Anti-bullying resource

I felt like I really wanted to join in with Inspiration Monday this week as I haven't managed to recently, I've sometimes dressed up in my version of the outfit, but felt like they looked terrible and it was too dark to take photos and well, I've been blogging lots on a theme! However, today was an outfit worn by Miranda Kerr here (that blip that means I can't seem to copy and paste images at the moment!) . She wears a rather more sophisticated version of this outfit, but here's my more unironed, creased, immaturechilled take on a pale jumper, black jacket, denim skirt and boots! Head over to the Two Birds blog for more versions of this outfit.

Anyway, to continue with the theme for BEDN today, the theme is bullying. I have been remarkably lucky in my life not to have been bullied in my life, considering I am rather eccentric at times and have always been very individual in what I do. I feel for the many children who have experienced it, it must be awful. There was one horrid boy in my GCSE drama class who was mean to me and picked on me, and that was bad enough, but I was mercifully only in his group a handful of times, so he didn't get too much opportunity. He was always a complete twit, he reminds me of Jim Davidson and his terrible and downright offensive sense of humour.

When writing about my hobbies on Saturday, I forgot to include writing- I love writing small poems and texts, ones I have often used for school, modelling texts and for comprehension. Thanks Abigail-Ann for reminding me that this is something I like doing!! In recent times, I've done this FOR school but I have always loved writing. I recently offered to write a whole batch of modelled texts for my work colleague at school. This week is Anti-bullying week and I wrote this poem and comprehension questions for a homework task a while back but I feel like it could generate a whole lot of discussion with a class or for Guided reading (I've included the Assessment Foci). If you are a teacher, or someone with children, I hope that you might be able to make use of it. Any constructive criticism or comments would be gratefully received

(Oh and G. Killannera is my pen name for texts I write for the children so they don't clock it's me!)

Fall and Phoenix by G. Killannerra

They push me and shove me
They make me feel a fool.
How I wish I was a giant tower
Instead of rodent small.

Each day in the playground,
They snuffle for their prey.
They’re baying hounds a-seeking me,
Determined to get their way.

Yet I too now am determined
To stand up for my rights,
To show I don’t care, am strong within
I WILL win this mental fight!

We each are special, unique, with worth,
Each have our special skills.
Beware how you treat now, today,
For one day I might cure your ills.

That which makes me different to you
Is no excuse to tease.
Beauty is variety, God made it so,
Just like snowflakes upon the breeze.

*****

1. What is happening to the author at the beginning of the poem? (AF2 and 3)

2. Do you think the author feels confident about herself? Use the text to justify your answer. (AF3 & 6)

3. Why do you think the author wishes that she were a ‘giant tower’? (AF5)

4. What metaphor does the Author use to describe the other people in the poem? (AF2 and AF5). Why does she use this metaphor?

5. Why does the writer write WILL in capitals, bold, and underlined? (AF4)

6. What does the author mean by ‘One day I might cure your ills?”? (AF3)

7. What is the main message/moral of this poem?

8. What does the author think is not an acceptable reason to tease them?

9. (a)Have you experienced anything like this poem? Talk/write about it (b) How did it make you feel? (c) How did you deal with it? (d) what advice would you give to anyone in this situation? (AF7)

10. Write a poem as if you were a victim. Try to use some imagery.

"I wish I could read as many books as you do when I am older Miss..." What I've read this week!

How nice is that comment from one of my kids! He was reading Lemony Snicket, A series of Unfortunate events, The Austere Academy and me being me, I couldn't help but wax lyrical about how much I loved those books (I read one a day for 2 weeks!) and he was amazed that I'd read them all as an adult and then uttered those words. I was touched! It reminded me of a craze I began in my very second year of teaching, over Lemony Snicket.

It all began with my reading the series. I then came into school and told the children how cool they were and asked who wanted to be the first to borrow Book 1. There was wild clamouring For some reason, with that class, if I told them about a great book I read, they would all instantly long to read it.

From that moment, there was a MASSIVE waiting list to borrow my books. At least 20 children read the first couple of books in my class and one child read them all and borrowed all the subsequent sequels (The Unauthorized biography, Beatrice letters) from me. I loved that class....

Anyway, I'm not sure exactly what that has to do with this post, except to offer some sort of justification to the world for me reading so many kids books! Some people think it's a bit funny but I maintain

a) if I can recommend to a reluctant reader, something I think he/she might like, it's worth it

b) it's research for my job

c) I have to teach guided reading so I HAVE to read kids books in order to prepare the best for them

d) They are blooming exciting! I don't want to read about gratuitous sex and violence, I like things to be innocent and fun!


Anyway, if you have kids of the age 8-9, particularly maybe boys, then have a look at the books below. I bought the 3 Louis Sachar books in Book Ends in Hay-on-Wye in August for £1.00 a piece.

LOUIS SACHAR is a brilliant author for boys, particularly those at the latter end of Key Stage 2, early KS3. He writes about modern, social and moral issues that concern them. Behaviour, friendship, making right choices, outsiders, community, relationships, self-belief, family. I could go on. His first work I read was There's a boy in a girl's bathroom which is a wonderful book for children with challenging behaviour and social issues or dealing with difficulties in frienships but for anyone really of that age, they are marvellous.

The following ones are for younger children, year 3,4,5 I would think.
46. Louis Sachar Marvin Redpost:Class President

Part of a series of at least 10 books, the main character, Marvin is a kind and considerate boy who thinks before he acts. We encounter him and his friendships at school and outside. The characters in this book are quirky and all have idiosyncracies (word of the day!). There is always a subtle lesson to be learnt in the Marvin Redpost books. In this one, it is to do with daring, believing and aspiring. In this book, the class have all come in holey clothes when it transpires the American president is visiting their class! Cue pandemonium and frantic question preparations. It gets children to think about relevant questions when interviewing someone, people believing in their goodness and having dreams and going for them. There's a lot of fun, jokes and frolics thrown in for good measure that boys and girls alike will enjoy!

47. Louis Sachar Marvin Redpost: A magic crystal
Another book in this series, which interestingly touches upon friendship between boys and girls. When children reach year 4 or so, they're already starting to think, "EUGH girls!" or "Yuck boys!". In this book, Marvin becomes friends with a girl and this book is about how he and his friends deal with it. An interesting issue. Again, the character of Marvin ultimately comes across as someone who is a good role model as he faces dilemmas.

48. Louis Sachar Marvin Redpost: A flying birthday cake.

The general message of this is that old adage, "Don't judge a book by its cover," which is as important today as it's ever been. In this book, it becomes obvious to US the reader, that the new boy may be not of this world! This is a great book for Assessment Focus 3- inference and reading between the lines, in guided reading as you can get the child to talk to you about all the clues that prove that the character Joe might not be human. Again, the book deals with friendships. In this case, reconciling making friends with someone who is different to staying friends with people who don't want to welcome new people. It also deals with jealousy and standing up for what is right. In the case of Marvin- he has to make a decision between facing being bullied himself and standing up for someone who's being picked on. Highly recommended.

I thoroughly recommend all 3 as medium-sized reads that engage the child and encourage emotional literacy.

49. Edward Eager The Time Garden.

I LOVE time travel!!!!! Or in this case, Thyme travel! This book has inspired me to read HG Well, The time machine. HOW is it that I have not read any of his books?!

This is one for boys and girls. It has a Famous five ilk to it with a group of children, in a seaside mysterious house and garden, adventures, buried treasure, historical interest, play-on words. Some children who live in America end up staying with an aunt in her cliffside house and gardens. They meet a mysterious Natterjack upon a sundial who leads them on a variety of time travelling adventures. They meet American and English historical figures, help fugitives and even end up meeting characters from Little women. I found this book highly imaginative and great fun with some valuable lessons to be learnt as well for kiddies!

By the way, do you not think that front cover looks like Quentin Blake's work. Apparently, it's not him but don't you think it is????

http://www.amazon.com/ Thank you for the images!

Would you recommend these to any children? Do you read kids books at all? Have you read any of these?