Reading at Monksdown
We love Reading! Please take a second to look at our Reading Newsletters to see what AMAZING things we have been doing in Reading at Monkdown this year
| Reading Newsletter Autumn 1 | Reading Newsletter Autumn 2 |
| Reading Newsletter Spring 1 2023 | |
Reading Prizes
Check out our this out! at Monksdown, the child who has won the reading prize of the month gets to pick a book from our FANTASTIC, AMAZING book vending machine!
First Chapter Friday
Last year, our aim was to showcase a variety of authors and poets o the children of Monksdown. This year we wanted to bring EVEN more variety and as a result we now have #FirstChapterFriday which is demonstrated to a great effect on Twitter @MonskdownReads each Friday (look to the left to see our Twitter Feed).
At the start of the week, the children are presented with two books -either from the same author, genre or just totally random – that the teachers or children in the class think will spark conversation or interest. The children vote throughout the week in a variety of ways and the winning book is read to the children but ONLY the first chapter. That book is placed in the class library and normally doesn’t stay put for long and is snatched up by our book hungry pupils.
Author of the Month 2021-22
Each Month we have an ‘Author of the Month’ where we celebrate and introduce the children of Monksdown to some amazing writers and poets!
| September
Roald Dahl |
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| October
Levi Tafari |
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| November
Forgotten Authors |
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| December
Teachers Choice |
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| January |  |
| February |  |
| March |  |
| April |  |
| May |  |
| June |  |
Why Not Try
Reading Events At Monksdown
World Book Day 2023
WORDS, WORDS,WORDS EVERYWHERE! This years theme was ‘Vivid Vocabulary’ and the staff and pupils were tasked with coming to school dressed as a word. We had some amazing costumes and even more amazing words. We had exhausted children. creative children, energetic children, adventurous chidden, tall children, suspicious children, floral children, motivational children and more. There was even a dinosaur on site that day being extremely ‘FEROCIOUS’. There was also a slew of activities to been seen to promote books, reading and passion.
KS2 Book Nights March 2022-May 2022
The Children in Y3,Y4 and Y5 SPOKE and what they wanted was a book event just for them. The children selected their authors or stories and it was the job of the teachers to ensure that they delivered
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| Year 3 selected Harry Potter. The children were read exciting snippets of the first novel. They ate Harry Potter themed snacks (warning: the butterbeer contained no butter or beer) and created Harry Potter crafts | Year 4 selected Diary of a Wimpy Kid. We created our own diaries, stickmen flip books to tell a story and ate stick themed books | Year 5 selected the book Holes by Louis Sachar. We created Lizard art, role played how back breaking it would be to dig at Camp Green Lake, made treasure maps and even watched a bit of the movie. |
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World Book Day 2022
This year – our theme was ‘Reinforce the Habit’. Children had a comfy day coming into school dressed in their finest PJ’s and bringing their best bedtime read. They showed off their books to each other and even did some peer to peer reading. The children had a ball exploring the school and examining all the dressed up doors. Which ones were your favourites?
National Story Telling Week
National Story Telling Week has helped to bring language alive at Monksdown. It really has been a fun-filled, action packed week. The children have been writing and telling their own stories using the skills we have seen used by professional storytellers. We have used dance to celebrate and tell the story of Chinese new year. Some of the older children have been to read to our younger classes, sharing stories they enjoyed when they were younger. Children loved the challenge of recreating a scene from a book using small world props and Lego.
Can you guess what story each Tuft Tray is showing?
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Virtual Author Visits
2.1 LOVED our live Zoom with @NickSharratt1 today. How fortunate are we that we we’re some of the first people to read his new book “Shark in the Snow”. It was fantastic! Thank you @PuffinBooks @Year2Monksdown @MonksdownSchool pic.twitter.com/Vjuc8oa1GW
— Miss Spalvieri (@MissSpalvieri92) December 3, 2021
First chapter Friday reading ‘Stuff’ by @maddiemoate followed by a live webinar. @MonksdownReads pic.twitter.com/3dFTK064Ms
— Year4@MonksdownSchool (@Year4Monksdown) November 26, 2021
Class 3.1 took part in a festive poetry workshop this week. The children had so much fun learning different poems and even wrote their own class poem about Christmas. We hope it brings you as much Christmas joy as it did to us!🎄@MonksdownSchool @MonksdownReads pic.twitter.com/kbXdANV2vG
— Year3@MonksdownPrimary (@Year3Monksdown) December 3, 2021
We’ve really enjoyed reading Michael Morpurgo extracts this week. The children have particularly enjoyed War Horse, Kensuke’s Kingdom & the fabulous illustrations in A Song of Gladness. @MonksdownReads pic.twitter.com/Yrs2Qwb3yO
— Year4@MonksdownSchool (@Year4Monksdown) November 11, 2021
Helpful and Interesting links to support your storytelling skills
| Dive into the Young Readers Story Club
This collection of short films features some fantastic storytellers, poets, writers and illustrators telling exciting stories. Each video has a different theme and a fun challenge to complete. The stories can be used in the classroom or at home, and you can build on them to introduce different themes and genres. They can also be used to support children to create their own stories to share. Check it out here. |
| Hear about how author Helena Pielichaty writes characters in her stories in this Facebook Live
Children and their families can tune into the Facebook Live session with Helena Pielichaty and CBBC Match of the Day Kickabout presenter Ben Shires live on our Facebook page at 10.30am on Tuesday 2 February to hear all about Helena’s books, and how she creates and develops her characters. You will also find football themed reading and writing activities during Storytelling Week on wordsforlife.org.uk/premierleague. |
| Support early years children in telling stories
Children make sense of the world around them through stories. Creative storytelling involves children making up their own stories based on their interests, experiences and imagination. Support early years children to tell more stories in your setting by using our top tips here. |
| Share your favourite stories with The Reading Tree Challenge
This challenge can be done all year round and is a beautiful and visual way of sharing stories. Pupils are encouraged to write the name of a book they have read on a blank leaf, rate it out of five stars and add it to the bare branches of The Hope Tree, giving pupils the chance to showcase and celebrate all the stories they have been exploring while watching the tree grow. Find out more here |
| Explore these 28 ways to turn children into storytellers
Take a look at this fantastic StoryQuest resource, packed with original ideas and fun activities to turn children into storytellers. Created by Kate Norgate of The Crick Crack Club in association with Children & the Arts. Find out more here. |
| Write an Alex Rider adventure story
If you have Alex Rider fans in your class, why not challenge them to write their own Alex Rider adventure story? You will find a story writing kit and accompanying resources with lots of ideas for how the tasks can be incorporated into class time. Find out more here. |
| Download free River of Stories collection
The A River of Stories anthologies can strengthen your pupils’ imaginations, critical thinking, and their ability to participate in culturally diverse local and global communities. Each volume contains a story or poem from each of the fifty-three countries in the Commonwealth. The themes of the stories and poems are based on four key elements that sustain our planet: water, earth, air and fire. These are great for sharing with your child , you can read them aloud together or come together to discuss the themes following independent reading time. Find out more here.
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| Write a story for a dear new friend
My Dear New Friend is our letter writing project which encourages children to exchange letters with older adults in care homes to increase children’s motivation to write and to help combat loneliness among older adults. Why not encourage your pupils to write down a funny story or happy memory in a letter to a dear new friend, it’s sure to make someone’s day. Find our resources and templates as well as information on how your class can get involved with the project and connect with a local care home here |
Monksdown Book Fair
Thank you to all who came and purchased books. We raised a total of £675.00 in book sales.
World Book Day 2021…Not at Monksdown. We had a BOOK WEEK!
Not even a lockdown could stop us celebrating our love of books
Masked Monday
To quote Joel Dommett “Who’s that behind the mask…?” Can you work out which adults at Monksdown Primary are reading the stories to you on the videos?
Talking Tuesday
Look out for some book reviews of your teacher’s most loved books.
If you’re feeling brave…maybe YOU could record a review of one of your most loved books or stories
Join the special David Walliams Assembly Today at 10:30am. Click on the writing below to find the Live Assembly Link
David Walliams Assembly Tuesday 2nd March Half Past 10
‘Why not’ Wednesday
Why not have a go at making a “Book in a Box”. Click on the writing below to get some inspiration…
Join the Share a Story LIVE event at 10:30am. Click on the writing below to find the Live link
Share a Story Live event Books that make you LOL
Thoughtful Thursday
Join the Share a Story LIVE event at 10:30am. Click on the writing below to find the Live link
Share a Story Live event Bringing Books to life
Fancy Dress Friday
Today we will be having TWO live meetings. One at your normal time of either 9:30am or 10am AND another one at 2pm to show off any work you have done today!
Join the Share a Story LIVE event at 10:30am. Click on the writing below to find the Live link
Share a Story Live event Books in the Real World
Today we will be following activities on our World Book Day Plans. Please find your class’s plan here.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
| Year 2 World Book Day Plan 05.03.21 | World Book Day Year 3 | Year 4 World Book Day | Year 5 World Book Day Kid Normal | Year 6 World Book Day | |
| Additional World Book Day Activities | |||||