Michael Rosen joining us on Mumsnet on Friday 7th May from 12 - 1pm

[RachelMumsnet]

We're delighted that former Children's Laureate, Michael Rosen will be joining us for a live chat on Friday at midday. It's a topical webchat as Michael is supporting the SATS boycott and has set up the campaign, Authors Against SATS. Please post advance questions to Michael on this thread and join us here for the live chat on Friday.

[hewlettsdaughter]

MmeLindt Centrally Heated Knickers is good - 100 poems about science and technology (we like the one about the railroad tracks).

[TheDailyWail]

Hello Michael,

Should you read poems with the tone and rhythm you seem to naturally fall into? My teacher once told me and a friend (who were reading/acting out a poem out for a show) not to read it "like a poem".

Sometimes I stick to the sing-songy way and other times I try to read without the rhythm. (we always sing We're going on a Bear Hunt together - I can't read it any other way!)

Thank you for creating such wonderful books for us (and the kids) to enjoy.

[Saltire]

I've only encountered one lot of SATs, due to house moves etc, so can't comment really on those.

However, I'd like to ask something.
My 2 boys are aged 12 and 10. both are really good readers, especially the older one. but they will not read at home, the younger one gets sent home with a book every day to do reading but he won't do it, they also have loads of books, inculding ones like Tom's Midnight Garden and they won't pick them up. Is there anything I can do to make them read more, or should I just not try? I am an avid reader, and I guess I expect them to be to.

[southeastastra]

hi michael,

my ds(8) struggles at school, his mind is full of so many other things, he gets obsessive about subjects at the moment it's dr who (again) i actually prefer it when it's not on tv as he concentrates on other things then.

he hasn't done great on any SATS. to be honest each time i've had a result it's caused me weeks of upset and worry.

the books he's sent home from school don't seem to engage him at all. it's all too much like hard work for him.

i suppose i'm just waffling but asking maybe you (or anyone) might have some suggestions for some books i could get him to read which would engage his as much as blinking dr who!

thanks.

[bigcar]

Hi Michael

We are totally with you on SATS, their only purpose seems to be to place a school in it's position on a league table. Dd2 in yr 6 has done nothing other than maths and literacy since september, apparently they are going to fit the rest of the curriculum into what's left of the year after the end of next week Ime none of the local high schools use them to place children into groups, they do their own testing when the children go to visit for a day at the end of this term. Total waste of time.

When I was at school my teacher used to listen to me read regularly, it seemed to be the teachers job to teach a child to read. These days it seems that the parents do all the reading with the children, in and out of school and the teacher doesn't really get involved, do you think this is a good thing? It feels now that reading is a chore to be done everyday so I can sign their school book rather than something done for enjoyment.

We are on our third copy of going on a bear hunt, we our children love it!

[loujay]

Hi Michael,
I have 2 big fans of yours in my house, and a very dog eared copy of Bear Hunt!!
I am also completely with you on SATS as mother to a YR 2 girl who is predicted to do poorly (as if this will affect her job chances in years to come!!)
My question though is not about SATS and rather about the tour you did with the Handmade Orchestra......will you be repeating???..........I took DD and she became obsessed with both you and poetry as a result!!........We would love to go again.
Many Thanks for ALL of your work.
Lou xx

[sethstarkaddersmum]

Hi Michael,

I agree with you on the SATS. Our lovely village primary recently got a terrible OFSTED and the main reason was because they'd scored badly on last year's SATS - being a very small school their results will tend to fluctuate more than bigger schools but that wasn't taken into account.

My question is how I can encourage my daughter who is nearly 5 and loves making up stories and poems. (They usually rhyme and sometimes even scan ).

[MrsBadger]

I have no questions and know nothing of SATS but am a great admirer of your work

Auntie Wintermiddle gets me every time

[witchwithallthetrimmings]

Is the bear in bear hunt
a) a baddie
b) some one that just wants to get in bed with the family and have a wild rumpus and then a cuddle
c) neither - depends what the child thinks - il n y pas hor de text and all that?

p.s. i remember you coming to my school in the 1970s and doing your poems you were brilliant!

[EffiePerine]

We love Little Rabbit Foo Foo (on copy number four between my now-teenage nieces and my preschool sons). I wondered if it was now seen as a bit much for modern parenting sensibilities? So many children's books seem to have a strong moral theme now rather than being great stories - is there a danger of them being boring?

That may be 2 questions actually, sorry!

[toucancancan]

My three year old son loves books and when we sit down with a book keeps asking me what each word says. I want to begin teaching him to read but I'm not sure where to start. Are there any books you can recommend for me to buy for him?

[nickelclegg]

Hi Michael,

my question isn't on SATS, I'm afraid.

I run a small children's bookshop in Sittingbourne, and would like it if you could say a few words about bookshops in general and their value in getting children to love books, please!
(there may be hidden agenda here!)

Also,
are you busy in Independents' Week? Would you be interested in coming to my shop? please?

thank you very much!

[nickelclegg]

(sorry, i'm normally nickelbabe, but it's an election nickname....)

[outmumbered]

Hello Michael! We love 'Little Rabbit Foo Foo'. It is far and away my kids' favourite book. I can't count the number of times I've had to turn my them into goonies as a punishment. I keep a comic diary of the stuff my kids do - have a look if you get a chance! Have you any tips on getting going as a writer/illustrator?

little ones

[GettinTrimmer]

Hello Michael

Thank you for supporting the SATS boycott in schools.

Do secondary schools find the results a reliable measure of ability? They seem to be a complete waste of time and money, also an
unnecessary source of stress.

I know some parents who like them as they think it encourages their children to learn their work and cope with tests which are 'a fact of life.'

[RamonaThePest]

Hello Michael,

This is not really about SATs but is partly caused by the lack of focus on books and reading for excitement in school.

Do you have ideas on resources that could be used to help children and families know which books to seek out and read?

Our local library seem unable to suggest what my daughter who has a high reading ability but fairly immature interests could be enthused and stimulated by.

One recommended a book by Dorothy Butler called "Five to Eight" which I borrowed. It was helpful for family material - reading aloud stuff - but not that good for self reading and also really out of date now.

I also asked the teacher and she recommended buying additional ORT titles which is what she does for her own daughter.

My dream answer is obviously better librarians and more imaginative teachers!

But failing that, is there any book/website/magazine that exists or could be created to help parents find the right books.

[purepurple]

Hello, Michael, as an early years prsctitioner, I would like to know your views on the Early years Foundation stage? I think I remember that you were opposed to it before it was introduced.But, don't shoot me if I remember wrongly!)
Do you agree with a 'curriculum' for children under 5?
I would have to say that I love the EYFS, and feel that it allows childen to develop individually (when it is done right)with the emphasis on holistic development.
I also have to say that I have been opposed to SATS for a long time, and would love a KS1 that is more like reception, i.e play-based and not reliant on teaching to the test.

[Tacey]

I don't have a question, I just wanted to say thank you for speaking out against Sats. I taught a year 6 class last year and found the entire experience horrific. Sadly, I no longer feel I can continue in education because of it. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Let's hope we can return to giving children a love of literature rather than teaching to the test.

[MrsMalcolmTucker]

Mr Rosen - you are fantastic.

We love all your books, especially Bear Hunt (when dd was 2, she loved it so much I'm afraid my dh and me stopped loving it quite so much and in fact used to refer to it as 'Going on Another Sodding Bear Hunt'. Now we don't have to read it five or six times a day, we love it again)

Anyway, what I wanted to say was even more than that, I love your advocacy for children. I loved the way you used your position as children's laureate to be a voice for children and for childhood.

I wish that you could have continued as laureate, and my question is: do you still see yourself as a champion for children, and how do you make sure that the people who make decisions still hear what you have to say?

[fruitpastille]

Hello Michael,

Firstly, I'm pleased to say that my school is boycotting SATs this year.

Secondly, thanks for the great clips of you performing your poems on You Tube. My Year 5 class absolutely loved watching them and looking for performance tips during literacy (especially the No Breathing one which we had to watch several days in a row at their request!) Any chance you could come and perform it in person in North Leeds? It's worth a try...

[notnowdave]

Michael, I saw you on BBC Breakfast this morning and loved what you had to say. In fact, we went off to the library later that day

[jumblies]

hmm, chocolate cake! Loved that poem as a little girl :-)

[MichaelRosen]

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