Devon kids drop everything to read

8:00pm Tuesday 7th October 2008

SCHOOLS and children’s centres across Devon will be taking part in a special initiative to celebrate the enjoyment of reading on Friday.

Drop Everything And Read, or DEAR Day, will take place as part of Devon Gets Reading, the county’s campaign that promotes the National Year of Reading.

The plan is for everyone to drop everything and read for pleasure during a selected 15-minute period.

Devon Gets Reading coordinator Roger Kirk said: “On DEAR Day, we’re asking all primary, secondary and special schools, children’s centres and pupil referral units to stage at least 15 minutes of reading when every child and adult in the school reads.

“This could be silent reading, paired reading or joint reading aloud. It could be stories, poems, newspapers or magazines - reading should be interpreted as widely as possible.

“We believe this is a fun way to highlight Devon Gets Reading and promote reading for enjoyment. Pupils and students will know that their counterparts across the county are all doing the same.

“We’re asking schools and Children’s Centres to register their willingness to take part so we know who is involved.

“On DEAR day itself we’re asking for a simple return on what young people decided to read, gathered by age and gender, which we will then collate and publish countywide to record what Devon’s young people enjoy reading.”