Jole Rider, the charity organising the project, suggest holding your Story Book Day in the week commencing 5th July, but you can also take part later in the year.

Find out more by reading this PDF, embedded below:

• Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, prepared a written ministerial statement on education spending. In his budget statement, George Osbourne, warned that education spending in England could be cut by as much as 25% over the next four years.
• The chair of Ofsted has resigned, fuelling speculation that ministers plan significant changes at the organisation.
• An announcement is expected next week about the future of the Building Schools for the Future scheme.
• The number of primary aged children is expected to rise by 13.5% by 2018, putting pressure on schools and education budgets. The proportion of 16 to 18 year olds at school, college or in training reached its highest ever level last year.

Image – Salt and Vinegar

• Parents want more advice about how to prepare healthier lunch boxes, rather than having schools tell them what they can and cannot put in them.
• A coalition of senior doctors and nurses have written to Michael Gove, expressing ‘deep concern’ at his decision to axe plans for free school meals for half a million primary school children from low income families.
• A leading headteacher says that more effort should be boosting results among the most able pupils, rather than concentrating on the drive to raise standards to a minimum threshold.
• The National Governors Association is telling its members to be cautious about becoming an academy. The government has also released a list of schools that have asked about becoming an academy.
• A study has shown that the free schools model in Sweden has not significantly improved pupils’ academic achievement.
• Students and staff at 100 UK colleges and universities are protesting against funding cuts in further, higher and adult education.
• An experienced headteacher has been suspended after allegedly making comments about a pupil.
• A report from the Telegraph finds out about schools who are taking part in a range of ‘eco’ activities, including recycling, reducing waste and growing vegetables.

Image – Stack of Books

• Sir Tom Stoppard believes that books are being left behind as an increasing amount of young people’s time is spent focusing on ‘the moving image’.
• It was also claimed that access to PCs and high-speed broadband can lead to a decline in test scores among young people.
• Atmosphir has left their ‘beta’ stage and offers free games based learning opportunities for schools. Thanks to Kevin McLaughlin for spotting this and sharing it on Twitter. Find out more about Atmosphir in the video below:

The top selling books were:

• Top 5 – all Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series – various editions
• 6 – Beano Annual 2010
• 7 – Miles to go by Mylie Cyrus
• 8 – Mr Gum in the Hound of Lamonic Bibber /Sephir the Storm Monster by Andy Stanton and Adam Blade
• 9 – Peppa Pig official annual
• 10 – New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
• 11 – Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K Rowling

Image - Reading in the round

The best selling books for younger children were:

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• The Tyrannosaurus Drip Song by Julia Donaldson
• Stick Man by Julia Donaldson
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sandak
• The Gurffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson

My Year 3 class are currently enjoying the books in the Beaver Towers series by Nigel Hinton. I’ve also been gripped by the books in the Percy Jackson series, which I’m trying to read before the film is released soon!

Which books are popular with your children? What are your own favourite books?

The Journey Journal site explains that “going somewhere new is a massive opportunity to discover and make sense of the cultures, environments, issues and alternative ideas. The Journey Journal is a clever little interactive book that is packed with things to record, think and do. Using the Journey Journal encourages critical and creative thinking, helping the traveller to see their world in new ways.

Copies of the Journey Journal are usually £4.49 incl UK P&P) but you can get a copy for just £2.50 (with free P&P) by using the code ‘SAGT’ when you order in their online shop.

• Ask Me Anything – stuffed with trivia, facts, fun, and incredible info on just about everything you can think of. What’s the most dangerous spider? How much would you weigh if you lived on Venus? Where can you post letters underwater?
• Open Me Up – takes kids on a gutsy, cheeky, sick, hip, nosey and eye-catching tour of the human body!
• Train Your Brain to be a Genius – packed full with mind boggling puzzles, quizzes and games.

This competition has now closed. The winner will be announced soon!

What is big book sale?
It is a primary school fundraising event where pupils bring in their old story books, set up and decorate a stall and sell the books to each other in aid of the MS Society.

When is big book sale?
Big book sale can take place anytime during the first week of March as part of the World Book Day celebrations. If this isn’t convenient schools can chose a date that suits them.

Why take part?

The big book sale:
•       develops literacy and numeracy skills during key stages 1 and 2
•       promotes reading at home through peer-to-peer book recommendation
•       develops real life numeracy skills through money handling on the day
•       gives children and parents access to cheap story books helping to promote reading at home, highlighted by the National Curriculum as the most important way that parents can help their child’s literacy.

And if that’s not enough
The big book sale raises essential funds for the MS Society which are shared with the school if you raise over £200!

Register today for your free fundraising pack!

• Online www.mssociety.org.uk/bigbooksale
• Call 0870 241 3565
• Email schools@mssociety.org.uk (please quote Teaching ideas)

How many books do you read with your class each year? I generally read lots of short stories, but try to read longer stories when possible. Although reading with the class is one of my favourite parts of the job, one of my concerns is having time to fit it in.

What do you think?

Image: ‘Reading is fun‘

Teachers can obtain a free copy of one of the ‘Read Reads’ (for the cost of postage and packing) from Pencil Sharp by quoting the reference PSRR001.