Reading

There is no dispute about this ... reading on our own or being read to (it doesn't matter which) opens the door to our imagination. The written word exposes us to new countries and cultures, adventures and hobbies, and so very much more. It describes the dilemmas and problems of others and shows us how they tackle (and usually solve) them too! Reading teaches us how to connect with the world around us and develops our creativity in ways we would otherwise never experience.

Take a walk with me down Memory Lane. Some of my personal, fondest, childhood memories include my wonderful mum reading her very own Little Women (aka my sisters and me) A Lesson for Mama by Sydney Dayre. This is a poem about a little girl who knew exactly what she would do if she were her mama's Mama! And I'll probably never forget the thrill of stepping into the perpetually frozen, fantasy-world of Narnia in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis together with my friends and teacher in our 4th grade English lessons. Not to mention the delightfully naughty school girls in Enid Blyton's Malory Towers Series and the thrilling Adventures of a Wishing Chair.

Which sensations did you encounter while reading books or when being read to? And now, how can you, the teacher, provide your pupils with similar, magical, childhood opportunities?

Take a look at the clips below for a large dose of inspiration ...