EMTAS Guiding Reading Books available to loan

EMTAS have worked closely with Swanmore C of E Primary School to identify Traveller based text at KS1and KS2 that can be incorporated into Guided Reading Sessions across the Primary Phase.  A set of discussion questions have been produced to accompany each of the text in order to support a member of staff using the books to address any cultural issues that may arise.

EMTAS have purchased books to be loaned out in groups of 6, enough for a set of group readers.  Each pack includes a set of books and discussion questions. Some packs also have additional activities that can be used. A synopsis of each book is given and an indication of which Year Group the text may be suitable for.

The document Aiming High: Raising the Achievement of Gypsy Traveller pupils  (2003) states:

A culturally relevant and affirming curriculum is important for all pupils. It is particularly important for children and young people from Gypsy Traveller backgrounds to see their culture, history, language and values reflected in their school experience. All schools, whether or not Gypsy Travellers are on roll, should have resources in classrooms and libraries which give a positive view of their culture and lifestyle. This adds to the quality and accuracy of knowledge for all children.

This is supported strongly by recent DCSF Guidance Moving Forward Together: Raising Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Achievement (2009)

To borrow packs

Please contact our Resources Manager, tel 01256 330195

Downloadable list  20kb

Year R

Melissa to The Rescue

Pack includes 6 books, discussion questions and simple sequencing activities. A big book is available on request.

A story book told in simple sentences in large print about a girl who rescues a foal on a very snowy day. It is a beautifully illustrated story. The text contains 55 words from the first list of high frequency words in the National Literacy Strategy framework Key Stage 1. There is a simple glossary.

Year 1

Shaun’s Wellies

Pack includes 6 books, discussion questions and simple sequencing activities. A big book is available on request.

A lift flap picture story book told in simple question and answer sentences about Shaun who has lost his wellies and needs them for a school visit. The detailed illustrations provide many talking points about Shaun’s home on a caravan site. Look out for the snail hidden somewhere in each outside picture. It supports key literacy objectives for KS1, Year 1.

Ruby’s Rabbit

Pack includes 6 books and discussion questions. A big book is available on request.

Ruby’s Rabbit is in the same style of Shaun’s Wellies.  It is a beautifully illustrated in full colour.  Lift-up flaps add a hidden dimension to the story of Ruby, a young girl living on a Traveller site, who is helping prepare for the family’s new arrival.

My Week

Pack includes 6 books and discussion questions

It’s the summer holidays and Precious Lee is back in Somerset. This charming book takes us through the days of the week as experienced by a Traveller child. The book has been designed to teach the days of the week to Traveller children, but it can be enjoyed by anyone. The book can also be used as an assessment tool as the Reception High Frequency words have been incorporated into the text.

Year 2

My Year

Pack includes 6 books and discussion questions

Learn the months of the year with Precious and Ted, the children from My Week. This book explores the months and seasons through the eyes of the children and the memories or their grandparents. The book is a valuable teaching aid as well as a nostalgic look at Traveller lifestyle. The book has been designed to teach the months of the year and seasons to Traveller children, but it can be enjoyed by anyone.

Houses and Homes

Pack includes 6 books, discussion questions and simple sequencing activities

This  very useful  non-fiction book is full of colour photographs and text that reflects all types of homes including those of Travellers.  

Year 3

My Wonderful Place

Pack includes 6 books, discussion questions and a Teacher’s Resource Pack produced by the authors of the book.

My Wonderful Place is the story of a visit to Appleby Horse Fair.  With a charming rhyming text accompanied with photographs the book takes us on the journey.  The story as seen through the eyes of an excited child will appeal to children of all cultures.

Year 3 or 4

Travellers’ Homes

There are four books in the pack – “My life on the fair”, “Living on our land”, “Our home on site” and “Rodney’s trailer”.  There are teacher’s notes and a CD ROM in the pack.  The CD ROM contains more photographs that are organised into the different Traveller groups.  The photographs that are in the pack are under the heading Traveller Homes.

There is also a selection of photos for discussion and there are notes about each photograph in the teacher’s pack.

Year 4

A Horse for Joe

Pack includes 6 books and discussion questions. A big book is available on request.

A story about a 10 year old Gypsy Traveller boy who longs for a horse of his own but has to earn his money and wait until Appleby fair comes around. Colour drawings and photographs illustrate the text which is at two levels. A good book to share with less confident readers or equally a story for the more confident. It has a simple line text for new readers to enjoy the story. It is really informative as well as being a good story. A set of worksheets and a teacher’s guide are also available.

Two For One

Pack includes 6 books and discussion questions

The second book in the Horse for Joe series following the same format using two levels of text.  A very good book following the life of a Gypsy Traveller boy looking after a horse he buys at the fair.  It is very informative in providing an insight into the way Gypsy horses are reared and cared for.

Year 5

Christy’s Dream

Pack includes 6 books and discussion questions

Christy longs for a horse of his own. He wants one so badly it makes his insides ache. Lots of other boys on the estate have their own horses and now he has saved up enough money. No-one can stop him making his dream come true –except his mother. What will she say when he brings his new horse home? The story, set in a Dublin tower block estate is colourfully illustrated with beautifully detailed drawings.

Year 5 and 6

Poetry  Sets -Road to Appleby Song,  Been & Gone, The Green and Yellow Wagon Song.

Text extract – The Horse

Each set includes one A3 Poem/ Extract and 15 laminated copies of the text as well as teachers notes produced by Northamptonshire CC

Year 6

The Travelling People

Pack includes 6 books, activities  and a Teacher’s Resource Pack produced by the authors of the book.  A big book is available on request.

A non-fiction book for use in the National Literacy Strategy about the different Traveller groups. It introduces children to a variety of ways of communicating information and addresses text, sentence and word level objectives. Each page has clear, colourful illustrations which are accompanied by text.  The book has a contents page, glossary, bibliography and brief set of teachers’ notes that suggest strategies for communicating information.

Life and Story of May Orchard

Pack includes 6 books and discussion questions

A biography, Dorothy Orchard tells of her Mother’s life. Illustrated with Dorothy’s own photographs. The book reflects cultural awareness and history.

Lets Look at a Fairground Ride

6 Photo packs of 10 laminated photos to discuss

There is a pack of teaching notes, including additional background information, terminology, a word bank and initial discussion questions.  A very useful resource especially to make cross-curricular links  with design & technology and designing fairground rides.

Rockering Romanes

Pack includes 6 books including teachers’ notes

This lovely A5 book has pictures labelled with Romani and English words.  The book could be used with any age looking at another language and will support discussion about Gypsy/Roma culture.

Hillview Horse Books

1 pack of 6 different non-fiction books on the topic Horses

The Hillview Horse books are a series of 6 non-fiction core reading books, a word bank book and work book that have been designed specifically for older children with a low reading age. They could also be used by younger children who are developing reading competency. The series has been prepared along National Literacy Strategy guidelines and the large type text is restricted to the high frequency Yr 1 and Yr 2 words with some technical vocabulary related to horses. The photocopiable work book is in three sections, each of which is linked to two core reading books so it can be used alongside them or as an extension to Literacy work. Each page has a text suitable for shared reading with a facing page of related work that provides opportunities for text level, sentence level and word level work. The series is well illustrated on each page with colourful photographs, some of which were taken at Appleby and Stow horse fairs that many Travellers attend each year.