Children are expected to learn to write from a young age and there are many activities we can do that will not only prepare them to write but will also make handwriting fun. From the beginning children should be involved in a range of pre-writing activities which will help them to develop their fine muscle […]
Read morewriting
Teaching the formation of letters and how to join remains as important today as it was back in 1958 when Marion Richardson and Dr. Fletcher, in the manual ‘Quick and legible handwriting’ made the following comment: “Basic letter shapes used in print script do not lend themselves to speed and legibility. By making use of […]
Read more
Well that’s that over for another year. But what now? Amongst the class trips, leavers’ plays and special assemblies, here are some ideas for making the last few weeks as enjoyable and valuable as possible for everyone involved. With the children: Get the class outside – extra PE sessions, studying the natural world, drawing plants […]
Read moreIn a previous blog post, I summarised the criteria of the two school accountability measures that will be used in 2016 – for floor standards and for ‘coasting schools’. For most schools, the main implication of the new measures will be to place a greater emphasis on progress – the progress which every pupil makes during the […]
Read more
It might be tricky to spot potential novelists in a primary class, but one thing is certain: every child will grow up to be a non-fiction writer. From emails, blogs and reviews to reports, articles and proposals, factual writing is a key communication tool in every line of work. Information books are often used in […]
Read moreIn a previous blog post, I summarised the criteria of the two school accountability measures that will be used in 2016 – for floor standards and for ‘coasting schools’. For most schools, the main implication of the new measures will be to place a greater emphasis on progress – the progress which every pupil makes during the […]
Read moreIt’s the end of the autumn term and you’re beyond exhausted. It’s dark when you arrive at school and dark when you leave. Glitter coats every part of your body and you’ve been listening to strained versions of In the Bleak Midwinter since October. What’s more, your carefully constructed plans for the last few days […]
Read more
I love dictionaries and thesauruses: they’re dazzling and thrilling and useful. I own a ridiculously large number (seven currently on my desk, though most of them are downstairs). I use them, for work and pleasure, all the time. But now Vineeta Gupta, Head of Oxford Children’s Dictionaries, has asked me a question about them that’s […]
Read more
Christopher Edge tells us about the inspiration behind his new book How to Write Your Best Story Ever! A bank-robbing banana being chased by a police pigeon, an accident-prone spy with the nickname Double Oh No!, a crime-fighting baby who googles for clues… These are just a few of the fantastic ideas that children have come up with when I’ve visited […]
Read moreThere have been a lot of interesting articles about the teaching of languages in the news recently. If you are looking for something new to use on the European Day of Languages (26th September), then you might consider this article from the Guardian. I’m sure you’ll agree that inspiring lifelong learning is really important. Extracts from this article could be used to […]
Read more