Reading Floodland by Marcus Sedgwick with my Y5/6 class is always an absolute pleasure. Not a single word is wasted! Six lines in and we're already straight into the action. Such a talented writer and such a sad loss.

If you're looking to build a school collection of graphic novels, @scholasticuk.bsky.social have just launched a great new deal. Their Graphic Novel Book Box is updated every term with ten new graphic novels and loads of bonus posters and bookmarks. Link here: shop.scholastic.co.uk/products/160...

If you're looking to build a school collection of graphic novels, @scholasticuk.bsky.social have just launched a great new deal. Their Graphic Novel Book Box is updated every term with ten new graphic novels and loads of bonus posters and bookmarks. Link here: shop.scholastic.co.uk/products/160...

The @empathylabuk.bsky.social conference on Thu 27th Nov is going to be superb. The links between reading and empathy are very powerful. Fantastic speakers, including @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social, @teresacremin.bsky.social and @amdassu.bsky.social. More info here: empathylab.uk/raising-gene...

I love a children's author who knows their Greek mythology and Annelise Gray clearly does. The Odyssey of Phoebe Quilliam is a fantastic adventure story, full of action and drama, but with plenty of quieter and more reflective moments too. It's a great read for Year 5/6.

A great way to celebrate poetry in schools! The Young Poet Laureate Programme kicks off with the first Young Poets Week during the week of 24th Nov. Free online sessions for KS2/KS3 pupils plus free resources. Thank you @literacy-trust.bsky.social. Info here: literacytrust.org.uk/programmes/y...

This is really sad news. Knights Of are exactly the kind of publisher that the children's book world needs. www.thebookseller.com/news/indepen...

The #ReconstructingReading online festival takes place during the week of 17th November. @literacy-trust.bsky.social have put together a line-up of outstanding speakers. Tickets are available for individual sessions or the entire week. More info here: literacytrust.org.uk/training-and...

Have spent the day reading some of the books shortlisted for the @empathylabuk.bsky.social Read for Empathy collection. It always inspires me. So many wonderful things can happen in a classroom when you use the right story or poem.

The #ReconstructingReading online festival takes place during the week of 17th November. @literacy-trust.bsky.social have put together a line-up of outstanding speakers. Tickets are available for individual sessions or the entire week. More info here: literacytrust.org.uk/training-and...

Michael Rosen Day is happening on Thursday 13th November! If you haven't signed up yet, make sure you do. There's a free live @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social event, a poetry competition and loads of great resources. Join the poetry party! #MichaelRosenDay www.michaelrosen.co.uk/michaelrosen...

Michael Rosen Day is happening on Thursday 13th November! If you haven't signed up yet, make sure you do. There's a free live @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social event, a poetry competition and loads of great resources. Join the poetry party! #MichaelRosenDay www.michaelrosen.co.uk/michaelrosen...

Important piece from @booktrust.org.uk and @openuni-rfp.bsky.social about the value of book choice for pupils and how to help promote it in the classroom. Do have a read! files.booktrust.org.uk/docs/documen... @teresacremin.bsky.social @richardruddick.bsky.social

Anyone know where we're actually up to this term? Week 15? Week 38? Week 467?

Everyone working in primary schools wants to raise standards in reading. For me, the best starting point is Primary Reading Simplified by @suchmo83.bsky.social. It's superb and covers everything, with phonics, fluency, comprehension and RfP all being explored.

This is happening tomorrow afternoon (3:45pm). I'll be talking about ways we've given poetry a higher profile in my school and @joshuaseigal.bsky.social will be sharing his life as a children's poet, as well as performing some of his work. Grab a cup of coffee and join us!

If you're free for an hour on Monday, do come along! @joshuaseigal.bsky.social is always worth listening to.

For #KidsBooksFriday this week let’s highlight great kids puzzle and activity books. I find these are a great way to get kids to engage with physical books, particularly those who fear reading large swathes of text (as I did when I was wee). And they’re just great fun. #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

On Monday 20th October, I'm running an online session with the brilliant @joshuaseigal.bsky.social all about raising the profile of poetry in the primary classroom. It will start at 3:45pm and end at 5:00pm. More information here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/i-dont-lik...

Really enjoyed this debut poetry collection by Julie Hare @tortoise1hare2.bsky.social. Loved the environmental theme running through the book. My class have already dipped into it several times for Poem of the Day. @redgierob.bsky.social

We can't wait to celebrate the #NationalYearofReading! 🫵Tell us how you're going to celebrate - we'd love to share your story in our magazine English 4-11, published with our friends and partners @uklitassociation.bsky.social and @natefeed.bsky.social: bit.ly/4-11YearOfRe...

If you're looking for a perfect Halloween class book for Y5/6 that can be read in a week, you won't do better than The Last Day of October by Phil Hickes. Creepy and atmospheric, with a fantastic cliffhanger at the end of each chapter. @oriolvidal.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

Finished reading Running my Own Race by @eyesab2.bsky.social with my Y5/6 class last week. They absolutely loved it, and it gave us lots of chances to talk about issues relevant to their own lives. Highly recommended.

Happy Bookshop Day! There are over 200 independent children's bookshops on my map so do pay your local one a visit. It's regularly updated but please let me know of any more I could add. padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

I have a new book out which is getting a lot of love, which is great, but it makes me sad for my older books. Sure, they’re not new and shiny any more in the world of publishing / book selling, but they would be to a kid who hasn’t read them:

Every year our pupils deliver #PoetryPost to the local community and every year they're absolutely thrilled with the positive response it receives. There's more information about how it works on the @openuni-rfp.bsky.social site. ourfp.org/eop/poetry-p...

We 🧡 Moorlands Poetry Post from @jonnybid.bsky.social + Moorlands Primary Academy - proof poetry’s for every day, not just @poetrydayuk.bsky.social! Children share decorated poems through local letterboxes, spreading joy. https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/everybody-read/a-poem-for-you/

My class loved exploring similarities and differences between A Cat Called Waverley by Debi Gliori and War Dog by Tom Palmer and Carolina Rabei. We talked about loyalty, courage, being away from who you love, and the relationship between humans and animals. It was joyous.

The primary curriculum has increasingly become something that schools subscribe to and teachers download and click through. It clearly saves a lot of time but does it mean that some teachers are no longer planning for the needs of their class? Not taking a view, just asking.

Katya Balen is a children's author whose books get automatic promotion to the top of my reading pile. Letters from the Upside is another enormous success with richly-drawn and believable characters, including Con, a child that many pupils will relate to. Essential for UKS2.

Very much looking forward to the @empathylabuk.bsky.social conference in November. It's a superb line-up of speakers including @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social, @teresacremin.bsky.social and authors @amdassu.bsky.social and @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social. An important day! empathylab.uk/raising-gene...

The Kofi series by Jeffrey Boakye goes from strength to strength. Book three, Kofi and the Brand New Vibe, is hilarious and would be a perfect read for Year 5/6. The author's deep passion for music comes through on every page. It's a book that fizzes with energy.

The Kofi series by Jeffrey Boakye goes from strength to strength. Book three, Kofi and the Brand New Vibe, is hilarious and would be a perfect read for Year 5/6. The author's deep passion for music comes through on every page. It's a book that fizzes with energy.

On Monday 20th October, I'm running an online session with the brilliant @joshuaseigal.bsky.social all about raising the profile of poetry in the primary classroom. It will start at 3:45pm and end at 5:00pm. More information here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/i-dont-lik...

On Monday 20th October, I'm running an online session with the brilliant @joshuaseigal.bsky.social all about raising the profile of poetry in the primary classroom. It will start at 3:45pm and end at 5:00pm. More information here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/i-dont-lik...

Our Reading Champions are excited to get started in their new roles. They have lots of great ideas. Thanks @jonnybid.bsky.social for your help.

On Monday 20th October, I'm running an online session with the brilliant @joshuaseigal.bsky.social all about raising the profile of poetry in the primary classroom. It will start at 3:45pm and end at 5:00pm. More information here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/i-dont-lik...

There are hundreds of examples of practice on the @openuni-rfp.bsky.social site. I've just uploaded a couple more. Secondary school pupils supporting the class recommendations shelf: ourfp.org/eop/recommen... Talking about how we choose books: ourfp.org/eop/choices-...

There are hundreds of examples of practice on the @openuni-rfp.bsky.social site. I've just uploaded a couple more. Secondary school pupils supporting the class recommendations shelf: ourfp.org/eop/recommen... Talking about how we choose books: ourfp.org/eop/choices-...

On Monday 20th October, I'm running an online session with the brilliant @joshuaseigal.bsky.social all about raising the profile of poetry in the primary classroom. It will start at 3:45pm and end at 5:00pm. More information here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/i-dont-lik...

I wrote a short article for @openuni-rfp.bsky.social about how we need to prioritise time for independent reading in schools. Even though it's vitally important, it's often squeezed out due to the pressures of the school timetable. ourfp.org/publications...

If it's helpful to schools, below is the link to a year's worth of picturebook assembly suggestions that have a focus on empathy and inclusion. They're all books I've used and loved as a teacher. padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

Yes, I know I can only put ten sheets at a time through the paper trimmer before it gets stuck but that isn't going to stop me from trying to do the whole class set at once.

This was a totally unexpected, but much appreciated, surprise through the letterbox. What a superb combination of author and illustrator! With beautifully rich language and atmospheric artwork, it's everything I hoped it would be and more. @stephenking.bsky.social #MauriceSendak

#SundayMorningBookChat this week is a back to school theme. What are your favourite books to teach at school and why and if you’re not a teacher, what were your favourite books to study or the most memorable. Here’s three of mine.

Last share for this before the new term. A weekly picturebook assembly overview which focuses on empathy and inclusion. It's still evolving but please feel free to download and adapt. All shares appreciated. The link is on my Padlet: padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

Last share for this before the new term. A weekly picturebook assembly overview which focuses on empathy and inclusion. It's still evolving but please feel free to download and adapt. All shares appreciated. The link is on my Padlet: padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...