38 years ago I embarked on my teaching career. I am proud to say that I retired today, after 34 years as a class teacher in the same school, and felt very loved by the whole school community. From start to finish……
I am soppy when it comes to my Yr 3s. Here’s what I’ve been making them for Easter - their own bunny to read to at home 🐰(and it used up lots of my yarn stash!)
Something happened to me today that made me smile so much I thought I’d share it on Twitter in case any of you need cheering up.
I was doing a lunch duty outside and at the gate a woman stood waving at me. When I went to see who it was, I saw an ex pupil in tears at seeing me.
They were really good friends but completely lost touch when they went to different secondary schools.
They reconnected through social media and are hoping to have a photo taken at school on their wedding day.
I love this story! 😍
This is why my Twitter name is what it is, and this is only the children’s books! My Year 3 love talking to me about what I’ve read and then have borrowed the ones suitable for them.
@_Reading_Rocks_
@jacquiS21
@jejr100
@Phoebe_Or_Not
Year 6 wrote some letters persuading different companies that sustainable palm oil is the way forward. Today 3 girls were thrilled to receive a reply! Thank you so much Daisy
@GreggsOfficial
- you made their day!
We had a hug and she told me that she had just finished university and was about to get married in July.
She’s marrying someone who joined her Yr 6 class. He had come from Germany and spoke no English, and her teacher had buddied them up as she spoke German.
My lovely Yr3 class had a vote for their best book I’d read aloud. They called it The Atkin Award. After 4 rounds of voting Grimwood was the winner. Congratulations
@NadiaShireen
. I’m afraid there is no trophy, just our thanks and love.
@_Reading_Rocks_
@clpe1
@kidslitfest
A big cheers to you all for your start back tomorrow - you’ve got this!
I’ve arrived in Tivoli after a week of train adventures - Amalfi coast tomorrow 😍
Today I’m decluttering and getting ready to move to Year 3. Here’s my cupboard door- everything I’ve read since Sept and books I’ve read Yr 6.
@_Reading_Rocks_
@imaginecentre
Now to take them all down! 🥲
Away for a few days in Hastings, and came across this amazing art gallery with a Quentin Blake exhibition. Mr A bought me On the Move - just stunning.
@MichaelRosenYes
@QuentinBlakeHQ
@_art_on_sea
Read the middle chunk of this today to Yr5. At hometime, one boy who doesn’t really engage much sidled up to me, telling me how much he was enjoying it, and when would we be reading it again. This, people, is why I do what I do. This.
@EarlyTrain
@charliehacking
@_Reading_Rocks_
Year 6A are loving my little suitcase full of cat related books, a Mog and blanket to snuggle with and a cat mug with hot chocolate. Who will be taking it home tonight?? 🐈🐱😸
I’d like to make a recommendation to you all that will save some pennies. I approached
@ANewChapterBks
to order leaving books for my Yr 6, AJ has been so helpful, and has given me an astonishingly great discount. Please consider using them rather than A****on. 📚📚📚
Yr 6 book club will be thrilled with me - we didn’t get to finish A Town Called Perfect, so I’ve bought them a copy each. Can’t wait to see their faces! Thank you
@stories_sea
@_Reading_Rocks_
@Heldideas
@EdSimpsonNI
@GreggsOfficial
They were brilliant at replying to 3 girls in my class a few weeks ago, who had written persuasive letters about using sustainable palm oil. They got this reply within 2 days and voucher codes. Fabulous customer service!
How lucky are my Year 6? These are their leavers books, freshly delivered today from
@ANewChapterBks
. Such a great service and a *fabulous* discount. Thank you 😘 Most of them have chosen books they’ve borrowed from me, that I’ve read to the class or new books from loved authors.
Without wishing to gain enemies, day 2 of retirement has involved selecting breakfast from the buffet, watching a fab thunderstorm, paddling in the sea, reading on a sun lounger and finding sea glass. It’s been just what I needed!
Our Author of the Month for July
@WestHillSW18
is the very wonderful
@MichaelRosenYes
. Thank you for all your wonderful books and poems - you are very loved by us.
I spent my ‘extra hour’ finishing this glorious book and didn’t want it to end. Thank you
@fran_gibbons
&
@chrisriddell50
for a beautiful roller coaster of a read. That ending!! Please tell me Bk 3 won’t be too long a wait?!!
This book truly was extraordinary
@Rocktheboatnews
! Alice finds out that she can communicate with animals on her first day at her new school. I loved the way that her autism is written about - readers will love to see themselves represented in such a positive way. A great read.😍
@jonnybid
That a great haul you’ve got back! I always assume I’m going to lose some, but to be honest, I’d rather they were being loved and read than being stuck on a shelf.
Look at what good taste my Year 6 class have!! This is how many copies of Gargantis were chosen for leaver's books, as they loved Malamander so much.
@ThomasHTaylor
I read this book over the last 2 days in a glorious trance. I’m now left with a book hangover, wanting to be back in Durie’s world. I’m completely in love with your writing
@franquinn
and will be buying copies for lots of people!
Today a child I taught last year came to find me to recommend a book. He declared that he knew I’d love it.
@whatSFSaid
the look on his face when I told him that a)Varjak Paw was a fabulous choice & b) that there was a sequel was just joyful. Job done! Outlaw lent 😍📚
My feisty class sat entranced whilst I read them the first 4 parts of The Final Year today. So many conversations and comments. They’re desperate for me to read more.
@EarlyTrain
@Joetoddstanton
@charliehacking
Thank you. The Beast might just get tamed……..
An amazing delivery at school today - how lucky am I? Cannot wait to read this and share in school with dragon lovers. Thank you so very much to
@molly_holt
@andyjshepherd
@PiccadillyPress
You guys rock 😍
I wonder if we can grow some dragons? Looking forward to Yr3’s reaction tomorrow. We’ve watched
@andyjshepherd
talk on
@authorfy
and I’m also going to print off the letter she’s written. I LOVE bringing books to life!!
I love sharing books with my class. Here are their top 20 reads from this term, a really broad mix of authors. Thank you to
@OnjaliRauf
@KirstyApplebaum
&
@LouKuenzler
for our class reads and to
@lucasjmaxwell
for the inspiration - it was a fascinating exercise!
Oh Waterstones, Oh Waterstones, How lovely is my book pile? It’s my favourite time of year - using up my saved Plus Points in the hardback sale 😍📚📚📚and it only cost me £7.96!!!
I’m so happy with my amazing book post today. Having already read Mermedusa on
@NetGalley
I now have my own copy, with a signed print.
@ThomasHTaylor
you’re a superstar! Many thanks to
@WalkerBooksUK
and
@KirstenBryony
- you are very kind 😘🥰
This book is a marvellous retelling of a classic tale. It’s gutsy, magical and thought provoking. Beautifully written by
@emmac2603
and the accompanying illustrations by
#LaurenChild
are superb. Can’t wait to share it with Yr5/6 book club
@simonkids_UK
Today Yr3 produced these beauties - their reading journeys. I’m so proud of them and the readers that they have become. It has been so much fun to find texts that have engaged them - I love being a Reader Teacher!!
@clpe1
@charliehacking
@jejr100
@Phoebe_Or_Not
My class are really involved in their latest English work - I’m running the Reflecting Realities picture book unit with them. Look how joyful these paintings of Lenny are!
@clpe1
@charliehacking
@kenwilsonmax
Got to meet my new class today- I’ll be in Yr3 and they had lots of questions for me. ‘Do you have any books on space?’ ‘Do you have any chapter books?’ Yes, lovely new class, yes I do!
@_Reading_Rocks_
@nikkigamble
Book no 2 in my
#TeamTamszin
tour. I adored this book
@MoriTamsin
. You write beautifully! Stella was a great character, and I loved how she was able to stand up to the sea witch. I think we all need a cloud to follow us around ☁️ Thank you for a wonderful book ❤️😘
Made it to Hay on Wye for day 1 of Welsh frolics. Just nipped in to The Poetry bookshop before closing and now relaxing.
@charliehacking
the
@MichaelRosenYes
book jumped out at me - always learning, but today with a beer!!
Excited (and a wee bit nervous) to head to
@clpe1
for their 50th anniversary conference. I’m co-presenting the workshop on Reflecting Realities - come and say hello if you’re heading there over the weekend!
My amazing TA has done a wonderful thing. I’m lucky enough to be reading my class Gargoyles, Guardians of the Source by
@MoriTamsin
and look what she knitted us!!! We’ve named him Gabriel.
I so enjoyed reading Isaac and the egg by Bobby Palmer. I know that anything
@PNovelistGale
endorses is going to be a cracking read, and this was eggcellent. Moving, quirky and beautifully written - my best read of the summer. Thank you
@thebobpalmer
🥚
I’m really enjoying my
@Biggreenbooks
subscription after being let down by a money taking no books arriving company. This is my 2nd book and I’m loving the choices. I can thoroughly recommend!
The Billow Maiden was everything I hoped it would be. Beautifully written, stunning cover and illustrations. I loved the relationships between the characters, the force of nature and the power of chocolate! James Dixon is a word wizard.
@autumnrosewell
@guppybooks
@nikkigamble
Well
@bertsbooks
- today I have done little else but read the lovely book you sent me for Valentine’s. It was beautiful!
@tjklune
you transported me away from howling winds to a magical, whimsical place full of love and hopes. Thank you 😘 xx
Look at my tremendous non fiction haul -
@jude_teacher
and I frequent a wonderful children’s charity bookshop that we’ve been missing hugely!
@Rosemarycalm
you might be to blame!
@nicolakidsbooks
there was an untouched set of your lovely books that Yr6 will love to read!📚📚📚
This is what 100 non fiction books look like!! Thank you sooooo much
@RaintreePub
@HarperCollinsUK
for our glorious prize. Our book corners and library will be magnificent!
Yesterday Year 5 were thrilled to watch
@NadiaShireen
talk about her books. She was our
@clpe1
picture book author this year and we all made our own picture books. I’ve just started reading them Grimwood 4 as well! We also have the same bookworm necklace! 😍
This is JUST what I needed to cheer me up today, so thank you so much
@bertsbooks
for this lovely parcel. Fingers crossed that it’s the only positive thing round here! 🤞
What a fabulous, thought provoking day I’ve had. Reflecting Realities at
@clpe1
with
@storyriver
,
@charliehackingand
@MaisieWrites
. My head is buzzing with ideas and I can’t wait to get started on the next unit 😍 Fangirl picture alert……
Ok, book gurus, I need some expert advice please. Graphic novels for low level Yr 6. I have the Mr Wolf series, Smile and Sisters. Any gems you can recommend?
@smithsmm
@jonnybid
@KevC46
@karen_wallee
@TheBookWhisper2
(And anybody else - recommendations welcome!)
Got to visit the very lovely
@KenilworthBook
this afternoon - and didn’t come out empty handed!! 🦔📚📚Look
@ClaraVulliamy
I nabbed 2 of yours with gorgeous matching bookplates 😍
Away for a few days in Cromer. On the way I met up in real life with the very lovely
@jacquiS21
for lunch, and it was as though we’d known each other for ages. The 1st of many meet ups, I’m sure! 🤩📚📚
Had the best day ever at
#CLiPPA
today. 3 of my class were shadowing winners for the great collection by
@spokeandpencil
. It was an unforgettable experience for us all and we were so well looked after. Thank you to all at
@clpe1
and
@NationalTheatre
.
One of my lovely class gave me a book as a leaving present. I was thrilled that it was one I hadn’t read. When I told him this, he very proudly said ‘I know!’ He’d stood and looked through all my book covers…… ☝️😍
@KirtleySophie
it was this and I can’t wait to read!
Had amazing book post today! Thank you
@Waterstones
- I’ve just got in from work and already read (and wept at)
@MichaelRosenYes
’s wonderful book. Now which one do I read? And is it weird that they’re both by Tams/zins?!
@MoriTamsin
@tamzinmerchant
Spent my weekend recovering from jab no.2. Found that these two helped tremendously.
@PatienceAgbabi
book 2 was so twisty turny fabulous, my head was spinning. I’m very excited for books 3 & 4! And
@tompalmerauthor
, this was a triumph and I’m so glad you’ve written it.
I did some pupil voice today. I asked pupils why they enjoyed reading - this is what 2 pupils said. ‘ It’s my imaginary friend. It’s like you’re going on an adventure.’ ‘It teleports you into your own imagination, a world full of creativity.’ My work here is done 😍
Just finished this and loved its inventiveness. Would link well to a topic on climate change, evolution or animal extinction. I especially liked the misunderstood words - kombylarbester and Culdee Sack made me giggle!
@PiersTorday
, thank you x
I’ve laughed and cried along with Billy Plimpton this afternoon and
@HelenRutterUK
I’m in love with your book. Thank you so much for writing it - my Yr6 will love it too!
@_Reading_Rocks_
the bookplate arrived today too 😘❤️
I started off my end of term by reading today’s fabulous book arrival. I’ve been waiting to read this for ages, and it didn’t disappoint!
@CRSains
@jennytaylordraw
I LOVED it - it was jamtastic! Really looking forward to tomorrow’s launch now 😍🍓🍒🫐🍯
The HUGEST of huge thanks must go to
@lonbookproject
for providing us with 📚📚📚. Today every child got to take their own books home- ‘What, I can KEEP them?’
I was too busy to take any pics, but all the smiles were well worth the effort. Thank you, thank you, thank you 😘😘😘
I have just finished ‘The Wall Between Us’ by
@DanSmithAuthor
. It is a beautifully told story and was the perfect antidote to a wet and windy afternoon on holiday. Fast paced, subterfuge and separation all made for a gripping read. Thank you Dan!