional and mental wellbeing, improve children’s reading comprehension and widen access to books.
• Researchify - Word/PDF/Audiobooks of Children’s Classics.
• Project Gutenberg - The Project Gutenberg website offers over 60, 000 free eBooks. Your daughter can choose to download this as a Kindle book or read online. This website is completely free to use and does not require any registration.  
• The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust has also created a short reading list of books that are available to read online.
• Bromley Libraries have a great e-library, where you can download books, audiobooks and view comics for free. https://glllibraries.overdrive.com/library/teens . All that is required is your library card and pin number and access is via the Libby App or Overdrive website. Free enrolment can be processed online.
• Literacy Trust: The Book of Hopes. Completely free for all children and families, the extraordinary collection of short stories, poems, essays and pictures has contributions from more than 110 children’s writers and illustrators, including Lauren Child, Anthony Horowitz, Greg James and Chris Smith, Michael Morpurgo, Liz Pichon, Axel Scheffler, Francesca Simon and Jacqueline Wilson.
• www.poetrystation.org.uk. This website focuses on providing recordings of poetry to help students engage in the auditory nature of poems and language.
• The National Literacy Trust's Family Zone is a comprehensive web portal for parents and guardians. There are activities for all age groups which will engage children at home, whilst also benefiting their reading, writing and language development. Currently the Family Zone only provides resources for students up to the age of 12, however secondary school students as well. 
• BookTrust HomeTime Free online books and videos - play games, win prizes, test your knowledge in book-themed quizzes, or even learn how to draw some of your favourite characters.
• www.booktrust.org.uk - The Book Trust website offers a range of resources linked to children’s literature, as well as a resource for recommending books that your daughter might be interested in reading moving forward.
• www.goodreads.com - The Good Reads website is free to join. On this website, your daughter can write reviews of books she has read, search through book lists and recommendations and take part in quizzes on novels.

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Key Events

LRC key date schedule September 2020 onwards

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