October 27, 2020 / Ben / 0 Comments
When e readers first came onto the
market there was outcry amongst some members of the public who felt that they
would take over the literary world and completely replace real books in future
years. This has not been the case as can be seen in most of our supermarkets
where a variety of books from autobiographies to the latest romantic novel can
be bought so is there a place for both?
The answer to this question is a
resounding yes for most people as each has advantages and disadvantages. Probably
one of the reasons why people choose an e reader is that a whole library of
books can be stored on it and so especially if you are going away on holiday
and anticipate reading a few books it cuts down on the amount of real books you
need to take, reducing the space and weight taken up in your luggage. If you
are reading whilst sunbathing the e reader can still be read as the screen
allows it to be seen in bright light and there’s no need to worry about losing
your place as it automatically restarts where you left off.
With all the advantages of e
readers why are real books still a popular choice? We are creatures of habit
and for some people the enjoyment they get from holding a book and turning the
pages can never be replaced by a handheld device no matter how sophisticated.
September 10, 2020 / Ben / 0 Comments
Many people see shopping,
especially for non-essential items, as a bit of therapy. It is often referred
to as retail therapy because for some it helps lift their mood.
During lockdown all the non-essential
shops where clothes and many people had to turn to online shopping to feed
their shopping habits. For many this is not the same and the fact that you have
to go through the hassle of often paying for delivery and then paying again to
return it if it does not fit, put many people off.
The shops have no reopened and
people have started flocking to the centres. Although the shops are open, the
experience is very much different from how it used to be. The majority of the
clothing shops do not have their changing rooms open meaning that you cannot
try anything on before you buy it. Many shops are even not allowing you to try
coats etc on over the top of your own clothes due to the risk of contamination.
For many of us, we simply cannot always walk into a shop and know that an item
will fit. A pair of size 12 jeans in one shop may fit perfect but in another be
too big or small. You will have to purchase items and then take them home to
try them on before being able to decide if you want to keep them. Shopping certainly has changed, but hopefully
one day it will return to normal.
August 18, 2020 / Ben / 0 Comments
The government
have announced that all pupils (unless ill or isolating) should return to
school in September ready for the new term. Some students have now had 6 months
off school and this has put a lot of pressure on parents and there is a worry
that it is also affecting the mental health of many of the pupils too.
Although
many are keen to see the schools return there is also a worry for parents and
teachers as to how safe it will be and how social distancing is going to be
maintained. Most schools have adopted a policy of keeping children within their
own bubbles of either year groups or classes. This will allow them to try and
limit the risk of spreading the virus if someone does become infected.
Not only
have teachers got a lot of work to catch up on and may find that some pupils require
a fair bit of time to re-establish a routine, they also have extra job roles
such as cleaning equipment and possibly redoing lesson plans that involved
close contact with others.
The first
few months of returning to school will probably be quite hard and may require a
fair few changes before proper routines can be established again.
July 24, 2020 / Ben / 0 Comments
It is
essential in these days of mobile devices that children are still given the
opportunity to immerse themselves in books and reading not only for the
enjoyment it brings but also because In our primary schools children are
expected to reach a good level of reading ability by the time they enter key
stage two at the age of approximately seven. This presents a huge challenge for
some children who may be reluctant to read not only books, but any printed
material and it can also be worrying for parents and teachers who are often
searching for ways to inspire and encourage reading.
The demands
of learning to read can be taxing to young children but one approach is to
resist the temptation to insist that they read every day even though it is
encouraged by many schools. Children need to be shown that there is a purpose
to reading whether it be reading the instructions to a favourite game or
reading a recipe to make a cake. This type of incidental reading can encourage
children to read without them being aware that they are reading.
By encouraging
the reading of magazines and comic books a reluctant reader can be inspired to
read and although the vocabulary may not be extensive in this type of
literature, they may tap into the child’s interest especially if the reading
material about a hobby they enjoy.
June 26, 2020 / Ben / 0 Comments
How long has
it been since you visited a library? For many people, the answer will be I cannot
remember because it has been so long ago, so is it time to see these large,
often old and draughty buildings closed for good?
The purpose of
libraries was originally to give the general population access to books
irrespective of social class or financial status. This meant that expensive
books used for extending knowledge, gaining information or simply to provide
entertainment were readily available to borrow for a few weeks at a time for no
cost. This is still the case today as libraries provide a service that many
people, some who struggle financially, rely on.
In more
recent times with the growing use of technology libraries have evolved to
provide individuals without internet access at home a place where they can use
a computer to send emails and carry out research.
In many
towns the library has also become a hub for meetings and training courses
giving it a new lease of life and providing a much needed service to the
community so perhaps libraries have not had their day after all but have moved
with the times and are as relevant now as in the past.