The Fifty-first republic - twice weekly tests and wear masks at all time till Easter

[StaffRepFeistyClub]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders, and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

Do not give the staffroom password to others just in case it attracts the wrong sort

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation. Do not sit on the chairs and wear a mask.

@9pmcouchnaps

Ah this is making me want to teach English! I offered to read my Y8 tutor group a class book during tutor time, and they were not keen on the idea at all, which made me a bit sad

I'd just start reading anyway (maybe choose a book that has a gripping opening)

We obvs all like Wolf Wilder!

The House With Chicken Legs (also sad!)

Sarah Crossnan Apple and Rain - it's better written Jacqueline Wilson, so gritty.

I think I may just do it after Easter - knowing them better now, I think there are several of them who would actually quite enjoy it, but perhaps didn’t want to say at the start of the year

A F Harrold is gorgeous - in a similar vein, anything by Kate DiCamillo.

Also novels in verse are lovely for year 7/8:

Sarah Crossan - Weight of Water
Kwame Alexander - anything
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (more for year 8/9)

@Appuskidu I LOVE that book! I keep the copy my kids had. I had to do a remote assembly on change in the first lockdown with books I had at home and I chose that one. My voice was SO WOBBLY! It reminds me so much of my two as toders. They adored it.

We're gonna fill a whole thread with book recs - yay!

I'd love someone to read to me.

@RandomGrammarPun Love that dog in verse too!

Yes the Pigman too! We used to read heavy books!

On googling I found that the Day no pigs would die was banned for a while!

phleb I've just downloaded those 3 from the library (as ebooks obviously). I'm not sure we'll get through all 3 before they are due back, but she'll have a choice of which one to read first.

@MrsHamlet

They think maths teachers don't read for some reason Don't they just do sums for fun?? Most of the tutors have really taken to reading to their forms. One was really nervous because she's dyslexic (it's not compulsory reading aloud!) but the kids have responded well to it. It's made reading seem doable. And sharing story is lovely. I'd love someone to read to me.

I had a Geordie boyfriend who used to tell me stories when I couldn't sleep and he was really good at it and I loved it.

I often think I'd like to go and read to old people but I've never seen any opportunity in real life only in movies.

noble this is why you're my favourite.... no more marking for me!!!!

I am in a local NAS meeting. 8 people there. Am the only one who isn't on the Board!!

I note my school rep is not present.

@TheHoneyBadger we must be of an age! We read Animal Farm, The Pigman, I'm the King of the Castle by Susan Hill which is REALLY horrible and I loved it, The Fib (still excellent) and the Liverpool poets. I wanted to be called Monika. This was in a middle school system at year 8. Then my teacher left and our new one made us read My Family and Other Animals and I hated her. But the teachers work was done. I remember every book from that class. Just the way he sat on the desk and read was amazing. And they were the first discussions i'd ever had with a teacher where you could have an opinion, even one different from theirs.

I found the teacher many years later when I was actually a new teacher at a moderation meeting. I had a lovely chat. He said he was sorry, but also proud, I was a teacher as a result of him.

I hope she likes them!

Is there NO end to CH's talents????

I absolutely LOVE reading aloud. It's probably very egotistical.

Sally Gardner's Fairy Detective Agency series is such fun, and great for doing voices. Anything by her is good actually.

A nice mix of styles, periods and tastes on here:
schoolreadinglist.co.uk/reading-lists-for-ks2-school-pupils/suggested-reading-list-for-year-6-pupils-ks2-age-10-11/

Robin Stevens' historical girl detectives are very popular.

I sometimes worry that Series of Unfortunate Events is just too dark. And that was before I saw the film...

We must be Phleb

I also remember at primary that we would have slots in the tv room and would watch dramatisations I guess on bbc2 aimed at kids and then do creative writing in response. The only name I can remember is The Dark Tower. Going to have to google now.

Oh phleb that must have been amazing to bump into that teacher! I have fantasy conversations in my head with some of my old teachers. I probably shouldn't try and find them
Especially my History teacher and sixth form tutor who we all fancied.

Dark Towers.

Dark is great! I didn't want to start reading a new book this week so I've been reading Pullman's Grimm stories to my bubble. They love the dark stuff. Example response from a year 5 on hearing the false princess' punishment in The Goose Girl : " I would just stab my head into the nail to get it over with!"
His friend: "If you weren't naked you could probably break out of the barrel. That King was clever to trick her into naked"

I love reading aloud too (just not the sad bits or I cry). I put on voices and do my best theatrical performance. I like to think I'd have made a great actor (I wouldn't!! I get far too embarrassed in front of adults, but have great fun in front of kids).

I love being read to as well. I always have an audiobook on the go, which I listen to on my commute or when I'm out for a walk.

I remember that! With Wordy! Oh god, I loved it.

Hi all

Had the 'what evidence do we expect for the GCSEs' talk.

It was not helpful.

@JanFebAnyMonth I do also have several i'd punch! I did go to school when physical punishment was still just about allowed and if I ever saw that Geography teacher again i'd deck them. Except they are probably dead. Hopefully. Painfully.

@FrippEnos i'm just back from a mod meeting for year 6. That was painful enough I feel for you in secondary.

Apparently three schools in my area have ordered staff in all this week to tidy up/have meetings etc! The head said it was not up for discussion.