Debbie Thomas
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
OU Lecturer in Reading for Pleasure, Co-founder of the Spark! School Book Awards, Independent English Advisor, book lover & mum
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
Are you joining us for our upcoming webinar about the importance of book choice in primary schools?
We'll be joined by our Writer in Residence Matt Goodfellow and @debbiethomas.bsky.social from @openuni-rfp.bsky.social for research, practical insights and more 👇
https://bit.ly/4qvcFv8
We'll be joined by our Writer in Residence Matt Goodfellow and @debbiethomas.bsky.social from @openuni-rfp.bsky.social for research, practical insights and more 👇
https://bit.ly/4qvcFv8
October 28, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Are you joining us for our upcoming webinar about the importance of book choice in primary schools?
We'll be joined by our Writer in Residence Matt Goodfellow and @debbiethomas.bsky.social from @openuni-rfp.bsky.social for research, practical insights and more 👇
https://bit.ly/4qvcFv8
We'll be joined by our Writer in Residence Matt Goodfellow and @debbiethomas.bsky.social from @openuni-rfp.bsky.social for research, practical insights and more 👇
https://bit.ly/4qvcFv8
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
Trying to remake my trg connections. 👋
@openuni-rfp.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social
@openuni-rfp.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social
Was at an OU/UKLA Teacher Reading Group Leader event on Thurs. Margaret McDonald was interviewed by her old English Teacher. Glorious thing to see, and as the youngest Carnegie winner ever, what an accolade! And for her school, her teachers and for young Scottish writers! 👏🏴#ReadingforPleasure
September 22, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Trying to remake my trg connections. 👋
@openuni-rfp.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social
@openuni-rfp.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
Oxfordshire-based school staff!
Chris is running a Teachers Reading Group again this year (without me as I am on maternity leave!). It's a wonderful group and Chris is so knowledgeable. Details below - please share!
@openuni-rfp.bsky.social
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
@kashleyenglish.bsky.social
Chris is running a Teachers Reading Group again this year (without me as I am on maternity leave!). It's a wonderful group and Chris is so knowledgeable. Details below - please share!
@openuni-rfp.bsky.social
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
@kashleyenglish.bsky.social
September 4, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Oxfordshire-based school staff!
Chris is running a Teachers Reading Group again this year (without me as I am on maternity leave!). It's a wonderful group and Chris is so knowledgeable. Details below - please share!
@openuni-rfp.bsky.social
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
@kashleyenglish.bsky.social
Chris is running a Teachers Reading Group again this year (without me as I am on maternity leave!). It's a wonderful group and Chris is so knowledgeable. Details below - please share!
@openuni-rfp.bsky.social
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
@kashleyenglish.bsky.social
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
Do read and share! Free and worth debating the individual- social and reflective ways forward rb.gy/4ih4ez @profsarahmcg.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social @debrakidd.bsky.social as well as the evidence on the associated benefits of reading!
July 2, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Do read and share! Free and worth debating the individual- social and reflective ways forward rb.gy/4ih4ez @profsarahmcg.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social @debrakidd.bsky.social as well as the evidence on the associated benefits of reading!
If you’re nearby why not join Chris - he’s continuing great work with running an OU/UKLA Teacher Reading Group.
Oxfordshire-based school staff!
Chris is running a Teachers Reading Group again this year (without me as I am on maternity leave!). It's a wonderful group and Chris is so knowledgeable. Details below - please share!
@openuni-rfp.bsky.social
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
@kashleyenglish.bsky.social
Chris is running a Teachers Reading Group again this year (without me as I am on maternity leave!). It's a wonderful group and Chris is so knowledgeable. Details below - please share!
@openuni-rfp.bsky.social
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
@kashleyenglish.bsky.social
September 9, 2025 at 10:36 PM
If you’re nearby why not join Chris - he’s continuing great work with running an OU/UKLA Teacher Reading Group.
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
Booking now LiVE for our Oct. 18th Conference! tinyurl.com/bn6d2x3m Milton Keynes 🎈Do Join us! 🎈@openuni-rfp.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social @readingrocks.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social An engaging reading community focused day 🎈@uklitassociation.bsky.social
June 16, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Booking now LiVE for our Oct. 18th Conference! tinyurl.com/bn6d2x3m Milton Keynes 🎈Do Join us! 🎈@openuni-rfp.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social @readingrocks.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social An engaging reading community focused day 🎈@uklitassociation.bsky.social
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
A Friday bonus! Our second spotlight video features both the author and the illustrator - here are @trygv.bsky.social & Ella Okstad on the inspiring 'If I Were Prime Minister' - shortlisted in our Picture fiction for Early Readers Category. @debbiethomas.bsky.social
youtu.be/_gkmzccPCSg?...
youtu.be/_gkmzccPCSg?...
If I Were Prime Minister - Trygve Skaug & Ella Okstad - Shortlist Spotlight - Picture Fiction
YouTube video by Spark! School Book Awards
youtu.be
February 7, 2025 at 9:41 AM
A Friday bonus! Our second spotlight video features both the author and the illustrator - here are @trygv.bsky.social & Ella Okstad on the inspiring 'If I Were Prime Minister' - shortlisted in our Picture fiction for Early Readers Category. @debbiethomas.bsky.social
youtu.be/_gkmzccPCSg?...
youtu.be/_gkmzccPCSg?...
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
The winner of our longlist draw is... King Athelstan Primary School in Kingston! 🎉 Congratulations - you have won a set of longlisted books in the category of your choice. 🎄🎁📚 #Spark12BooksOfChristmas
December 20, 2024 at 10:08 AM
The winner of our longlist draw is... King Athelstan Primary School in Kingston! 🎉 Congratulations - you have won a set of longlisted books in the category of your choice. 🎄🎁📚 #Spark12BooksOfChristmas
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
We're thrilled to present our full Early Readers Longlist in the #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
December 17, 2024 at 9:28 AM
We're thrilled to present our full Early Readers Longlist in the #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
@debbiethomas.bsky.social
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
The #Spark12BooksOfChristmas are our longlists, 12 books in each category, specially curated by our panels of teachers and librarians. We will be announcing one book from each category for the next 12 weekdays. Without further ado, here are our first 5 books... 🥁
December 2, 2024 at 9:20 AM
The #Spark12BooksOfChristmas are our longlists, 12 books in each category, specially curated by our panels of teachers and librarians. We will be announcing one book from each category for the next 12 weekdays. Without further ado, here are our first 5 books... 🥁
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
Exciting news! We will be posting the '12 Books of Christmas' (our longlist) for each category, one a day, starting on Monday 2 December. Watch this space... 🎄🎁📚
November 29, 2024 at 11:55 AM
Exciting news! We will be posting the '12 Books of Christmas' (our longlist) for each category, one a day, starting on Monday 2 December. Watch this space... 🎄🎁📚
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
🔊 Our 7th annual #ReflectingRealities report is out now! This year’s report shows a significant drop in the presence of racially minoritised characters in books published for children in 2023 in the UK.
November 29, 2024 at 8:01 AM
🔊 Our 7th annual #ReflectingRealities report is out now! This year’s report shows a significant drop in the presence of racially minoritised characters in books published for children in 2023 in the UK.
It’s tomorrow - do come along!
November 18, 2024 at 11:11 PM
It’s tomorrow - do come along!
Reposted by Debbie Thomas
A warm welcome to the new schools who have signed up to the Spark! School Book Award, and to our returning schools! We're looking forward to seeing you at our Intro Meeting tomorrow. If you want more info before you sign up, you're also welcome to join us: www.sparkbookawards.co.uk/contact-us
November 18, 2024 at 9:31 AM
A warm welcome to the new schools who have signed up to the Spark! School Book Award, and to our returning schools! We're looking forward to seeing you at our Intro Meeting tomorrow. If you want more info before you sign up, you're also welcome to join us: www.sparkbookawards.co.uk/contact-us
