On Thursday 16th October, amid news of the UK government’s target for 90% of 5-6 year old pupils to reach the expected standard in the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check (PSC), my family attended the funeral of our dearly beloved friend, Jan Britton, at Margam Crematorium in Wales. Jan was an Early Years’ teacher. HerContinue reading “Relationship Check”
Category Archives: Shared Reading
“Miss, you don’t smile anymore.”
Probably the most constructive classroom observation I ever received came from the lips of an 8 year old. If my memory serves me correctly, her name was Hannah and she would have been 8 when she joined my Year 4 class in September 1992. I must have been roughly halfway through my first year asContinue reading ““Miss, you don’t smile anymore.””
Dry bones
Once upon a post,She stood and stared,Looked out into a valleyFull of bonesAnd very dry. “Can these bones live?”She saw the dark despair of death,She saw no sign of life, nor breath… “Can these bones live?”She did not know, yet dared to hope,She listened to the Voice that spoke… “Can these bones live?”She sensed aContinue reading “Dry bones”
International Dot Day 2025 at Ledbury Primary School
On Monday 15th September, I was delighted to give a screen-free assembly at Ledbury Primary School to celebrate International Dot Day. I wore my dotty dress for the occasion, which I found in a local charity shop (it was originally from Boden, don’t you know, AND it has pockets). I took a bag with me,Continue reading “International Dot Day 2025 at Ledbury Primary School”
I’m with you, Floppy
I was overjoyed to find a 50p Floppy favourite in the Acorn’s charity shop last Saturday. I couldn’t hold back my delight and, before I knew it, I was reading page 30 aloud to Dave at the counter. My 3 children loved the Biff, Chip and Kipper stories. When my youngest started bringing them homeContinue reading “I’m with you, Floppy”
Wait a minute, Mr Postman!
As a subscriber to the Children’s Poetry Summit, I enjoy receiving regular introductions to poets through their blog. Last week, children’s poet and author, A. F. Harrold, shared his happy habit of sending poetry postcards. As I began reading the article, my heart sank when I saw, ‘I know the age of the letter isContinue reading “Wait a minute, Mr Postman!”
“I’m bored, Mummy.”
The Treasure of a Lively Inquiring Mind
I enjoy reading biographies best of all. I recently read Volume 1 of Iain Murray’s biography of Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Murray describes ‘the Doctor’ as a prolific reader and records Lloyd-Jones speaking about the motivation behind his reading: ‘”I have always believed,” he once said, “that the business of reading is to make oneContinue reading “The Treasure of a Lively Inquiring Mind”
‘The Whales’ Song’ by Dyan Sheldon and Gary Blythe
Have you experienced the poignant power of picturebooks? Can I give you a window into my world? Are you sitting comfortably?
Online Teaching in Alternative Provision
I am currently working for an Alternative Provision agency on a zero hour contract. I teach children and young people who are unable to manage the demands of mainstream schools. Most of the sessions are online, some of the children and young people have received funding from their local authority for 5 hours of onlineContinue reading “Online Teaching in Alternative Provision”
Read with Julia 