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What we are reading
Years 4 and 5 are over half way through thier novel Journey to Jo'Burg by Beverley Naidoo. Here are some of their thoughts so far:
Matthew, "The message in this book is that everyone is the same no matter what their skin colour. The story is about the courage of two chiodren who go to find their mother and bring her home. By reading this I have learnt that Apartheid is not fair and all people are the same; apartheid could be solved if everyone learnt to get on with each other. I could not believe that any one could treat people like this and I cannot guess what will happen. It is exciting and a bit scarey too"
Ellie, " I think this story is about caring and doing the right thing, because Beverley Naidoo is trying to ask us 'What is so different about black and white skin?' So far I am really enjoying the book and I think it is getting even better as it goes on - you really want to know what happens next. The only thing I don't like is that we are not hearing about their little brother and whether he is alright or not."
Jinni, "This book is about love nd also there are sad times in this story because there was a thing called Apartheid."
Follow up Work after Summer Camp
The children were all so exhausted after our hectic few days that I considered myself lucky to get any work from them at all. So I was absolutely delighted when Years 4 and 5 used the short video we had made and the Auden Poem 'The Nightmail', as a basis for some poetry of their own; try reading them out loud to hear the rhythms!
On the Train by Eddie Evans
The train is a steam train
Goin’ up Snowdon
People take it all the way up
And down again – ‘Drive
Drive, Drive,’ goes the driver
Up and down then you reach the top
Oh such a drop!
Train comes down again
People still talking
Choo-Choo - stopping and starting
Waiting for the next train
To come steaming up again.
Train Ride by Emily Lewis
Today and tomorrow, it climbs up the mountain
In rain or in snow, in sun and in wind
A five-mile-an-hour train climbs up the mountain
Through thick white steam and through thick black smoke
Nevertheless, I saw all the mountain
And smelt all the smoke and heard the train whistle.
Train Trip by Geraint Lawrence
Clouds of brown,
Clouds of yellow,
Up the hill
She starts to bellow.
As the smoke
Goes over her shoulder,
She barely misses
The edge of a boulder.
Stoker sweating
By the fire,
But in the end,
You get to see what you desire.
Smell the smell
Of smoke and steam,
You can’t wake up,
“‘Cos this ain't no dream!”
Train Ride by Robyn Waterston
We’re going on a train ride we could see the mountain
It is very windy when you get on top;
Mr. Jones was sleeping Mrs. Jones was cheeky
We’re all coming down now it was so much fun.
There are sheep around us and one went on the track
There were little walking paths, but we didn’t get to walk
You might think we’re lazy but actually we’re not.
Train Ride by Shanon McCabe
We’re going on a train ride up the Snowdon ‘Hill’,
It’s gonna’ be a long ride up the Snowdon ‘Hill’,
It’s gonna’ be a windy ride up the Snowdon ‘Hill’,
We’re almost at the top now up the Snowdon ‘Hill’.
We can see all the mountains from up the Snowdon ‘Hill’,
We are at the top right now top of the Snowdon ‘Hill’,
We’re going down the mountain down the Snowdon ‘Hill’,
We are at the bottom now, Down from the Snowdon ‘Hill’.
My train trip by Zak Jones
When we started going faster I was in a little fright,
Then later at the top, my eyes were in delight.
Next we went back down to the centre of Llanberis,
I was so, so cold, I thought I was going to perish.
Even though it wasn’t the best
I still wanted another go -
Maybe after some rest.
The smell was steamy, lovely, burny and smoky,
So if you want me to go again ... I say Okey Dokey!
My Train trip by Kieran Davies
The train was slow
The smoke was black
The Mountain was cold
With the train on its back.
Mountain rock white
Mountain flowers red
It's so cold and windy I think
I'd rather stay in bed.
World Book Day
On 6th March everyone had the chance to share a book with some-one they do not usually work with. The session was a great success with many older pupils reporting that they were amazed how well the younger ones read!
"I am glad Thomas chose a Garfiled book, because it was funny and I think I might choose to read it next" Tom W
"Joe chose a Match Annual for us to share because he knows how much I like football! We took turns at reading from it and it was really fun." Max
"Cai was supposed to read 2 pages, but he read 16 pages to me becuase we were having fun togetehr." Zak
"My partner Morgan, was a bit nervous, but she read well after the first page. When I was reading to her, she tried to read along with me which I thought was good. We both enjoyed it and we were sad to finish" Nathalie
"Adam wanted to show me his spelling as well, os we went through them together. He is a good read." Geraint
"I was glad to read with some one I don;t know and I think it is a good way of getting to know more people." Robyn
"I really want to move up to the next Readign box after reading today." Eddie
Many other comments also showed that pupils enjoyed it and want to repeat the session!
  
  
What are we reading?
Last half term Years 4 and 5 read The Dragon Ring by Liz Haigh. This is a modern tale and although the children could identify with the characters, they were not happy that the ending was left in the air. This term we are tlooking at Journey to Jo'burg by Beverley Naidoo and I am sure this will give rise to a lot of discussion as we have already talked about apartheid and fairness on our first day of study! And that is without even opening the cover!
Year 6 will read Boy Overboard as this is part of our transition work with Brynhyfyrd. Please do not encourage your child to 'read ahead' of the class as this tends to spoil the book for everyone and means that they concentrate on the storyline rather than the higher order skills of technique etc.
March -
Years 4 and 5 have now finished their work based around The Iron Man by Ted Hughes. They have written their own fantasy stories as well as reviewing the book. Here are some of their comments:
"The illustrations helpd me to understand how big the Iron Man was and I would recommend it to everyone because it is a great book!" Eddie
"It has an entertaining story-line and lots of action in it. My favourite part was when the Space-Bat-Angel-Dragon landed on the earth and the Iron Man had to have a challenge with him" Fallon
"I would recommend this book to my older sister because she loves to read and she would understand it first time - I feel I need to read it again. My favourite part was when they made a trap because I was not sure what would happen next, but I got a bit bored when he fell off the cliff and spent time putting himself back together again," Ellie
"I liked the part where the Iron Man had to get on to the bed of burning oil best, because it made me scared - just a little bit." Tom O
They all seemed to enjoy this Ted Hughes story and many have gone on to read some of his other works including The Iron Woman in their own time.
Year 6 have also finished their text - The Green Hawk by Aeres Twigg: they learnt to write discussion texts but had mixed feelings about the book:
" I personally thought that the description of the characters was very good, but the ending could have been more enthusiastic as I had thought that Cellus was trying to get Mark to drown," Molly.
" Aeres Twigg builds up the events quite well but the story just goes flat at the end," Adam.
"The characters Mark and Cellus were quite similar and after a while Mark started to get quite cocky which gave a good twist. I think Aeres Twigg could write a sequel as the ending was unsatisfactory" Isabel.
"I thought the way the characters were introuduced was great because we know everything about them," Dominic.
"I think that there could have been a bit more action but the ending is just when the Green Hawk sails off in a paper boat," Nathaniel.
January 2008
All the classes started new books as the new term began: Years 2 and 3 are looking at modern versions of Fairy Tales and hae really enjoyed starting 'Snow White in New York'. Years 4 and 5 have begun 'The Iron Man' by Ted Hughes, and will be using it as a basis to write their own fantasy stories. Year 6 are studying Aeres Twigg's book ' The Green Hawk' and this will be used to plan stories, but also to write discussion texts. Watch this space to see how they all enjoy this term's books.
Autumn Term 2007
During the Christmas Term Year 6 read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. We studied it in its original form and some of the language was quite challenging: we had never realised just how many words there are for 'ghost'!
We have used the novel as a starting point for written work as well and this term our extended writing has been concentrating on Diary Form.
BOOK REVIEWS
'A Christmas Carol is set in London in the 1800s and it is about Ebenezer Scrooge. When the book starts Scrooge is a rich, snobbish man who is reluctant to spend any money and intent on abolishing Christmas. Scrooge is visited by four ghosts who eventually persuade him to think about other people and not to concentrate so much on making money. By the end of the story he is a jolly chap who shows he can make friends and will not die alone. The moral behind the story is "Bless the poor and you shall find blessings yourself" (Isabel)
'I really enjoyed the book but I don't think under 8s would understand it. It is a great book and a good movie too (we watched the old black and white version) Generally I think it is a fantastic story and everyone will enjoy it'. (Molly)
'It was enjoyable because it shows you that there is a good side in everyone.' (Wednesday)
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Years 4 and 5 did work based around their novel by Michael Morpurgo - The Butterfly Lion. In the first half of the term they wrote playscripts based on some of the scenes and during the second half term, their extended writing was in the style of Newspaper Reports.
 
BOOK REVIEWS
'The story is set in Africa, England and in France too. The main character is Bertie and I liked it when he found the white lion cub by the fence.' (Kyran)
'Michael Morpurgo made a good book which would be enjoyed by everyone. I liked it a lot.' (Ieuan)
'The main character changed through the book because he grows up and all sorts of things happen as he gets older. The book is really enjoyable and its about friendship' (Ellie)
'It is enjoyable because of the war action for the boys, flying kites for the girls and a little bit of romance for the oldies!' (Geraint) .... Thank you Geraint KD
It looks like the children all enjoyed the books they read: next term we will be reading The Green Hawk and The Iron Man respectively.
Summer Reading Initiative
The Big Wild Read
An impressive amount of children responded to the school's encouragement to remain focussed on their reading during the summer holidays as the took part in the Library Services Big Wild Read.
As you can see a number of them were rewarded with a medal. Well done all!
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Curriculum 
ky when Mrs Jones invited the Owl Rescue representatives into her classroom, so that the children could further understand the main character in their book this term - The Owl Who was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson.
So far they have been using some authorial devices such as alliteration ('slippery, smooth snakes slide along silently') and personification ('the heartless breeze crept under he doorway') to improve their own writing. They have also learnt what 'allegory' is!
