Jon Biddle
@jonnybid.bsky.social
3.8K followers 1.9K following 490 posts
Year 5/6 teacher and English lead. Children's books and reading mostly, Blake's 7 sometimes. Currently reading: Letters from the Upside.by Katya Balen.
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Reposted by Jon Biddle
englishassociation.bsky.social
We can't wait to celebrate the #NationalYearofReading!

🫵Tell us how you're going to celebrate - we'd love to share your story in our magazine English 4-11, published with our friends and partners @uklitassociation.bsky.social and @natefeed.bsky.social: bit.ly/4-11YearOfRe...
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jonnybid.bsky.social
If you're looking for a perfect Halloween class book for Y5/6 that can be read in a week, you won't do better than The Last Day of October by Phil Hickes. Creepy and atmospheric, with a fantastic cliffhanger at the end of each chapter. @oriolvidal.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social
jonnybid.bsky.social
Finished reading Running my Own Race by @eyesab2.bsky.social with my Y5/6 class last week. They absolutely loved it, and it gave us lots of chances to talk about issues relevant to their own lives. Highly recommended.
jonnybid.bsky.social
I just finished and I loved it.
jonnybid.bsky.social
Happy Bookshop Day! There are over 200 independent children's bookshops on my map so do pay your local one a visit. It's regularly updated but please let me know of any more I could add. padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...
Reposted by Jon Biddle
alomshaha.bsky.social
I have a new book out which is getting a lot of love, which is great, but it makes me sad for my older books. Sure, they’re not new and shiny any more in the world of publishing / book selling, but they would be to a kid who hasn’t read them:
How To Find a Rainbow
“This charming story can be read on two levels – that of two sisters in search of a physical rainbow and that of emerging from a gloomy emotional episode and beginning to find joy again.  It …
alomshaha.com
jonnybid.bsky.social
Every year our pupils deliver #PoetryPost to the local community and every year they're absolutely thrilled with the positive response it receives. There's more information about how it works on the @openuni-rfp.bsky.social site. ourfp.org/eop/poetry-p...
jonnybid.bsky.social
And we did it again today!
Reposted by Jon Biddle
letterssounds.bsky.social
We 🧡 Moorlands Poetry Post from @jonnybid.bsky.social + Moorlands Primary Academy - proof poetry’s for every day, not just @poetrydayuk.bsky.social! Children share decorated poems through local letterboxes, spreading joy.
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/everybody-read/a-poem-for-you/
jonnybid.bsky.social
My class loved exploring similarities and differences between A Cat Called Waverley by Debi Gliori and War Dog by Tom Palmer and Carolina Rabei. We talked about loyalty, courage, being away from who you love, and the relationship between humans and animals. It was joyous.
jonnybid.bsky.social
Absolutely. Need to map out the whole year or it can end up as a load of random events.
jonnybid.bsky.social
Yes, exactly. I was thinking about the fact that it's National Poetry Day this week and how those type of events are so important.
jonnybid.bsky.social
Yes, we're definitely trying to get through too much.
jonnybid.bsky.social
The primary curriculum has increasingly become something that schools subscribe to and teachers download and click through. It clearly saves a lot of time but does it mean that some teachers are no longer planning for the needs of their class? Not taking a view, just asking.
jonnybid.bsky.social
Katya Balen is a children's author whose books get automatic promotion to the top of my reading pile. Letters from the Upside is another enormous success with richly-drawn and believable characters, including Con, a child that many pupils will relate to. Essential for UKS2.
jonnybid.bsky.social
Very much looking forward to the @empathylabuk.bsky.social conference in November. It's a superb line-up of speakers including @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social, @teresacremin.bsky.social and authors @amdassu.bsky.social and @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social. An important day! empathylab.uk/raising-gene...
Reposted by Jon Biddle
jonnybid.bsky.social
The Kofi series by Jeffrey Boakye goes from strength to strength. Book three, Kofi and the Brand New Vibe, is hilarious and would be a perfect read for Year 5/6. The author's deep passion for music comes through on every page. It's a book that fizzes with energy.
jonnybid.bsky.social
The Kofi series by Jeffrey Boakye goes from strength to strength. Book three, Kofi and the Brand New Vibe, is hilarious and would be a perfect read for Year 5/6. The author's deep passion for music comes through on every page. It's a book that fizzes with energy.
Reposted by Jon Biddle
jonnybid.bsky.social
On Monday 20th October, I'm running an online session with the brilliant @joshuaseigal.bsky.social all about raising the profile of poetry in the primary classroom. It will start at 3:45pm and end at 5:00pm. More information here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/i-dont-lik...
jonnybid.bsky.social
On Monday 20th October, I'm running an online session with the brilliant @joshuaseigal.bsky.social all about raising the profile of poetry in the primary classroom. It will start at 3:45pm and end at 5:00pm. More information here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/i-dont-lik...
jonnybid.bsky.social
Good luck! I'm sure they'll have a big impact.
Reposted by Jon Biddle
simonebeach.bsky.social
Our Reading Champions are excited to get started in their new roles. They have lots of great ideas.
Thanks @jonnybid.bsky.social for your help.
Reposted by Jon Biddle
jonnybid.bsky.social
On Monday 20th October, I'm running an online session with the brilliant @joshuaseigal.bsky.social all about raising the profile of poetry in the primary classroom. It will start at 3:45pm and end at 5:00pm. More information here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/i-dont-lik...
Reposted by Jon Biddle
jonnybid.bsky.social
There are hundreds of examples of practice on the @openuni-rfp.bsky.social site. I've just uploaded a couple more.

Secondary school pupils supporting the class recommendations shelf: ourfp.org/eop/recommen...

Talking about how we choose books: ourfp.org/eop/choices-...
jonnybid.bsky.social
There are hundreds of examples of practice on the @openuni-rfp.bsky.social site. I've just uploaded a couple more.

Secondary school pupils supporting the class recommendations shelf: ourfp.org/eop/recommen...

Talking about how we choose books: ourfp.org/eop/choices-...