UKLA is delighted to announce the winner of the 2016 Academic Book Award is: Researching Literacy Lives: Building communities between home and school by Teresa Cremin, Marilyn Mottram, Fiona Collins, Sacha Powell and Rose Drury (Routledge). Panel chair, Morag Styles writes:
“Although we had a distinguished shortlist of 6 books out of a possible 23, Researching Literacy Lives stood out for a number of reasons. The subject matter is important and we felt it was a worthy successor to the fine tradition of researching home/school partnerships developed by Brice Heath, Street et al. This book is essential if sometimes challenging reading for teachers, trainees, literacy professionals and especially those embarking on higher degrees. It offered both new and distinctive thinking in the field and innovative ways for teachers to engage in research. It documents a rigorous study, makes a distinctive contribution to the field, has international appeal and relevance, and is likely to stand the test of time”.
The panel also highly commended Making Poetry Happen: Transforming the Poetry Classroom edited by Sue Dymoke, Myra Barrs, Andrew Lambirth and Anthony Wilson (Bloomsbury). Morag Styles commented:
“First of all we were delighted to find a lively volume devoted to the often neglected area of learning and teaching poetry with relevance for young people aged 6 -18. The passion for the subject by the contributors was palpable and this was a book full of practical ideas, likely to be useful as well as inspiring for teachers. The title of the book was apt and embodied by the content, and the homage to Seamus Heaney was a worthy recognition of his influence on most aspects of poetry. With its focus on making poetry happen in the classroom, while keeping a thoughtful eye on what is distinctive and important about a poetry education, it made an excellent sister volume to the more scholarly Poetry Matters.”
The winners will be honoured at a wine reception at the UKLA International Conference 8-10 July 2016, in Bristol.
Panel: Morag Styles (chair), Carrie Ansell, Bev Barnes, Jane Bednell, Doreen Challen, Henrietta Dombey, Lynda Graham, Elaine Haywood, Rebecca Hurst, Penny Manford, Roger McDonald, Hilary Westlake.
