2012 Readathon to focus on various literacy activities

Adhering to tradition, the 2012 campaign will be built around a number of literacy activities, central to which is a handbook that encourages teachers by providing literacy activities, and gives them a selection of stories, quotations, slogans, competitions and posters. It includes a variety of writing frames, examples and illustrations - invaluable for the workshops that will be held over the three months. Four thousand handbooks will be distributed to schools nationally and can be downloaded from the READ website in three booklet formats.

Book clubs are successful

During the 2011 Readathon campaign, book clubs were formed as a pilot in Gauteng. They proved to be successful and a valuable activity to the campaign. They have now been expanded and children throughout the country are being encouraged to introduce book clubs within their communities and schools.

Stemming from the creation of the book clubs in Gauteng, the Reading Starz Forum has been introduced as a part of the 2012 campaign. Monthly meetings take place, where youngsters are taught how to start and maintain book clubs. Guest speakers are organised to share their experiences, and members can interact with them.

After becoming a member of the Reading Starz Forum, you are able to submit a book review, to stand a chance of participating in a workshop. These workshops will be held in October by one of the Reading Starz Forum ambassadors. The workshops offered are a Drama and Script Writing Workshop with Hlubi Mboya and Grethe Fox, as well as a Poetry and Writing Workshop with Ntsiki Mazwai.