wot, no buks?

Plans are afoot for primary school education.

Dave and his Dastardly Crew have decided to shake up what happens in the classroom. Pomes will be learnt by rote, and there will be a standardised list of spellings (i.e. not a list drawn up by the teacher, targetted to the child and areas of study). Not only will the tinies learn about useful things like apostrophes, they’ll learn how to use the subjunctive before they leave primary school. (I love the phrase ‘the idea of subjunctiveness’…)

Dave’s Big Plan is decoding. As I understand it, teachers currently use phonics/ decoding as a tool to help children work out what words sound like. It’s part of learning how to read. It is not ‘learning how to read’.

That’s a much broader issue, based on story telling, a wide variety of picture, reference and other books, real life, finding meaning and pleasure in words. As part of the Big Plan, children won’t have access to materials they can’t decode.

That sounds suspiciously like they want to teach children to learn to read while removing any material that the children might actually want to read. Reading, without books? Why would anybody want to do that? Where’s the inspiration, the fun, the challenge? Where, even, is the chance to see complex grammar at work?

keep these away from children

People who actually know about these things are up in arms. Michael Rosen and other authors have made their concerns clear. The advisory committee are protesting that their issues are being totally ignored. Katyboo tells it well. (Sorry for all the links- I haven’t the energy to provide reasonable summaries. I need that energy for the rage.)

The government think they are the experts in everything. They listen to nobody. They ride roughshod over everyone else (ask anyone with a disability) and presume to tell practioners how to do the jobs for which they are trained and experienced. They’ll keep on doing it.

If only anyone had voted for this coalition government I could blame them, but, no, it’s all down to Dave’s crew. Nobody voted for this nonsense.

Lucky us, having such a bunch of experts in charge of everything.

The summer holidays are upon us. School is over for the rest of the household. Because of ‘quality’ family time/ people fighting over computer access, I’ll be posting less frequently. Cheer quietly.

apparently, we’re normal

The novelty of all this ‘well done on your exams’ and ‘oh, congratulations on confirmation’ stuff being directed at Girl1 has worn off. Girl2 is in quiet, stubborn, revolt. She’s not going with the flow. There are wonderful, gentle, reminders that she’s here too. We had remembered that, really, and were expecting a stand. The shocking thing was that, when it came, it involved time walking round town with me rather than a brief car trip with Nana and Grandad to explore. She chose time with me (and a walk!) rather than time with grandparents and Girl1. Things were bad. I was honoured.

In the excitement of lunch in town last week I’d forgotten to buy make up. When even Hudson can spot my paleness, eeking out the last drops of the bottle during a week I speak at two events, was never going to do. As we started to head towards home, one of us found the bookshop and spent all her money on a book. (I was so proud; that’s my girl.) Just in case anyone was doubting how she’s feeling, the book was the new Jacqueline Wilson.

We paused in the Linenhall Library (‘It looks like libraries do in films’) and finally set off in the right direction. Sometimes, home is farther away than we think.

After more pausing and pottering and chatting (I had such a lovely time), we were fading on the final stretch.

‘It’s all right for you Mummy, you get to stay in bed when you want to.’

‘Well, if I was a well Mummy, I wouldn’t have to stay in bed quite so much. Also, you don’t have to get up as early as you do…’

Searching look. ‘I didn’t know you were sick.’

Seriously? With all the huffing and sleeping and complaining that I do? Well, the tablets must be doing a fine job.

On the other hand, maybe Girl2 thinks that all old women (she’s 9; anyone over 20 is old) go to bed for a wee lie down in the afternoon, and then get up to get ready for bed? Maybe she hasn’t noticed the sprightly steps of her friends’ parents, the fact that they do activities?  Maybe she thinks that everyone carries a fold up walking stick, just in case?

Normality: it’s what you’re used to.

did you miss this?

This gem has been popping up in various places all week, but I wouldn’t want you to miss out.

What really happens when the bookshop owners go home for the night?

With many thanks to all at Type bookshop, Toronto.

Bookshops are irresistable.

Bookshops are bad for my bank balance.

It will come as no surprise to discover that I have dozens of as yet unread books, and a similar amount of ebooks waiting patiently on the Kindle.

reading with mother

Back in the olden days, I trained to be a teacher. I really didn’t like it, which should have been a clue. (My career was shortlived.) My favourite part was the course on children’s literature; time to sit down and focus on reading and enjoying children’s books.

Girl1 and Girl2 recently reorganised their bedroom. They shifted furniture and soft toys, dolls and mats. They moved clothes and sparkly stuff. Interestingly, they created a ‘reading corner’; a cosy space with cushions, blankets and books. I was delighted. It may not last, but they like to read. I’d love that to be a gift they can take with them in life, something to enjoy and benefit from forever.

The last book we read together, at night, was Michael Morpugo’s Warhorse. It’s a fabulous book, but the girls may not know that, since they heard so much of it through sniffles. It broke my heart, over and over. My voice cracked, I couldn’t speak, and the girls were baffled.

Patti has come up with a clever wheeze; a way for her and her daughter to enjoy books together without anyone losing their heads. A mother, a daughter and 100 books is their new blog, recording their journey through 100 children’s books. They’re starting with Little House in the Big Woods- how could I resist? I’m going to try and read along with them; revisiting old favourites and discovering new gems.

In an ideal world I’d even get to share the love with the Girl1 and Girl2. Maybe I could encourage them to produce book reviews of their favourite books?

Hmmmm.

Ponders.

Watch this space.

No promises.