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Jon Biddle

@jonnybid.bsky.social

3.8K followers 1.9K following 480 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

Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · 4d

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 …

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 5d

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...

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 6d

And we did it again today!

Reposted by Jon Biddle

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised @letterssounds.bsky.social · 6d

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/

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 8d

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.

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 10d

Absolutely. Need to map out the whole year or it can end up as a load of random events.

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 10d

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.

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 10d

Yes, we're definitely trying to get through too much.

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 10d

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.

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 10d

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.

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 14d

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

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 17d

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.

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 17d

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

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 18d

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...

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 18d

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...

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 18d

Good luck! I'm sure they'll have a big impact.

Reposted by Jon Biddle

Simone Beach @simonebeach.bsky.social · 18d

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

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 27d

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

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 20d

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-...

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 20d

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-...

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 27d

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...

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 28d

I wrote a short article for @openuni-rfp.bsky.social about how we need to prioritise time for independent reading in schools. Even though it's vitally important, it's often squeezed out due to the pressures of the school timetable. ourfp.org/publications...

Making time for RfP - Reading for Pleasure

“You can measure the true strength of a school by how hard it fights to protect its reading time against the pressures of the timetable.” Aidan Chambers, The Reading Environment The above quote is on...

Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · Sep 7

If it's helpful to schools, below is the link to a year's worth of picturebook assembly suggestions that have a focus on empathy and inclusion. They're all books I've used and loved as a teacher. padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...