Whole School - Literacy
Broadway Cinema
Year 4 and Year 6 visited the Broadway cinema to watch Disney's latest hit, Moana. Here are a few of their film reviews, written following the visit.
World Book Week 2017
Dragony dress-up
The whole school dressed as dragons to celebrate World Book Day, following our dragon theme and raising money for Book Aid International. Book Aid International is an organisation that sends books to those in Africa who have little or no access to books. In total, we raised £195.52 for this very worthy cause!
Book donations
Throughout the week, children were asked to bring in any unwanted, good quality books from home to enhance our choice of books in school. The children were very generous and all books have been labelled to show who donated them. They will be shared out to the appropriate year groups in school.
The whole school dressed as dragons to celebrate World Book Day, following our dragon theme and raising money for Book Aid International. Book Aid International is an organisation that sends books to those in Africa who have little or no access to books. In total, we raised £195.52 for this very worthy cause!
Book donations
Throughout the week, children were asked to bring in any unwanted, good quality books from home to enhance our choice of books in school. The children were very generous and all books have been labelled to show who donated them. They will be shared out to the appropriate year groups in school.
Book Fair
The Book Fair was available at parents’/carers’ evening on both nights to purchase books and each book sold earned commission for school. The sales over the two nights helped us to earn almost £200 to spend on books for school!
The Book Fair was available at parents’/carers’ evening on both nights to purchase books and each book sold earned commission for school. The sales over the two nights helped us to earn almost £200 to spend on books for school!
Author Mark Robertson Visit
Mark Robertson visited St Mary's on Friday and spent the day with us, persuading the non-believers that dragons really do exist! He shared some of his illustrations and stories and told us about the inspiration behind his stories, as well as showing us dragon horns and dragon eggs from around the world!
He spent time with each class - telling more stories, teaching children how to draw dragons and asking the children to share their own ideas for new creatures which he then brought to life!
He also showed us footage of an unexpected guest roaming the school grounds!
Watch the video for more details ... if you dare!
Mark Robertson visited St Mary's on Friday and spent the day with us, persuading the non-believers that dragons really do exist! He shared some of his illustrations and stories and told us about the inspiration behind his stories, as well as showing us dragon horns and dragon eggs from around the world!
He spent time with each class - telling more stories, teaching children how to draw dragons and asking the children to share their own ideas for new creatures which he then brought to life!
He also showed us footage of an unexpected guest roaming the school grounds!
Watch the video for more details ... if you dare!
Children and their families queue to get their personal signed copy of one of Mark Robertson's books!
Y2 Book Display
Here are some samples of the fantastic writing we've been doing in school since author Mark Robertson's visit!
Y3 Non Chronological Reports
Y3 Instructions
Y6 Dragon Diaries
Lunch in the Library
These children celebrated collecting all their 'genre tags' by enjoying lunch in the library. After lunch, they shared books, used the listening station and used the iPads to access books through 'Reading Eggs'.
Summer Reading Challenge
These children were pictured showing off their Summer Reading Challenge medals and certificates after our Congratulations assembly this week. The challenge, run by the city's libraries encourages children to keep reading over the summer holidays. The children have to read and return 6 books to complete the challenge - well done to them all!
World Book Day 2016
Fancy Dress
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Once again we dressed up this year as some of our favourite book characters to celebrate World Book Day.
There were a great range of costumes on show and we would like to say a huge thank you to children and adults for all their efforts in making all the children look absolutely fantastic! Do you recognise any characters from your favourite stories? |
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Book Sale
At break time, we sold second hand books that had been donated throughout the week in order to raise money for Book Aid. In total we raised £133.60 which will help young people like Samuel, whose story we heard about in assembly, to have access to books that they wouldn’t otherwise have.
Thank you for your kind donations of books and for the money donated by buying books from the sale.
Thank you for your kind donations of books and for the money donated by buying books from the sale.
Extreme Reading Competition
Here are the shortlisted photos from our ‘Extreme Reading’ competition that was held as part of World Book Day. There were winning prizes of a £10 Waterstones voucher and 3 runners up, each winning a £5 Waterstones voucher.
Well done to all those who entered and look out for your pictures which will soon be displayed in school somewhere.
Well done to all those who entered and look out for your pictures which will soon be displayed in school somewhere.
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World Book Week 2015
Travelling Book Company
To kick start book week and motivate the children, we held a book fare during parents evening the week before. Here children were able to browse and buy a wide range of new and exciting books. The children were able to use their Wold Book Day tokens and the fare was a great success with many books being sold.
Hyson Green Library Visit
To begin Book Week, each class had a visit to the local library in Hyson Green. Liz, the librarian, gave the children lots of useful information about the services available and then all had the opportunity to browse a range of books and familiarise themselves with how the library is organised. Children had the opportunity to take books out if they were already a member, and if not, they were able to join the library on that day. It is really important that the children are aware of the services available in their local area and from this visit many children said that they would now be using the library more frequently in order to both read for pleasure and help them with their homework.
‘I really enjoyed the trip to the library because I love reading books and I now know that libraries can be used for homework clubs as well so I will be going to the library more often.’ Michelle
‘I really loved our trip to the library and found out a lot of things that they do and I now have two Jaqueline Wilson books to read.’ Jazaya
Martha Toogood
Martha Toogood is a local arts education consultant and during book week each class teacher planned a series of lessons including speaking and listening, drama, art, planning and written work alongside Martha. These activities were each based around a text that she had recommended and during the week, each class participated in a drama session led by her. The build up to the written work and drama sessions ensured children were fully immersed in the text and explored it in imaginative and creative ways, the outcome of which led to some very engaging writing being produced by the children.
Central Library Arts Award Day
Year 3 were very lucky as they were one of three schools that had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Arts Award Day. Children had a great day participating in the different workshops which included: Performance and Poetry with author Dave ‘Stickman’ Higgins, Creative Wording with Andy Newbold, Art and Design with Irene Jade and Nathan Bainbridge. At the end of the day all children completed the Arts Award Discover and received certification via Trinity College.
Book Sale
To help raise money for Book Aid International, many children brought in their old or unwanted books for our Book Sale. This charity has sent over 30 million books to libraries in Africa and trained hundreds of librarians and thanks to the children’s generosity, we have raise £148.90 to support this cause. A huge thank you to all the children that donated and bought books!
To find out more about Book Aid International you can visit http://www.bookaid.org/
Dress up as a book character
To help get children into the spirit of book week and raise the profile of reading, all children were invited to dress up as their favourite book character. It was great fun to see the children enjoying this day and explaining who they had come as, with some even staying in role throughout the day!
Book Award F1
Every year Nottingham's young children vote for their favourite book published in the last 12 months. Liz McGrath, our local librarian from Hyson Green Library visited our F1 children to read the short listed stories, of which there are three, and she asked the children vote on their favourite story. The book with the most votes is the Winner.
The Railway Children
We had a fantastic time when M and M Productions came and performed The Railway children. The children thoroughly enjoyed seeing this well-known classic come to life on the stage and each year group produced work based on this enrichment. For example, Year 6 created some fabulous poems based on the scene when there is a landslide, Year 1 did lots of role play and Year 4 wrote emotive diary entries of the family arriving at the countryside.
Reading Buddies
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Helpful Hints to Being a Fantastic Reading Buddy
Before Reading the Book
Look at the front cover of the book and talk about whether it is fiction or non-fiction. Ask them how they know.
Talk about the front cover before reading and ask them why they chose this book. Look at the title and picture on the front cover.
Ask your reading buddy to flick through the book before reading and say what the book might be about. What do you think is going to happen in this story?
Ask them where the story is set and how do they know this (the setting is WHERE the story takes place).
Whilst Reading the story
Encourage your reading buddy to read with expression, using a range of voices for the characters who are speaking. Explain to them the reason for using expression is to make their reading sound more interesting and come alive.
After reading each page check with your reading buddy that they have understood what they have read. Ask them if there are any words that they don’t know the meaning of, and explain these to them (remember there are adults to help you with this if you need it!).
Write down some of the words/sentences from the story that describes how a character is feeling.
Draw a picture of the main characters and show how they are feeling.
Talk about what is happening at the beginning of the story to the characters and what they think is going to happen to them next. Would you like to be one of the characters and why?
After Reading the Book
What did you think about the story? Why do you think that?
Talk about the story with your reading buddy to check that they have understood it. Ask some ‘why’ questions, e.g. Why do you think she did that?
Choose one of the main characters and talk about the events that have happened to him/her and how they may be feeling. What makes you think this?
Write down something exciting that happened in the story.
Was the story ending exciting, scary, sad or happy and why?
Draw a picture of the story setting.
Can you think of a different ending to the story? Would your ending be an exciting, scary or happy ending?
Non-Fiction
Can your reading buddy find the context page, index, glossary?
Ask your reading buddy to use the context page to find you some information about a topic that you give them.
Write down two sub-headings from the text.
Write down two interesting facts that you have found out from the book.
Draw a picture or diagram of something you have learned about in this book.
Before Reading the Book
Look at the front cover of the book and talk about whether it is fiction or non-fiction. Ask them how they know.
Talk about the front cover before reading and ask them why they chose this book. Look at the title and picture on the front cover.
Ask your reading buddy to flick through the book before reading and say what the book might be about. What do you think is going to happen in this story?
Ask them where the story is set and how do they know this (the setting is WHERE the story takes place).
Whilst Reading the story
Encourage your reading buddy to read with expression, using a range of voices for the characters who are speaking. Explain to them the reason for using expression is to make their reading sound more interesting and come alive.
After reading each page check with your reading buddy that they have understood what they have read. Ask them if there are any words that they don’t know the meaning of, and explain these to them (remember there are adults to help you with this if you need it!).
Write down some of the words/sentences from the story that describes how a character is feeling.
Draw a picture of the main characters and show how they are feeling.
Talk about what is happening at the beginning of the story to the characters and what they think is going to happen to them next. Would you like to be one of the characters and why?
After Reading the Book
What did you think about the story? Why do you think that?
Talk about the story with your reading buddy to check that they have understood it. Ask some ‘why’ questions, e.g. Why do you think she did that?
Choose one of the main characters and talk about the events that have happened to him/her and how they may be feeling. What makes you think this?
Write down something exciting that happened in the story.
Was the story ending exciting, scary, sad or happy and why?
Draw a picture of the story setting.
Can you think of a different ending to the story? Would your ending be an exciting, scary or happy ending?
Non-Fiction
Can your reading buddy find the context page, index, glossary?
Ask your reading buddy to use the context page to find you some information about a topic that you give them.
Write down two sub-headings from the text.
Write down two interesting facts that you have found out from the book.
Draw a picture or diagram of something you have learned about in this book.
When I read with my reading buddy she helps me understand hard words. |
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A Visit from Paul Cookson
The very talented and hugely entertaining Paul Cookson visited St Mary’s to help us celebrate our Poetry week!
We all gathered together as he shared a selection of his hilarious poems, we had such fun as we listened to and joined in with these.
Paul held workshops with each class and created a collaborative poem which we then performed in an assembly at the end of the day.
We had a great time and when combined with our poetry studied and created during the course of the week, we were able to share, perform and appreciate a wide range of poetry.
We all gathered together as he shared a selection of his hilarious poems, we had such fun as we listened to and joined in with these.
Paul held workshops with each class and created a collaborative poem which we then performed in an assembly at the end of the day.
We had a great time and when combined with our poetry studied and created during the course of the week, we were able to share, perform and appreciate a wide range of poetry.
Year 5After discovering the tips of the trade, together we created this poem which we performed to the rest of the school at the end of the day.....
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Year 3A performance poem written and performed by class 3 with the help of our guest poet, Paul Cookson...
CLASSROOM STAFFROOM STAFFROOM CLASSROOM STAFFROOM CLASSROOM We crunch carrots, they chomp chocolate cake. We taste apples, they snaffle smarties. We swallow oranges, they munch biscuits We nibble grapes, they devour donuts. CLASSROOM STAFFROOM We bite beetroot they guzzle wine. We lick pineapple, they chew on chocolates. We bite bananas, they bolt down pizza. We chew on bread, they slurp tea and coffee (With 3 spoons of sugar) CLASSROOM STAFFROOM We test brussel sprouts, they crunch on crisps. We gulp greens, they scoff cupcakes. We sample sweetcorn, they gobble chips. We taste tomatoes, they suck sweets. CLASSROOM STAFFROOM CLASSROOM STAFFROOM CLASSROOM STAFFROOM Which would you choose? |
Tom's Midnight Garden
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Children from F2 to Y6 were lucky enough to watch a performance of the classic tale Tom’s Midnight Garden in school today.
The show was put on by M&M Theatrical Productions and children in each year group will be doing follow up work in English sessions. 
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Here are just a few examples of some of the work that's been
inspired by the production throughout school, from F2 to Year 6.
Treasure Island
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28th April 2014
The whole school (apart from Year 4 who were skating) had an exciting afternoon watching the swash buckling adventure aboard the Jolly Rodger in the classic tale of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 'Treasure Island' performed by M and M Productions. |
Inspired by theses buccaneers, each class based their literacy around Treasure Island.
For example, Year 3 created poetry based on what could be found in a captain’s chest or a pirates pocket and they created treasure maps in their maths lessons.
Year 5 and 6 created funny pirate profiles and wrote part of a Pirate quest. Here are a couple of examples of the children’s work in year 6:
For example, Year 3 created poetry based on what could be found in a captain’s chest or a pirates pocket and they created treasure maps in their maths lessons.
Year 5 and 6 created funny pirate profiles and wrote part of a Pirate quest. Here are a couple of examples of the children’s work in year 6:
With heavy steps, I tried my hardest to stave off exhaustion, reminding myself the risk was worth the reward. I was so close and I couldn’t stop now. The ground was moist and soft but it did not comfort me; it made me feel as if someone was here to hinder my journey. Crisp, dead leaves crunched beneath my tattered boots, falling from crooked trees. Their trunks were thick and stout.
(Jesvita)
Eerie echoes surrounded me, as if caressing me. Just one step changed how I felt about this place, something was definitely amiss. Flames of fear ignited fires of curiosity as I move quickly towards my destination. A breath taking sight revealed itself before me.
(Edmund)