Maths Week

Maths can be fun!

It's been Maths Week here at St Joseph's so during class sessions in the library I have been reading books about counting. The children have had fun taking part in counting as part of the storytelling. They especially liked singing along to 'Ten in the Bed'.

Book Tasting

This term we have been having 'book tasting' sessions. Each week we have read an extract from a different book and one lucky person gets to borrow it.

 

So far we have dipped into the following books.

'An Eagle In The Snow' by Michael Morpurgo

Inspired by the true story of one man who might have stopped World War II.

'The Girl Savage' by Katherine Rundell

Wilhelmina Silver's world is golden. Living half-wild on an African farm with her horse, her monkey and her best friend, every day is beautiful.

But when her home is sold and Will is sent away to boarding school in England, the world becomes impossibly difficult. For lions and hyenas are nothing compared to packs of schoolgirls.

'The Indian in the Cupboard' by Lynn Reid Banks

When the plastic American Indian that Omri locks into the old cupboard comes to life he soon discovers that being in charge of a real, live, human being is a heavy responsibility. Little Bull is everything an Indian brave should be – proud, fearless and defiant. A surprising and exciting read!

A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle

A Greyhound of a Girl is a perfectly-pitched, funny and tender take about four generations of an Irish family, and the special bond between mothers and daughters. An entrancing read.

Come on and challenge yourselves!

Class sessions

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This term we have been reading stories about all the fun things you can do in the Spring and Summer. The children are excited about watching all the beautiful flowers grow in the park and gardens and all the picnics they will be sharing with friends and family.

We can't wait for those sunny days!

To celebrate St George's Day we read the funny story of a little boy's pet dragon. The children were advised that dragons were not suitable house pets!

Now Showing: You're a Bad Man Mr. Gum!

Year 2 have been hearing You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum by Andy Stanton in their library sessions. It has been completely silly and brilliant fun!

This is one of the strangest books I've ever read. Year 2 will agree that we never knew what was coming next.

You're a Bad Man Mr. Gum is the story of a bad man called Mr. Gum. 

And a dog called Jake. 

And an old man called Friday O'Leary, a fairy obsessed with gardening wielding a frying pan, an evil butcher called Billy William the Third.

Most importantly of all it's a story of a little girl called Jammy Grammy Lammy F'Huppa F'Huppa Berlin Stereo Eo Eo Lebb C'Yepp Nermonica Le Straypek De Grespin De Crespin De Spespin De Vespin De Whoop De Loop De Brunkle Merry Christmas Le Noir

...or "Polly" as she's known to her friends.

It takes us on a journey of magical pirate dolphin chocolate, of dancing moles and gobstopper bowling. It's got songs, sound effects, secret stories and even maths. It's utterly crazy, and fantastic fun. Much of Year 2 has also been reading the other books in the series and I'm sure they'd tell you that all the books are even more fun than an episode of 'Bag of Sticks'.

THE TRUTH IS A LEMON MERINGUE!

Now Showing: The Thieves of Ostia

Did you know that Romans wiped their bottoms with a sponge on a stick?

Did you know that some really rich Romans had slaves just to do their hair?

Did you know that Romans would eat stuffed dormice and ostrich tongues?

All this and more is waiting to be seen on the pages of The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence!

If you missed any of the library readings of George's Marvellous Medicine then here is a treat: the whole book read by Rik Mayall. He even mixes up his own batch of the medicine! 

Remember: don't try making this at home!

Over the last few weeks Year 2 have been hearing George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl. Later in the year the children will be learning more about Roald Dahl and reading more of his books, so it's great that they have enjoyed this book so much!

We've been reading The Horse and His Boy in Year 5's library sessions and it has proved very interesting.

This week 3D, having finished the Twits, started listening to a new book in the library: How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell.

This book (and the others in the huge eleven book series!) are hugely popular in the library, and now Year 3 is starting to borrow them too!

Here are a couple of things you should know about the series...