Summer Reading

Yep! Here I am going on about getting kids reading again. Well, while there are still children out there who say, "I'm no good at reading." I am going to keep giving out ideas to encourage and inspire them.

I came across a website today with some good ideas of how to get children reading over the summer holidays. Click here and be inspired!

If just one person (apart from me) looks at it, then it will have been worth posting.

What The Hell Was I Thinking?

What in Hell is up with Heaven?: No rest for the wicked... by Christopher David Petersen

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I didn't like this book; I found it very odd. I know it is supposed to be a religious satire, but it's just not what I expected. To begin with, the conversation between God and Satan is amusing, especially the "Does the Pope sh*t in the woods" conversation, but it just isn't enough to make a whole book out of. I quickly grew tired of the cheap gags. Again, it is amusing to think God might have a spitting contest or might have to go on a diet, but these are stand alone jokes and none of them really gel together to make an interesting read.

This book is unusual, in that many of the characters are ones we are already very familiar with. I don't think that was a problem, but the personalities of the characters were not consistent making them difficult to believe. Their dialogue didn't match their personalities and I found it annoying that the characters' styles of speech changed so regularly.

There were many spelling and grammatical errors, which a quick proof read could have corrected. That on its own usually spoils a book for me, because it feels like the book has been rushed to the publishers without the attention to detail required. If an author can't be bothered to read their own book, why should I?





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Surprisingly disappointing

This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I read this book after just finishing Shadowfever by KMM, who is admittedly a hard act to follow, but I'm afraid 'This Side of the Grave' was my least favourite book of the series so far.

I just didn't find it very exciting. The plot was okay, but there were no major surprises and I'm unsure I would have kept reading if I hadn't already read and enjoyed the others in the series. At times I felt like I had missed a few pages, as it skipped to a new scene leaving out too much detail in between, making the plot confusing in places.

There was some character development, but not a great deal and the new characters which were introduced were nothing special.

The big fight scene at the end was the first time while reading this book that I was really engaged by the story and didn't want to put it down.

Despite my disappointment, I look forward to the next book, which, judging by the taster in the back of this book, promises to be more interesting than this one.






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A Pleasant Read

Playing With Fire by Derek Landy



I am currently reading this with a year 5 (10 year old) pupil, who is really enjoying it. It has a good balance of action and mystery to keep a 10 year old boy's interest. The characters, who all have great names like 'Barron Vengeous' are amusing and interesting, allowing for good discussions about them as well as writing based on what we know about them. The writing provides fantastic examples of interesting sentence structures, brilliant imagery as well as interesting and exciting vocabulary. This book was recommended to me by an 11 year old, evidently one with good literary taste. It's all I can do not to read ahead to the end!


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Shadowfever

After reading these books, you will never think of Fairies as little pink winged creatures again!

Having read all of the books in the Fever series so far, it was tough not to go straight to Amazon to download Shadowfever to my Kindle as soon as it was published. Not being allowed to buy myself any books this year, I was excited to get some desperately requested Amazon vouchers for my birthday in May. Shadowfever was the first one I bought, but as I was half way through The Witching Hour, I decided to finish that before starting it, then, for some mad reason I cannot explain, I still didn't start reading it straight away. I wish I had. Once I did, I remembered just how brilliant the rest of the series had been. Definitely a series to read again. Shadowfever, which I think is probably the last in this series (although almost certainly not the last book of the fever world), was just as fantastic as the rest.

The following review contains spoilers. Don't read it before you have read the book(s). Do read the books. They are amazing!

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

I loved this book. It was definitely worth the wait, but I wish I hadn't had to wait so long for it. I fell straight back into it, thanks to amazing writing by KMM.



I was impressed by the way she reminded the reader of important events and details from the previous books in the series without it being boring for those who have recently read them. I was hoping that after such a fantastic series, she was not going to end it with a 'happy ever after' and I was not disappointed. I loved the ending. I guess we always knew Mac would get it on with Barrons eventually, but the sexual tension was somehow more exciting than the hot action, although I am definitely not saying she should have left that out.


There are so many twists in this story, it's believeable, but not predictable and keeps the reader gasping in surprise and turning page after page to find out what happens next. I hated putting this book down when sleep finally got the better of me.


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The Pissed-off Parents Club by Mink Elliott

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


It was okay. I think I might have appreciated it more if I was in a similar situation to Roxane. I just couldn't really empathise with her and found myself getting frustrated by her attitude. This is a personal thing, I'm sure. Many people will enjoy this book; it is lighthearted and funny, but it just didn't work for me.



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The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Having finally finished this book, I am unsure how I feel about it. I loved Anne Rice's creative use of language and her descriptions, particularly those of the house on First Street, really brought the book to life for me. Despite the masses of Paranormal fiction out there, I thought it stood out from the rest as being different. I was not put off by the chapters full of history, although I do think there was too much of it and would have found it easier & quicker to read if the pace was increased. Her characters were fantastic and I found myself really getting to know them, although not being able to keep track of who was related to who and how. I really enjoyed Part 3 and the beginning of part four as the tension was building and there was more action. I was quite disappointed with the way it ended. It was unpredictable, but I didn't really find the ending exciting and personally, although I expect a few unanswered questions to keep you guessing what will happen in the sequel, I like a book to end without such a big cliff hanger meaning you have read the next one to essentially find out how the story ends.

I have given it four stars, because although it took a very long time to get through and the ending was disappointing, I did like the story and the characters. I will read the next in the series, but not straight away.



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Who said boys can't write?

This is a shape poem Big J wrote after reading a book about 'Wild Weather'. They are all his own words and the layout was his idea too. All I did was type it up, play around with the text position and give him encouragement.

Le Cirque des Rêves

Always on the lookout for good books by new authors, I noticed this morning that Richelle Mead, whose blog and website I follow, had added this book to her 'to read' list:

Here is the trailer...

It sounds like it is going to be a good read, although, as usual, I will reserve judgement until I read it. However, I am going to have to be patient, as it is not due to be published until September 2011. Until then, I will be waiting for Fridays to read Erin Morgenstern's Flax Golden Tales...

Witching Hour?

As I write, I am sitting in the dark with rain lashing outside my window and thunder bellowing.

"And the rain is brain-coloured.

And the thunder sounds like something remembering something." STAN RICE

Reaching page 106 of 'The Witching Hour' by Anne Rice, the only thing making me put this fantastic book down is the size of the text, so small I am straining my eyes to read, which is spoiling the reading experience. So, I went on a hunt to find this book in a larger print version (hardback or Kindle).

Starting my hunt at Amazon, as I invariably do, I was disappointed to find there was no Kindle version. Clicking the link to tell the publisher you'd like to read this book on Kindle, I took a cyber-stroll down to Ebay.

Before I continue, which is unfortunately always inevitable, I feel it important to affirm my open mindedness. Rarely judging people by the expressed opinions of others, I prefer to make my own judgements based on my experiences, which often earns me the 'I think you are mad, but I'm not going to say it, because mad people are unpredictable.' look from people.

My Ebay search turned out to be much more interesting than I had expected...

There were several different formats of The Witching Hour, but shortly after browsing the search results, I had forgotten that I was there to find a book. I had been distracted by these:

Having spent many of my teenage years being bitter and cross, ready to take revenge on the world, I am now surprisingly calm and understanding, believing that "everything happens for a reason" and "when one door closes another one opens." So I find it hard to empathise with anyone who would buy a spell for breaking up a marriage or make someone obsess over them. Why would you want someone to fall in love with you, knowing they didn't really love you? It makes me sad that people are desperate enough to want to do it.

Curious, I wondered what sort of feedback buyers left; whether they were happy or disatisfied with their purchases. After reading these, I really wasn't convinced.

I am more inclined to believe the results are from a change in the buyer's thinking- i.e. If you have taken action, you feel more positive about it.

But, assuming for a moment that it did work, I considered what spell I would buy...

This one is tempting...

and as a Twilight & True Blood fan, I quite fancy trying this one...

possibly combined with this one...

(if you are an Eric fan, you will appreciate this!)

But I finally decided, after wasting spending some time deliberating, that this one would be the best one for me...

I won't be trying any spells. The control freak in me says no to anything I don't understand (including politics and blue food), but before I had finished on Ebay I was yet again distracted by the sponsored links...

Get a T shirt or get a blog?

If you wear a T-Shirt like this, you can expect it to be read. While I agree with the sentiment of this fun, albeit unironed, t shirt, personally, I prefer to blog the things I want to say...

Learning about Africa?

Just found this great website and thought I would share it. It's great if you are interested in learning more about Africa or maybe to support your topic work. Best of all, it's free!


I have added it to 'The Teacher's Cupboard (Resources)' links on the right.

A Fitting Gift?

I love this T Shirt.

Now, who should I buy it for...? Hmmmm? Who indeed....?

Growing up...

I must have done something right if, instead of buying chocolate, the children have decided to spend the money they've been given for Easter on tools and seeds etc. to grow some vegetables. They have helped me put their budget together and have decided what to plant. This evening we were all out on the garden getting their little plot ready, but don't let me steal their thunder. They have blogged about it themselves...

Zumba... What more need I say?

I have been saying for weeks I want to get into exercising again and try to lose some of the weight I have put on, but have really not been able to find the motivation. I have been so occupied with organising other things recently that I just haven't given this aspect of my life the time and attention it deserves. But I have just taken the first step to change that...

Today, is Zumba Day 1 and tomorrow will almost certainly be 'aching from Zumba Day 1', but will hopefully also be Zumba Day 2. I have not been brave enough to join a Zumba class, as I have no wish to show off my lack of co-ordination in public. Zumba Fitness for the wii, however, is a great compromise.

Having done no focused aerobic exercise for a couple of months, I was being a bit ambitious to select the 20 minute routine. This was not just like 20 mins on the wii fit+, which allows me to take a 30 second break between activities to at least get my breath and drink some water; this was practically 20 minutes of fast moving, non-stop 'Zumba'ing.

As always, though, I feel much better for starting and not just talking about it. I don't plan to 'Zumba' every day, but do plan to do between 30 - 60 mins of aerobic exercise every day. It had great effects last year, so I'm hoping it will this time. Any encouragement will be greatly appreciated!

For My Father in Law (Just nod & smile politely!)

And just who is responsible for making that law?!

Anyway...

It is official.

Teachers can leap tall buildings with single strides. (Oh, except during the holidays when we are too busy getting paid to have six weeks off. hee hee!).

Here is the video used for Teachers' 'Leaping Buildings' CPD (continued professional development). Enjoy...

What? None of this makes any sense? Congratulations. You have just passed the sanity test!

Getting Children Reading

Anyone who knows me, knows just how much I enjoy reading. What you may not know is that I also spend a lot of my time encouraging children to read.

My own children have always had books all around them, on bookshelves upstairs, bookshelves downstairs, a kids book box in the living room and they both have bookshelves and magazine/ comic racks in their rooms. We have story times not just at bedtimes, but sometimes during that 5-10 mins after dinner when we are still sitting at the table. So, reading in our house is not something we do as homework or just so that we can make a note in the children's reading diaries so we don't get nagged at parents' evening; it's something we do for fun and relaxation.


I was delighted recently, after spending weeks gently nagging a year 6 girl I am working with, when she came in one week telling me what she had read. Now she is reading regularly and is seeing how enjoyable it can be. Sometimes that's all it takes. It's not always that easy, though, and I am always looking out for new ways to encourage children (or encourage parents to encourage children) to get into a book!

With this in mind, I just found out about this great website and thought I would share it. Go and have a look at oxford owl.co.uk.

There is advice on how to get children reading and information about the skills they need to develop and how you can help.

There are lots of great ideas for fun games to play that will help with reading and language skills in general and it links to other good quality websites like BBC Bitesize.

Many children are already familiar with the Oxford Reading Tree Characters, Biff, Chip and Kipper etc. and they do feature on this site. 

You can even link to a PDF document which shows you the full range of the books,and if your child is doing the Read Write Inc (Ruth Miskin) Phonics Scheme, there is a link to the home reading books available to support that too.

But it is not solely for young children; there are things for slightly older children too (up to Year 3 and maybe struggling Year 4 readers). 

Particularly good is the link to this Oxford webpage about Project X, a project specifically aimed at boys to raise their achievement.

And if that hasn't got you interested enough, just go to have a look at the animated owl. He's cool...

Book Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book took far too long to get into. There was too much journalist & business talk at the beginning. I had been warned that this was the case, but that it would get better. It took me until I was over half way though to get into the story (I'm no quitter!) and then it was no quick read. I found it hard to stay awake to read it and although I didn't like certain aspects of the story, I had read too far not to find out what had happened to Harriet. However, I did really like the main female character, who was original and who we saw develop through the book. This book wasn't quite what I expected. I am sure others will really love it, but it just wasn't for me.



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As Good as a Rest...

It's been a busy weekend, with one thing and another...

After a busy Friday, during which I had an early appointment in Salisbury, followed by a visit to Upper Shirley High to watch Little Z play in the Woodwind Festival (she was fab! All that practice is really paying off.) and then work in the afternoon, I would have welcomed a lie-in on Saturday. I had, however, in some moment of madness earlier in the week, booked a doctor's appointment for 9.10 Saturday morning. I was glad I did though as it reassured me that the pain I have had in my foot for about 3 weeks is nothing serious and will sort itself out. Apparently I have Plantar Fasciitis. I have to rest it as much as I can and wear supportive footwear: so trainers to school and sit about all day! I think I can manage that!

Having recently researched the Spitfire with some year 6 pupils, I was very keen to go down to Mayflower Park in Southampton to see it fly past as a celebration of 75 years since its maiden flight from Eastleigh Aerodrome. We were lucky enough to park at Mayflower Park and had a cold but lovely couple of hours down there, mostly waiting and around looking at the sky, but the children got to speak to some interesting people like the town cryer, a lady from a radio station (what's that tall pole sticking out the top of your van? - little Z) and a man with a lovely... erm... dog, yes, he did indeed have a lovely dog! I have not included photos and video of the Spitfire event as Little Z has blogged about it herself and has included the video and photos we took. Go and take look.

Today was Big J's Karate grading day. He has worked very hard to learn his kata, after learning it over half term, getting it slightly wrong and having then to un-learn the one he knew and learn it the right way. Having only found out on Wednesday that the kata he had learned was not quite right, he only had 3 days to correct it before grading. But he did it! He is now what Sama Karate call a 2nd Orange Belt, which is an orange belt with a white stripe. I'm very proud of him.

Changing Rooms

It's half term for Little Z, Big J and I, and as Chris also has a week off work, it's been the ideal opportunity to have lots of family time, which can be difficult when we are all at school or work (or both!).

It has also been a good chance to work together to get the house tidy. I find it hard to get motivated to do it when I am on my own, mainly because I so rarely have time on my own that when I do, I want to use it to sit down with my Kindle.

By yesterday, we had managed to tidy the living room, dining room and the surface in the kitchen which always gets cluttered with bits and pieces that don't seem to belong anywhere and which don't quite make it to the kitchen bits-and-bobs drawer.

We were so pleased with what we had achieved, we went a little crazy and decided to have a go at the conservatory. You have to have have seen our conservatory recently to really appreciate the extent of this job, but when I say we couldn't see the floor, I mean just that.

It had become a dumping ground for my teacher resources (files & folders, loose paperwork, laminates, stationary, photographs, puppets etc.), which occupied the right hand side of the conservatory, not only in approximately 6 boxes stacked up on top of the toy storage unit, but also all over the floor where bags or boxes had split and let paper simply spill out over the carpet.

The other side of the room was filled with toys and clothes the children had grown out of. We had intended to do a car boot sale (not even last Summer, but the one before!), but had never got around to it and so what was neatly arranged bags and boxes, gradually became split bags and torn boxes and 'I don't want to get rid of that' toys were left untidily on the floor after a quick pull-from-the-bottom-of-the-pile-and-play,-while-no-one-is-looking.

We spent all day clearing the conservatory of junk, and although there were some lovely, "hey, come and look what I've found," or, "Great, I've been looking for this!" moments, it was very hard work.

We now have another room which can actually be used. It's amazing. When it was full of rubbish, I don't think I really appreciated that it was a whole room we could actually be using as living space. We haven't used it as a room for at least 2 years and I wish now that I'd done it a long time ago.

It's already making a difference. Big J likes to have some time to himself; it's something we taught him to do when he was younger if he was getting angry and needed to calm down. The conservatory is the perfect place for him to do that. It's a quiet room to sit and think without all the noise of the rest of the family. He has taken in some of his pencils for the art table we've set up, which he is keen to start using, and he spent 20 mins in there practising his karate kata.

I have no doubt we will all benefit from the additional space in our own ways. Me? Need you ask?