From Discussion to Impact: How Our Teacher Reading Group Shapes Classroom Practice
From September, I will once again have the privilege of leading an Open University Teacher Reading Group (OU TRG) with what I know will be a dynamic group of practitioners. Previous groups have been made up of teachers and librarians from nursery to secondary schools. Our shared aim is simple but powerful: to deepen our knowledge of reading for pleasure (RfP) pedagogy and practice, and to translate that professional learning into meaningful change within our own schools.
A supportive place for critical reflection
The TRG provides a supportive space for professional dialogue and critical reflection. Through our half-termly meetings, participants explore key themes from research - such as the importance of reader identity, the role of informal book talk, and the power of socially engaged reading communities. Each session not only broadens our understanding of the research but also prompts practical questions about how this could look in your own classrooms, libraries, and wider school cultures.
What is particularly exciting is how the group moves from reflective discussion to targeted research. Each participant identifies an area of pedagogy they want to explore further within their school setting using the pedagogies shared on the OU website findings, along with their growing knowing of ‘LIST’ (learner-led, informal, social and texts that tempt) approaches.
Some focus on improving their use of informal book talk; others trial new strategies for involving families in children’s reading lives. Some may be especially interested in developing the reading environment or finding new ways to empower student choice and agency.
The process
Over the months, teachers and librarians gather qualitative data through observations, pupil voice, and reflective activities. They adapt and refine their approaches, supported by feedback from the group. As a leader, it is always inspiring to see the level of commitment and the willingness to take risks in pursuit of better outcomes for young readers.
Laster in the year, members of the group begin to prepare to share their findings more widely through wider staff activities. The ripple effect of each group’s learning is typically felt beyond our meetings, influencing school policies and reshaping reading cultures in meaningful ways.
What begins as a shared commitment to reading for pleasure, has grown into a research-informed movement over the last 5 years of TRG in North Tyneside, grounded in collaboration and driven by the passion of educators who believe in the transformative power of reading.
Ready to find out more?
If you are considering joining or leading an OU Teacher Reading Group, get involved! Our North Tyneside TRG begins again with a launch session in October. Sessions will take place at Backworth Park Primary School across the year.
Contact Eve Morton (eve.morton@northtyneside.gov.uk) to find out more or visit the Open University website using the link opposite.
The experience of leading, or being part of a TRG is always both professionally enriching and personally rewarding, and the impact on practice has been profound.
