ACCELERATED READER PROGRAMME
This year Debden Park High School will be using the Accelerated Reader scheme.
What is Accelerated Reader (AR)?
AR is a computer program that helps teachers and librarians manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice.
Your child picks a book at his or her own level and reads it at their own pace. When finished, your child takes a short quiz on the computer. (Passing the quiz is an indication that your child understood what was read.)
AR gives children, teachers, and librarians feedback based on the quiz results, which the teacher and librarian then uses to help your child set goals and direct ongoingreading practice.
Children using AR choose their own books to read, rather than having one assigned to them. This makes reading a much more enjoyable experience as they can choose books that are interesting to them.
A reward system is put in place to encourage students to read and enjoy books.
LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE
Welcome to Debden Park High School Learning Resource Centre.
The library area of the LRC is a bright open space with over 8,000 books available for students to borrow. Each student is able to borrow up to two books for a two week loan period. The seating area is an open space with the recent addition of a soft stool area which is a flexible learning and teaching area. The LRC also has a large interactive whiteboard and is used as a teaching area along with its own computer suite; this also permits pupils to use the area for group work and produces a more relaxed feel during out of school opening hours.
The LRC is open to students Tuesdays to Fridays between 8am and 8:30am, every lunchtime and also after school from 3:10pm to 5pm. The LRC has many facilities for the students to use including computers, books, DVD’s, audio books, magazines and newspapers. Students are encouraged to use the area to work on their ILP’s, coursework and research to enhance their learning and encourage them to become independent learners. The LRC works closely with teachers across the school, providing extra support and help for any pupils looking to improve their in their learning.
The LRC is also host to many events and activities throughout the year such as the Write Stuff, book clubs, Carnegie Awards shadowing and many more. All Year 7’s have a library lessonin which they take part in guided reading, working togetherwith their peers to develop and improve reading and comprehension as well as encouraging independent learning .
LRC OPENING TIMES
TUESDAY TO FRIDAY 8.00am to 8:30am
MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY Year 7, 8 and 9
THURSDAY & FRIDAY Year 10 and 11
EVERY LUNCHTIME AND EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL 3:10pm to 5pm
Mrs Longman
LRC Manager
NATIONAL POETRY DAY CELEBRATIONS
To celebrate the power of words on National Poetry Day, students across all year groups took part in activities working with the theme of Truth.
KS3 students took part in a poetry treasure hunt around the school, seeking out clues along the way to take them to their next poem.
KS4 & KS5 students created some inspiring and outstanding poetry using the title Speak Your Truth.
The LRC was host to a lunchtime activity whereby students created poetry wordles and listened to poems being read.
Mr Narain, Director of Wellbeing at Debden Park High School and published author of poetry, spoke to DNN about the power of poetry. A student from each year group read a paragraph of his poem, “Don’t Wrestle with a Pig”