Case Study: Empowering Multilingual Learners – How Shackleton International School Uses Reading Eggs to Foster a Love for Reading

Located in the heart of Valencia, Spain, Shackleton International School has more than doubled its student population in just three years.

With students from 45 countries and a curriculum that balances British, Spanish and international educational standards, the school is focused on creating a unified approach to reading education that caters to various language backgrounds and proficiencies.

Joanna McCullough, Head of Primary at Shackleton, explains how Reading Eggs, our online reading program, has become a valuable tool in promoting a love of reading and supporting personalised learning for students.

The story of Shackleton International School

Shackleton International School, named after the legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton, opened its doors three years ago, coinciding with Valencia's surge in international popularity. The school embodies values of connection, continuous improvement and leadership.

Joanna McCullough brings 20 years of experience in international education to her role as Head of Primary. Under her guidance, the school has grown from 120 students in five classes to over 240 students across 12 classes. The student body is uniquely diverse, with 70% international students from 45 countries and 30% Spanish students.

Their recent focus has been on developing a love for reading across all year groups and raising the profile of reading for students of all abilities and language backgrounds.

The challenge of cultivating a reading culture in a multilingual environment

While Shackleton International School was already committed to promoting reading, they faced several challenges in their multilingual environment:

• Declining interest in reading for pleasure among students

• Need for resources that could cater to varied reading levels and interests

• Balancing digital and traditional reading experiences

• Supporting non-native English speakers in developing phonics skills

• Providing individualised learning experiences for a diverse student body.

"Like all schools, we face this challenge of the number of kids that actually read for pleasure... it's just dwindled," explains Joanna. "We wanted to introduce the culture of reading at home, reading as a family and reading with your parents."

Why Reading Eggs?

Key factors that made Reading Eggs an ideal fit for Shackleton International School included:

• Digital accessibility: With Chromebooks provided to students from Year 1, Reading Eggs aligned perfectly with the school's technology-forward approach.

• Vast online library: The platform offers an extensive selection of 4,000 e-books catering to various interests and reading levels.

• Tailored learning: Reading Eggs allows students to work at their own pace and choose books that interest them.

• Comprehensive learning: The Reading Eggs suite of programs includes Fast Phonics, a systematic, synthetic phonics program, which is particularly useful for older non-native English speakers.

• Classroom integration: Teachers can use Reading Eggs for guided reading sessions and whole-class activities.

• Progress tracking: The dashboard allows teachers to monitor student progress and award achievements.

"The individual aspect of it is priceless, really," Joanna emphasises. "Kids being able to work on their own, at their own individual speed and choose the books that they like. I mean, no paper library can really provide that in the same way."

How Shackleton International School uses Reading Eggs

Shackleton has integrated Reading Eggs into its curriculum in various innovative ways:

• Guided reading sessions: Students use Chromebooks for round-robin reading with Reading Eggs, followed by quizzes. Joanna explains, "We use Reading Eggs in the classroom for guided reading sessions… they'll do round-robin reading using Reading Eggs and then everyone does the quiz at the end."

• Classroom instruction: Teachers use Reading Eggs on the big screen for whole-class reading activities.

• Personalised learning: Students can choose books based on their interests and reading levels, supporting the school's goal of nurturing a love for reading.

• Phonics instruction: The Fast Phonics program helps non-native speakers quickly develop English phonics skills, addressing a key challenge for the school's diverse student body.

• Summer reading: The school uses the Read Aloud Fluency tool for a summer reading challenge, encouraging continued learning during the three-month break.

• Rewards and recognition: Achievements in Reading Eggs are celebrated in assemblies, fostering a positive reading culture.

The results

Since implementing Reading Eggs, Shackleton International School has observed several positive outcomes:

• Increased engagement: Students are more excited about choosing and reading books independently. Joanna notes, "Having such a diverse selection of books at their fingertips... the logistics within the class is a huge benefit. And I think all the teachers just love having it there. When they've finished their work, you can use it as a reward and just the ease of using it in the classroom has been a huge benefit."

• Improved phonics skills: Non-native English speakers have shown progress in phonics, thanks to the Fast Phonics program. This has been particularly valuable for older students new to English phonics.

• Enhanced classroom dynamics: Teachers report easier management of diverse reading levels within the classroom, supporting the school's goal of providing individualised learning experiences.

• Extended learning: The summer reading challenge, using the Reading Aloud Fluency tool, has encouraged continuous learning during holidays, addressing the challenge of maintaining reading habits outside of school.

• Personalised learning: Students can progress at their own pace, reducing stigma around reading abilities and catering to the diverse needs of the international student body.

• Improved assessment: The Read Aloud Fluency tool allows teachers to assess reading progress more accurately, providing valuable insights into each student's development.

  

A valuable partner in multilingual education

Reading Eggs has played an important role in helping Shackleton International School address the challenges of fostering a love for reading in a diverse, multilingual environment.

By providing a vast digital library, personalised learning experiences and comprehensive tools for both students and teachers, Reading Eggs has become an integral part of the school's reading curriculum.

Are you looking to enhance your school's reading program and see similar results in a multilingual environment?

Reading Eggs could be the solution you're seeking, offering:

• Consistent support for reading across all year groups.

• Increased student engagement and ownership of learning.

• Comprehensive phonics instruction for non-native English speakers.

• Extended learning opportunities beyond the classroom.