Spring Term
Issue One
The Barlby Reader
“Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny,
exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader
gives a terrific advantage.” Roald Dahl
At Barlby, we recognise that reading is a vital skill and tool that can help children
access every part of their education. It is at the heart of our curriculum and we
promote reading in a number of ways.
Guided Reading
Guided Reading takes place across
Reception, Key Stage One and Key
Stage Two every morning at Barlby. It is
a crucial period of time where children
work closely with a text. With a teacher,
they may read out loud or discuss key
questions based on the text. The teacher
will assess their ability to extract
information from the text directly or form
an opinion using the text as evidence.
We refer to these skills as the child’s
ability to retrieve and infer respectively,
assessing their overall comprehension of
the text.
Class novel
Each class at Barlby has a class novel.
Sometimes, this will be a text used in
Guided Reading or something linked to
the Cornerstones topic of the term. It is
an opportunity to be read to, or reading
roles will be assigned across the class.
Not only is this a time for the children to
listen to a book being read out loud, but
also it is a period where wider, broader
questions can be discussed in the
classroom with the view to enhance the
children’s understanding of the themes
and plot of the story.
Assemblies
In our Key Stage Assemblies, teachers
will sometimes read from a favourite book
of theirs. Typically a short, picture book,
the teacher will read out loud asking the
children to think and reflect on the
characters and the plot. Brave teachers
may even ask some of the children to act
out a scene!
Library and Little Libraries
Our school library is a wonderful facility
which is regularly used by teachers and
children to support their teaching and
learning in class. Key Stage One and
Key Stage Two children have separate
times during the week when they can
visit the library and borrow and return
books.
Each half term, we organise a time where
children can use the Little Libraries. This
is a facility where children can take a
book to keep for free – no questions
asked! Children are able to do this in
their own time as well – with their parents
and carers. You too – the parent and
carer – are also welcome to join in. Also,
if you are able to donate unwanted but
still loved books, the Little Libraries are a
perfect home for them.
Reading Journals are coming!
Teachers have been investigating and
researching ways in which children can
discuss (and even show off!) what they
are reading. Reading Journals are a
means in which children can do this. We
intend that all Key Stage Two children
(from Years Three to Six) will have a
Reading Journal by the end of the Spring
Term.
The purpose of the Reading Journals is
for the children to record and share their
thoughts, opinions and ideas about what
they are reading. It will help us ensure
that children are reading regularly and
are able to talk about what they reading
with other readers.
Ultimately, as a community, we want to
ensure that children recognise the value
of reading and how it can enrich their
own lives and open up their imagination.
Barlby
World Book Week
World Book Week commences on 27th
February 2017 and the children will
experience a range of activities of many
things book-related. World Book Week
will incorporate World Book Day, which
is 3rd March 2017.
We will inform the children and the
parents of the planned activities in due
course.
Other information
In future Barlby Readers, expect book
news, book recommendations from
teachers and children and mini quizzes.
Here is a taster of a Barlby Reader Quiz.
Answers below.
Don’t judge a book by its front
cover…judge it by its first line.
A teacher once told me that the first line
of a book is an immediate hook into
whether, as a reader, you are going to be
interested in it. Can you guess where
these first lines have come from?
- Once there were four children whose
names were Peter, Susan, Edmond,
and Lucy.
Barlby Booker Prize
We received the most entries ever for the
Barlby Booker Prize! The judges have
read all of them and, over much
deliberation, selected a Key Stage 1 and
2 winner respectively. From stories told in
verse to fairy tales to adventures, the
judges were in awe of the quality of the
writing submitted.
Answers to Don’t judge a book…
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Wind and the Willows
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Pinocchio
- The Mole had been working very
hard all the morning, spring-cleaning
his little home.
- Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four
Privet Drive, were proud to say that
they were perfectly normal, thank you
very much.
- Once upon a time there lived... 'A
king!' my little readers will say
immediately. No, children, you are
mistaken. Once upon a time there was
a piece of wood.