Word Detective

What is Word Detective?

Word Detective is a 20-week literacy scheme designed to improve vocabulary and writing skills.

How does it work?

  1. Come to the DARC to sign up and collect a diary.
  2. There will be three new words each week which will be displayed in the DARC as well as posted on this webpage below. Find a meaning for each word in a dictionary and write it in the space provided in your diary.
  3. Write your own sentence using each word.
  4. Bring your diary to the information desk each week to have it checked. Then wait for next week's words!
Word Detective Logo

Words So Far...

This year's words will be updated below on a weekly basis.

Week 1: Buy | Coffee | Kitchen

Week 2: Teacher | Pizza | Evening

Week 3: Pencil | Class | Famous

Week 4: Afraid | Safe | Trick

Week 5: Zero | Tomorrow | Sandwich

Week 6: Cinema | Menu | Usually

Week 7: Letter | Male | Expensive

Week 8: Busy | Together | Apprentice

Week 9: Laugh | Honest | Couple

Week 10: Holiday | Guest | Present

Week 11: Further | Alcohol | Citizen

Week 12: Accept | Decline | Consent

Week 13: Reception | Computer | Photocopy

Week 14: Brother | Daughter | Argument

Week 15: Arrive | Depart | Schedule

Week 16: Love | Admire | Romantic

An Award Winning Scheme...

The DARC is a previous winner of the CoLRic Best Practice Award for its Word Detective literacy support scheme.

The Best Practice Awards are national awards that are designed to highlight excellence in Library initiatives that really make a difference. CoLRiC commented that the scheme is ‘simple and effective, putting the Library at the heart of the College's learning activity’.

Entries were shortlisted by the CoLRiC Executive Committee and winners were chosen by an independent judge, before being presented with the award at the Library Awards Ceremony in May 2017.

Word Detective awards presentation

Library staff who created the scheme. From left Yvonne Hefford, Tom Hewitt and Sheila Lloyd

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