Is Reading Enough?

Children who read voraciously are open to amazing worlds, different times and magic of immense proportions. Reading should be a joy. As a child, my favourite Christmas presents would always be the stack of books laid out by the Santa Sack. But sometimes, we are in the habit of reading the stories that have a familiar rhythm- I know from my own holiday reading that I often want to read something that is relaxing rather than challenging yet I feel a huge sense of achievement when I've chosen an unfamiliar book that makes me think. 

At school we are finding that, if children are to make excellent progress in terms of statutory tests, that they must have a wide reading diet where they are challenged, meet new genres and authors and show perseverance when the going gets tough. To help parents and carers choose some lovely books for Christmas, there are some excellent websites out there. Here are a couple we use in school:

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/

http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/

Teachers are also very happy to make suggested reading lists so please let us know how we can help. Happy reading everyone.

What Children Can Do and Targets for the Spring Term

This week is a busy working week as it's the week when we see how much progress our children in Years 1 to 6 have made over the term.  We use end of term assessment tests combined with where children are in their day to day work to make decisions and to set individual targets for the next half term.

What's Going on in RE?

This term we introduced a new scheme of work in religious education and, as RE co-ordinator, it's time I went into classes to see it in action. I'm really looking forward to finding out how children respond to this question style syllabus. I think they may give us some very interesting and deep responses.

Years 3, 4,5 & 6 Public Speaking Competition

Next Thursday (14th) is the school's first ever public speaking competition for Key Stage 2. This will be a very exciting event to help children to be confident in the way that they speak to an audience. Just to remind children and parents that the themes are:

• The Magic of Christmas
• Someone Who Has Really Inspired Me
• Making the World a Better Place

Children in Years 3 and 4 are expected to speak for 3 minutes without notes on one of the themes and children in Yrs 5 and 6 for 4 minutes. There are fabulous prizes for the winners and runners up in each category.

Tomorrow our swimming team is in the Monkwearmouth Gala. Good luck everyone.