I shall start with something completely random…
Today’s date is 5/3/21. With the exception of 1, the first 3 prime numbers in reverse order! I quite like an exciting date, so was overly amused by yesterday’s 4/3/21 and am looking forward to my birthday next year which will be 2/2/22. While I’m on a roll, my dad turned 66 on 6/6/06! Claim to fame - I got a mention on Scott Mills’ Radio 1 Drive Time show.
Anyway, on to what I have actually been thinking about this week.
As you know, I have been reading with different classes (I have now read with everyone up to and including Y3) and today was a particularly special occasion. Every class has been absolutely delightful and have their own unique personalities which I love, however this was the first time I have been sung to. 2S sang ‘Good to be Me’. We have had so many great singing sessions as a school, but this was just really nice to hear one class; it really was a tear-jerking/goose-bump inducing moment. We also shared their class book ‘Stardust’, a celebration of being special. The best thing about this was the fact that each member of the class read their lines with me so it really was a shared experience.
That is the second book I have discovered from my reading session and I have just ordered them for my ‘nephews’. I don’t have any blood relative nephews, these are my best friend’s boys and are very much like family to me. They come from a book-loving family (their dad is an English teacher) so I often send them books I like. Harry has always been a precocious reader, and is reading well above his age, however still loves a good story. James will start school next year and still likes sharing books. I’ve just sent ‘Grandad’s Island’ to them too because both books made me think of them. One of my favourite things about books is their ability to send powerful messages through such a simple medium. The boys’ parents are both really good at positive messaging and being proud of their boys for who they are and this is something we really need to instil in our students.
I’ve just written what is possibly the most unusual newsletter article. I wrote about my day with Fifi the fox from NF. I absolutely love the idea of their class pets and the fact that the children are so engaged with them. Admittedly, I think it may be something the parents are more excited about, however it is still such a strong bond between home and school and, as an EY colleague said to me, that is so important because home is very important to our young students. Apparently the NF children were asking questions about me, such as what do I do and which class do I teach because they recognise me from the gate and when I went to read with them, I was a familiar face. I really feel a connection with them now and they will (eventually, once I have printed the pictures and written in the journal) have a visual reminder of my day. I’m not sure if I would have believed you if you had told me 20 years ago that I would be thoroughly enjoying sitting with a toy fox playing Drs with 3 yr olds… It’s not gone into the article because this particular child’s parents have requested for her picture not to be shared, however I have the most beautiful photograph of two PN students, me and Fifi. The best thing about it is that one of these children used to scream and run away when she saw me because she was scared of my pale eyes and different face, hiding behind the legs of an LA. What a change and what a success story.
I don’t really know where this week has gone, but I do know that much of my time has been filled with time with children and that has made me very happy. I have loved the assemblies and really enjoyed the BISS Unplugged sessions as the added bonuses to my reading sessions. It’s really grounded me once again in why I went into teaching. We are a big school and this is just one of the ways I have found to make meaningful connections. I also feel that, through the connection-making with the children, I am also making deeper connections with their teachers which is great. I have a ‘date’ with Waya the wolf next week and then I still have to book in with Bea the Bobcat and Mia the Meercat. Let’s hope that they each have an equally exciting time.
It’s Spotify again today, and it’s All Out 90s. Ronan Keating is now suggesting that he prefers it when I say nothing at all. Everyone still finds it hilarious that this was our first dance song at our wedding!
Happy Friday everyone!
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