Reading Ain't Just Books!

Daphne Lee interviews reading development expert Tom Palmer in Starmag today, and talk about how his mum got him into reading by giving him football magazines! Now he builds on a love of the game in his own workshops to encourage kids to read.

On getting kids to read:

Often, all it takes is to allow children to make their own reading choices. It’s logical, really. Why would a child or anyone read a book that they find boring? It makes all the difference to identify a subject of interest and use it to lead to reading. Reading is not really perceived as a cool activity, apart from when it’s something like the Harry Potter books – whenever one comes out, it’s carried around like a fashion accessory. So it’s a bad idea to force a child to do something that’s already seen as boring. ... I know boys who say they don’t read and dislike reading, but when you talk to them you realise they spend an hour every day reading blogs, websites, magazines. They do these things unconsciously and because the reading doesn’t involve a book, they don’t see it as reading.

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Football, Reading and Tom Palmer (3/12/06)

Football, Reading and Tom Palmer

This from the British Council:

Football and reading - you might think that these two things don't go together too well (especially if you try to do them at the same time!) but author Tom Palmer shows they really CAN mix - and help reluctant readers too!

Tom Palmer is a freelance writer and reader development specialist from Leeds. He writes fiction and non-fiction, covering topics as diverse as football, fatherhood, fertility, wool –yes, wool—and libraries. He was editor and contributor of Four Fathers, a collection of tales of fatherhood and reflections on the relationships of the authors with each of their own fathers; he runs football reading and writing workshops and works as a reader in residence, coordinating author events, literature festivals and reading groups –even one for his favourite football team, Leeds United.

Tom will be in Kuala Lumpur to talk about his books and run a series of workshops on reader development for librarians.

Come meet Tom Palmer and hear him read from his books on fatherhood and football, and discuss methods of getting boys and dads reading.

Date 11 December 2006 Venue British Council Kuala Lumpur
Time 6:30-8:00p.m.

This event is free but places are limited. Refreshments will be served. Bring the family and come early to bag a good seat!

To book a place, please contact Jayanthi Thevarajah Tel: +60 (0)3 2723 7932, Fax: +(0)3 27136599 or Email: jayanthi.thevarajah@britishcouncil.org.my.

I met Tom last year at the British Council's Animating Literature Conference in Manila where he ran some of the workshops which left me feeling much inspired. Am thrilled to bits that he's coming to KL, not least because I know we'll very quickly get into one of those what-have-you-been-reading-
you-must-try-this conversations which could keep us going for hours. He's an inspiring and entertaining speaker, and has a ton of ideas for getting the reluctant (especially of the male species!) to read.

To find out more about him and his work, check out his website.