INSIDE EDITION
Listen. Nurture. Enthuse. Question. Debate.
Elmer: beautiful joker offering big life lessons
Pat ElliottWestminster SLS Librarian’s view: I work with London school children as both a librarian and heritage educator, and regularly meet pupils with special needs as well as those from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. It n...
PHSE
Is it a school library if there aren’t any books?
Do school libraries need physical books? This is a question that some schools are pondering, and something SLS has been discussing with our school librarians at our regular network meetings....
Cross-curriculum
Promoting Peace and Resilience in Times of Conflict
Coverage about Ukraine is everywhere for children to hear and pick up; TV and news programmes, parents and carers discussing at the school gate. Abby Buntonsuggests the best ways to use books to develop your children’s resilience....
PHSE
Picture books for maths
This article by Wanda Gajewski from Wandsworth SLS contains some ideas how to teach young children mathematics. ...
STEM
Victoria Williamson: Lessons from The Ugly Duckling
Long stints working teaching with Voluntary Service Overseas, and a travel habit, have inspired Scottish teacher and author Victoria Williamson’s strangely magical adventures which show readers how it feels to be someone else, ranging...
Interview
Big book lessons
Why big books? There is something amazing about big book versions of good children’s books. The large print and bright and colourful illustrations appeal are a sure hook into their content and draw readers into a story and are easy for...
Cross-curriculum
Teaching controversial topics: honest truths found in graphic novels
A round up of the ways graphic novels can help students understand and discuss hard-hitting, and often frightening, current events, from people smuggling to depression....
Young Adult Fiction
International Women’s Day: Break the Bias
Celebrating International Women’s Day (8 March 2022) at school is a great way to help children learn more about this celebration – especially its modern invocation....
PHSE
Alan Gibbons: For the many
Find out more about the author who launched National Libraries Week....
Interview
When pictures tell a thousand words
There are many brilliant picture books written for the KS2 age group and they have so many uses both in the classroom and for general reading....
Picture Books
10 Books to Borrow for Children’s Mental Health Week: 7-13 February 2022
Books remain a key resource for teachers looking for support with mental health as a topic in lessons and also for ways to encourage emotional literacy and resilience in the children they teach. ...
PHSE
Nina Simon: Recognition of a career bringing libraries to life
Just how much do you need to love books to be a librarian? Manager of Redbridge SLS Nina Simon explains to Nicola Baird....
Interview
Webinar: Elizabeth Hutchinson
This webinar will look at how collaboration between teachers and school libraries can further the aims of the school and ensure it becomes an integral part of the education process. We will look at ways teachers can work with libraries...
Booking OpenWebinar
Let’s Talk About Sex and Relationships in Secondary School Libraries
Abby Bunton from Hampshire SLS assesses how school libraries can do more to be inclusive and open to the presence of sex and relationships in library stock....
PHSE
Is Reading for Pleasure just another tool to improve SATs results?
It is important that schools do what they can to develop reading for pleasure, authentically, without the goals of the wider literacy strategy in mind, says Kathryn Henderson from Durham Learning Resources....
Reading
Hands-on History
This post from Wanda Gajewski, Wandsworth SLS focuses on ways teachers can use objects for effective classroom teaching....
Cross-curriculum
Food for Thought
Ideas for anyone trying to eat more vegan meals this Veganuary from Nina Simon...
PHSE
Webinar: Sharna Jackson
Sharna will explore how she uses intrigue to engage readers. For the start of 2022 this webinar is open to everyone (members and non-members)....
Webinar
Future of Primary School Libraries
The future of primary school libraries report, published today by the National Literacy Trust and partners provides a welcome focus on an essential part of primary school life for children....
News
Webinar: Catherine Johnson
Writer, novelist, author and screenwriter - Catherine Johnson is passionate about telling stories of the people you don't often see in regular history....
Webinar
Webinar: Tom Palmer
Tom has travelled around the world to train librarians and teachers in techniques to encourage boys to read. Join this webinar to hear his insights....
Webinar
World War Two literature
Laura Bennett from Tower Hamlets SLS looks at classic World War Two literature and an impressive collection of newer titles that will spark debate and conversation....
History
We Are Refugees
At a time when desperate people fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan is still headline news, it is pertinent to look at the issue of young refugees coming to England and how they are accepted at school writes Nina Simon from Redbridge SLS....
PHSE
The big question: should we introduce a computerised library system into our primary school?
There are some very good library systems on the market (there are also some bad ones), but any system is only as good as the people managing it. Contrary to what the various companies selling these systems want you to believe,...
Cross-curriculum
Challenging Gender Norms
With diversity the new laser focus in schools up and down the country, it’s not a surprise that people are starting to question the unconscious gender bias that can be found in texts....
PHSE
Webinar: Sufiya Ahmed
Children’s author, Sufiya Ahmed, explores stories from Britain’s past that help create a more inclusive classroom....
Webinar
Positive Images of Black Girls and Women in Picture Books
Top picture books showcasing powerful and celebratory stories about Black girls and women picked by Janet Noble, Primary School Librarian at Tower Hamlets....
PHSE
Heroes without a cape and mask
Exploring real-life heroes is a great way of combining the children’s interest in superheroes to spark their curiosity about ordinary people....
Reading
Click Safe
How picture books help children learn about E-safety by Head of Tower Hamlets Library Service, Gillian Harris, MBE....
PHSE
All Join In
Recommended picture books about children with disabilities, chosen by Sylvia Cummins....
Picture Books
Alternative Fairy Tales
Alternative versions of fairy tales can help children understand how the stories came to be told, how they are passed down through generations and how they change over time....
Reading
Webinar: Alia Alzougbi
Radical storyteller and industry expert, Alia Alzougbi, will share her advice on on shaping what stories we bring into schools....
Webinar
Webinar: Imogen Russell Williams
Children's book critic for The Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian and The Metro, Imogen Williams Russell, will share her insights on what welcomes young readers into factual books, and what pushes them away....
Webinar
Webinar: Annie Robinson
Discover the background to and research behind the Reading Agency’s “Reading Well” collection of books about mental health for children and young people....
Webinar
Life-changing Libraries
Gillian Harris MBE responds to Cressida Cowell's letter to the prime minster about school libraries....
News
Why? A complex world and the ability to think for yourself
Why teach children philosophy? Since philosophy is all about asking questions, children are instinctive ‘’philosophers’’. Philosophy can teach your pupils to think more clearly and to be confident in debates and discussions....
PHSE
Click With Care
This fantastic pack features all the resources which you could need to raise the awareness among KS2 pupils about online risks, safety and behaviour. It will provide interesting topics for discussions about being online and e-safety....
STEM
Meet the Asian Characters in Children’s Fiction for KS2
Books by writers who use their own cultural experiences to create stories with characters that British Asian children will relate to and hook them into reading....
Young Adult Fiction
Beyond The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Anyone reading usually believes that what they read has a background of truth, even if the characters are fiction, says Nina Simon. Here she looks at the many faults with The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and suggests some books that...
Young Adult Fiction
Diversifying the Teaching of Space Exploration at KS1 and KS2
The books selected by Gillian Harris will ensure children can celebrate the achievements of men and women from different backgrounds and nationalities, find role models they can identify with and be inspired by their successes when...
Science
Growing Pains: How Books Can Inspire a Growth Mindset
All children have their own beliefs about their abilities and potential when confronted with change. Change is always happening....
PHSE
Short and Sweet: The Joys of Story Collections
Short stories are a brilliant way to fill a few spare minutes, whilst also engaging with reluctant readers and exposing children to world stories. They can be excellent fun for the storyteller too....
Picture BooksReading
Are Babies Too Little for Books?
It is never too early to give a child a book. They don’t even need to be able to sit up. Prop them on your knee and as soon as their eyes begin to focus, babies will look at a picture with interest. Helen Oxenbury’s board books, All...
Reading
How Far has Your Food Travelled Today?
All over the world, people are working to protect our planet in new and exciting ways. Spark classroom curiosity about the 4,500 Fairtrade mark products being sold in the UK. Inspired by the ‘Fair Trade’ text by Jillian Powell, the...
Cross-curriculum
Lonely or alone? Building resilience in young children through picture books
Feelings of loneliness are normal, and many children suffer from some form of isolation writes Wanda Gajewski from SLS Wandsworth. Give your children a reassurance that at certain times in our lives we will all experience feelings of...
PHSE
Reflecting Realities: The Importance of Books that Mirror Cultures
Children from ethnic minorities in our schools are in danger of going through school life never being able to identify with characters in the literature they read. Reading ideas by Gillian Harris about books to use in classroom story...
Reading
An interview with Sonia Blandford
Sonia Blandford is the founder and CEO of Achievement for All. A prolific author, Sonia’s titles include the brilliantly honest Born to Fail? Social Mobility, A Working Class View....
Interview
Not So Fantastic Plastic
This article by Nina Simon explores pointers about what your class can do together to reduce plastic waste and protect our planet....
STEM
Saying Goodbye
With carefully chosen literature about loss and grief, in particular the much-loved picture book Badger’s parting gift, you can start a discussion that explores the cycle of life and enables you to craft lasting memories with children....
PHSE
Webinar: Ken Wilson-Max
Award winning children's books author & illustrator, Ken Wilson-Max, will be joining this webinar to share his perspective on diversity in children’s books....
Webinar
Lighting the Way: The Match Girls Strike of 1888
This is a local history study which looks at the tough lives and dangerous work of the Match Girls of Bow and how they changed working conditions for themselves and for unskilled workers everywhere writes Gillian Harris from SLS Tower...
History
Scientific Breakthrough: STEM-focused female role models in young adult fiction
A list of 12 brilliant Young Adult fiction titles with strong female characters who all have an interest in science, technology and maths (ie, a STEM focus) found by Nina Simon from SLS Redbridge....
Young Adult Fiction
An interview with Chitra Soundar
Chitra Soundar is the author of more than 40 books for children who identifies as a “dreamer, bookworm, writer, author, storyteller” and has a real passion for picture books with stories you want to read aloud....
Interview
The Shahnameh Box: Discover Iran’s culture, stories and skills
Iran is bursting with stories – stories you can use to explore the history, geography and music of the country as well as add a global slant to maths, literacy and science topics says Gillian Harris from SLS Tower Hamlets who...
Cross-curriculum