Book Week at Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd Primary School had a Book Week in
September 2004, which started with children’s author Antony
Lishak visiting the school for the day.
Antony Lishak was a primary school teacher for 15
years, so when he visits schools he is able to link his own work
with the writing children do in class. He spent the morning with
key stage 1 children, giving a highly interactive performance of
some of his work and firing their enthusiasm to try for themselves.
In the afternoon it was the turn of key stage 2
children and Antony traced the growth of a book from its very first
scribbles on a piece of paper to the moment it falls off the printing
press.
Everyone got involved with the story telling and
joined in with the rhymes and the actions, thoroughly enjoying the
visit. At the end of the day there was an opportunity for parents
to buy signed copies of his books.
All of this was an excellent starting point for
the rest of Book Week, which the children approached fully motivated.
Throughout the rest of the week each class had an
author focus and spent the time not only reading the books of the
author they were looking at, but also making, writing and illustrating
their own books and making book marks. They also wrote book reviews,
discussed books, shared books and read to each other.
At one stage the whole school was involved in a
‘buddy reading’ session, with children from junior classes
being paired up with infant or nursery children. The juniors proved
to be keen and proficient readers and the infants were very excited,
but attentive, as they were read to.
Another afternoon it was story-telling time. Every
adult in the school took a small group of children to read stories,
rhymes and poems to. The children were encouraged to take part by
choosing the story or poem.
Throughout the week there was a Book Fair, which
the children visited with their classes and which was also open
after school, for parents and children to buy books.
Many parents were involved throughout the week,
reading stories, staffing the book fair and listening to the children
reading.
The grand finale was the assembly on Friday morning,
when the whole school, including the staff, came dressed as a character
from a book. A very enjoyable week was had by all, the children
were inspired and the school was able to raise money, which will
be used to buy more books!
