Reading Teachers=Reading Pupils Independent Partner Network
Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils Independent Partners are teachers’ book groups run by individual teachers, schools and literary organisations all over the UK.
Independent Partner RTRP groups, of up to 15 teachers each, meet five times a year in bookshops, libraries and coffee shops to discuss the RTRP books chosen by our panel of literature and education experts. These groups normally meet after-school at around 16.30 for 60-90 minutes.
The book groups follow the non-hierarchical approach to booktalk as laid out in Aidan Chambers’ book Tell Me: Children, Reading and Talk (2011). They discuss their likes and dislikes and the puzzles and patterns within each book before exploring how they might introduce it to their class and what creative outputs, including writing, that might come from it.
Some IPs are open groups (any teacher in their area can join) while others are closed groups (only teachers within a particular school/MAT may join).
Independent Partners can either be for Lower-KS2 teachers, Upper-KS2 teachers or KS3 teachers. Librarians and SMT are very welcome to attend as well.
In addition to the RTRP book groups, IP’s are welcome to make use of the additional resources Cheltenham Festivals will be providing for each book. More information can be found on our RTRP Books page.
The aims of RTRP are to:
1. Increase teachers’ enthusiasm for and knowledge of high-quality children’s literature so teachers are reading role models for their pupils
2. Support teachers’ planning of whole class literacy teaching
3. Build pupil’s confidence in responding to books in group, class or wider reading communities
4. Inspire pupils and teachers through connection with authors
If you’re interested in joining an existing RTRP group, you can find your nearest group, with their contact details, on the map below:
If there isn’t a group close enough to you and you’d like to start your own IP group, click the link below to apply and a member of our team will be in touch.
It's completely free to sign up as an Independent Partner and Cheltenham Festivals provides full training on the Tell Me model and ongoing support throughout the academic year.
