Boys’ reading challenge: Langholm and Canonbie schoolboys get a helping hand with books

WHEN it comes to reading at school, the boys have always lagged behind the girls . . . until now.
Langholm and Canonbie primary schools carried out research and discovered the subject matter for boys ought to be different from the girls and identified a range of books which matched the boys’ interests and aspirations.
It was no surprise that the Bowman Little Trust offered to help. Bowman Little used to own the Langholm Paper Shop and the E&L Advertiser so Books for Boys was born.
This is an Accelerated Reader programme, focused on boys in P5, P6 and P7 and it has been an immediate success.
Reading skills have improved, not only in terms of the number of books being read but also in the knowledge gained as measured by the quizzes which are a regular feature of the Books for Boys project.
Lauren McLean-Gill, acting cluster headteacher, said: “Children at Langholm and Canonbie primaries were delighted to receive a generous donation from the Bowman Little Trust and The Stevenson Trust to buy more than 200 new books.
“Teachers identified there was a need for more exciting books for our P5 to P7 boys to improve their engagement with reading and increase their interest in our libraries.
“The trust very generously supported us in buying a range of exciting new books, including the Bear Grylls Survival Series, and our teachers have already noted an increase in engagement during reading time.
“The Langholm and Canonbie cluster is very lucky to be supported in this way and we are extremely grateful to the trusts for helping us to provide exciting learning opportunities for the children of our communities.”
The Canonbie children were presented with a new bench which was jointly funded by the Scottish Book Trust and Rob Waitt.
Rob of Raw Edge Carving in Langholm made the bench as a thank you to the school for Canonbie Rocks, a school holiday challenge to keep reading for enjoyment in the magical outdoors.
The Bowman Little Trust aims to assist young people aged 25 years or under who are current, or former pupils of Langholm Academy or, who live within nine miles of Langholm town hall, in connection with any charitable project or enterprise in any location. Or, to assist any person or body in connection with any charitable project or enterprise which benefits the town, townspeople and environment of Langholm. For all applications, the trustees need to consider the proposals to be of merit.
Anyone interested in finding out more about this or about the Stevenson Trust or make an application to either Trust should contact Ann Warwick on 013873 81066 or email her on ann@ashleybank.co.uk.