Sally&Moomin

Teacher, book-lover, languages, maths and music

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@DeputyGrocott #4for44 day 5
Reading in the shade of a persimmon tree. The view over the pool from my reading spot & my sketch of that view.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@DeputyGrocott (This was edited to add night, I do know I should have said day and night were… oops)

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@DeputyGrocott Late day 3 of #4for44 (because basically my day and night was spent on trains).

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@DeputyGrocott Day 4 of #4for44
Actually on holiday now - the grass in the holiday house may be extremely dry, but the pool is beautifully wet and a scarce swallowtail butterfly (and black kite I couldn’t photograph because I was swimming when it flew over) show that nature hasn’t given up.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@MrEPrimary Your lists are bad for my bank balance but good for my soul!

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@PrimarySchoolBC Thank you. I’m sad it is over but happy to have participated and very grateful to you for having made it happen.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@CarolinaRabei @mrsmferrier @PrimarySchoolBC @tompalmerauthor @scholasticuk What a lovely insight into the process - I like the way the characters are key to both story and illustration.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@PrimarySchoolBC @tompalmerauthor @CarolinaRabei @scholasticuk #PrimarySchoolBookClub📚 @tompalmerauthor
I’ve read a few of your novels - how different is it to approach a picture book, where the text is necessarily scaled back to share space with images? And do you have a preference?

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@mrsmferrier @PrimarySchoolBC @tompalmerauthor @scholasticuk I’m sure - and how lovely to allow the picture-inspired discussions be the launch pad. They observe so much more than we might think.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@PrimarySchoolBC @tompalmerauthor @scholasticuk #PrimarySchoolBookClub📚
A2b: I’ll happily add it to my book corner with no help! But I may also recommend it as an interesting addition to my CM2 (Y6 equivalent) colleague who teaches a history unit on WW2 - a different perspective from the classic approach to the period.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@PrimarySchoolBC @tompalmerauthor @scholasticuk But I know UKS2 can get into picture books too. And I reckon secondary school pupils used to novels the size of bricks full of dense text would get a kick out of a well-chosen theme-linked picture book when presented by an imaginative teacher as well.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@PrimarySchoolBC @tompalmerauthor @scholasticuk #PrimarySchoolBookClub📚
A2a: I actually think there shouldn’t be. I teach 7-9 year olds and they are definitely still massively appreciative of picture books (and graphic novels and illustrations in chapter books). cont.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@tompalmerauthor @PrimarySchoolBC @CarolinaRabei @scholasticuk Even my dog-phobic, going-through-a-grumpy-phase teenager commented that Judy was cute; higher praise there is none!
And I think a few hundred well-chosen words, coupled with the soothing illustrations, give you space to fully take in the story and its message.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@PrimarySchoolBC @MrEPrimary @tompalmerauthor @CarolinaRabei #PrimarySchoolBookClub📚
Evening everyone. I started reading Katabasis two days ago and have been totally hooked. Spending an hour or two in Hell before bed has massively improved my sleep too…!

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@PrimarySchoolBC @ey_abs @NosyCrow Thank you @ey_abs . Your book has pace, sensitivity and took me into a world which is very removed from mine. Representation of different cultures is so important not just for those who recognise themselves in a book but also to open others’ eyes and you did that for me.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@PrimarySchoolBC @ey_abs @NosyCrow #PrimarySchoolBookClub📚
There are back-stories to some of the characters which feel like they would be fascinating in their own right, but are hinted at and not fully revealed. Are companion books in the pipeline?

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@PrimarySchoolBC @ey_abs @NosyCrow #PrimarySchoolBookClub📚
A2c: I think younger ones don’t so much. Many of them have dreams which are more changeable. It’s in that pre-adolescent age when they start to be aware of others’ judgements or ambitions - their own dreams are too special and personal to dare to share.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@PrimarySchoolBC @ey_abs @NosyCrow #PrimarySchoolBookClub📚
A2b) I think it is probably more aimed at slightly older children than I teach, but I do think it would be accessible if I felt its particular messages were needed by my pupils. A child going through a parallel experience would get a lot from it.

[Sally&Moomin @MoominSally]

@PrimarySchoolBC @ey_abs @NosyCrow #PrimarySchoolBookClub📚
A2a - We have a policy of « messages claires » for disagreements between our first year pupils where they are encouraged to describe the situation, how they feel and what they want the other pupil to do to make it right, which is maybe a starter version.