'Wild at Heart' The dictionary definition of wild is to be not cultivated or domesticated and to to be known as ’running wild’ is to ‘grow or develop without restraint or discipline.’ During August we’ve taken to being a bit…
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There's been many things we have missed about the routine of school in the past few months and we know plenty of teachers who have missed the treat of reading to their classes. But for many children being read to…
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We have been extremely lucky to receive advance review copies of some wonderful publications and so this month’s review theme is simply something for everyone. Finding a point of resonance and connection to literature is key to getting children to want to…
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Adventures of a Word Explorer Bewildered, antiquity, choreography - some of the words I have enjoyed recently with my two year old in ways I would never have imagined. These words are part of a ‘word of the day’ set of cards…
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Books to promote recovery following difficult times As the global health crisis that is the Covid-19 pandemic rumbles on and nations begin to move into a phasing out of lockdown rules and a phasing into what – we suppose…
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In our last blog we highlighted the importance of quality literature as a conduit for children when they return to school to process, share and write about their experiences during this time of upheaval and change. Children can vicariously travel…
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In last month’s review we spoke of the need to connect to nature. One could say we’ve spent more time ‘tuning in’ to the outside world and another one of the silver linings of the past ten weeks has been…
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When it is safe for most children to return to school, we know we won’t be able to pick up where we left off. Things have changed. Schools won’t straight away look, or feel, or be the places they once were. Children won’t be…
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Here are just some of our favourite books that could be used as whole-school texts. They are either books we have used or seen used across either an entire school. These books make good texts for use across a whole school either…
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We’ve grown into our home school approach over the last few weeks. Like wearing a pair of shoes that we didn’t choose, they’ve now worn in and we’ve found a way to walk in them. And do you know what?…
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When schools closed back in March, most children would have come home with a reading book that they wouldn’t have been able to change for sometime. Although some schools have arranged swaps since and some schools sent home more than…
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We talk at length about promoting this in school and since the tables were turned 6 weeks ago we’ve had a chance to really see how we can ensure there’s time for establishing a reading culture at home. I’ll actually…
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The last month has been different in more ways than one as we have all had to adjust rather suddenly to a new normal; a normal where our work patterns have changed, our socialising patterns have changed, and our life…
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This blog follows on from our previous which suggests some effective ways to approach the home teaching of English, namely using a quality book – whether fiction, non-fiction or poetry - as the springboard into learning. So, you are sitting…
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'We used learning logs as part of our online education offer. We were really impressed with the high quality planning sequences all planned and ready to use. Each video included a practical grammar session as well as opportunities for…
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At this point in time, the world is in a fearful, suspended state. This scenario is a first for everyone and, collectively, the plan is of survival. Beyond that? We don’t know. And understandably this can be a difficult…
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‘Unprecedented’ is certainly the word of the moment. All of a sudden, the country has been thrown into turmoil and we’ve all had to find ways to adapt. And while the global pandemic may have sparked a loo roll crisis, for most…
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Dialogue enlivens the fabric of a narrative through the different tones and timbres of characters’ voices. It is intrinsic to the art of storytelling. So, it is no surprise, that the skills around dialogue come up time and time again…
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