Read a Million Words for Literacy day.

Basic Skillls Cymru is celebrating International Literacy Day on 8th September by launching three new initiatives to promote the Read a Million Words campaign.

A challenge was set by the Basic Skills Agency in February 2007 for children in Wales to read a million words before December 2007. Now part of the Welsh Assembly Government since merger in July, Basic Skills Cymru is launching three new initiatives to promote the campaign.

Firstly is a programme of drama performances by Cwmni Arad Goch, who will visit every local education authority in Wales during the autumn term. The performances are particularly targeted at boys aged between 9-11 and aim to encourage a more positive attitude to reading.

Secondly, the campaign has been extended into Key Stage 3 with an online passport for pupils who are transferring to secondary schools. The passport will allow pupils to record what words they have learnt whilst at Primary school and plan how they will continue towards the million words target in secondary school. The passport is available from the Read a Million Words in Wales website.

Thirdly, a Design a Wordmobile competition has just been launched for primary school children in schools which are participating in the Read a Million Words in Wales. This is a fun competition in which children have to draw or paint their idea of a Wales wordmobile. Each participating school will run their own competition and enter their winner into their local authority competition. The winning child from each local authority will receive £50 plus £500 for their school to spend on literacy-related resources. The 22 winners from the local authorities will go into an all Wales final to compete for a bigger cash prize and a visit to the Dr Who exhibition in Cardiff. The main judging criteria will be creativity and originality. The closing date for schools to enter is 15th October 2007. The Read a Million Words in Wales website has a number of ideas for teachers to do along side the Wordmobile competition.

Andrew Davies AM for Swansea West said:

‘’I know from my contact with local primary schools that the Read a Million Words in Wales campaign has been a great success in encouraging our children to read. Nearly all of the local primary schools have registered to take part. These three new initiatives will help spur on those already on their way to becoming word millionaires to finish the challenge and persuade others to join in.‘’

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