Case Studies
NLT Research
A National Literacy Trust evaluation in May – July 2015 of First News activities in schools found that children made significant progress in reading, and their attitudes to and behaviours around reading improved.
Case Study – Alexandra Park School
There are many ways that you can make use of iHub in the classroom and in form time as well as with literacy groups.
In my class we have always used the print version of First News as a resource for guided reading but with iHub it makes life easier.
I felt that I needed some more constructive activities to use with First News so that I was making the most of this resource.
“Great for intervention programmes”
I wanted a programme that would fit into the interventions that I use in the literacy centre at our school as well. The package is able to attract those students for whom fiction reading holds no appeal. Those who are not interested in reading a whole book can enjoy digesting ‘bite-sized’ chunks of information in the digital format.
“A lesson in its own right”
Subscribing to the ihub meant that I could use First News as a specific lesson for these pupils alternating with a fiction based programme that I already use.
“iHub in action”
I’ve found students are generally more engaged with iHub than with fiction based interventions. I like the fact that it is so easy to get a student started on an activity as soon as they come into the room.
“iHub has been a success”
The votes have also been very successful and students are interested in how other schools have voted. Also some of them have been very keen to increase their points and there has been an element of competition which I plan to exploit next year!
“Develop their ‘world view’”
Overall, I feel that First News and the iHub really address a lack of general knowledge and helps young people develop their ‘world view’.
“I strongly recommend iHub”
I would strongly recommend subscribing to iHub as part of your First News package because it enables a more constructive and active use of the paper.