What it’s all about
Home time has long since been and gone. It’s 7 o’clock. I am in our school hall dressed in my best pyjamas and my wife’s fluffy pink dressing gown. And I am not alone. Most of our staff is here, and everyone is dressed for bed, writes Steve Eddison.
There are lots of children, too, also wearing pyjamas and some of them cuddling teddy bears. Denzel, beside me, is holding a purple dragon that is almost as big as he is. Neither Denzel nor his dragon will allow me to miss a single word of Pirate Pete. We are in the middle of our third Book at Bedtime.
Book at Bedtime is a simple way to enthuse children and parents about books and reading. Ours is open to the entire school community. Not only are all children and parents from nursery to Year 6 (P6) encouraged to come along, but older and younger family members too.
The organisation is simple. After the children have gone home for dinner, we get the hall ready. A selection of favourite books for every age range is taken from classrooms; PE mats and benches are put out; and cushions, pillows, blankets, quilts and cuddly toys are scattered. By the time the children return dressed in their pyjamas, everything is ready. All they have to do is pick a book, a reading partner and a nice comfortable spot.
What else?
Take a look at natalieee_a’s lesson plans and activities linking the Grimm brothers’ tales with Walt Disney. bit.lyTraditionalTales
Looking for a different way of reading to your class? Try valerie yule’s list of 20 ideas. bit.lyIdeasThatWork.
