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Release your  imagination......
Explore new worlds.    
Make your own stories.

Explore a map-real or fantasy....where do you want to go? Make your own and see where your imagination takes you.

Save childhood

Rose Hill book makers at Story shack

6/28/2013

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A fabulous day of book making with Year 5 at Rose Hill primary today....well, watching book making for me. Printing, lettering, folding, imagineering, constructing, concentrating, sticking, pop ups and then dreaming up stories to go in them.
Inspiring, I felt privileged watching it all happen.... I even had one made for me which I will be using on my travels so THANK YOU for a great day.
Lovely chats with different year groups this afternoon about what they like reading and ideas for their new library. Tom Gates very popular still but great demand for graphic novels from the oldest children. Lists coming soon.....
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Story Shack at Rosehill primary 

6/27/2013

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Story shack was at Rosehill primary today with, firstly, some very creative Years 4s and 5s and then equally creative Year 4s in the afternoon. 
So many amazing ideas from 60 children altogether...I don't think there was one similarity - unique and ingenious...that's our children. I know Rosehill are rightly proud of them. Their knowledge of fantasy stories and portals was great. We discussed 'portals' to get  into their own lands inspired by:
  • apparation in Harry Potter
  • flue powder
  • the toilet to the Ministry of magic-yeucn, we didn't fancy that one very much
  • The rabbit hole in Alice and also the drink and cake for shrinking and growing
  • hag stones and looking glass in the Spiderwick chronicles
  • the wardrobe into Narnia and the painting into the Dawn Treader
BUT then the children came up with so many different ideas all those quickly faded into the background. We had: diamonds that had to be inserted into special sculptures, a creature that spat on his 'hands', rubbed them together and got into a new world, hieroglyphic code to be solved and many more....you'll have to visit the Rosehill and ask the authors themselves!

The children also conjured up a wealth of creatures and maps....starting off with one creature and thinking about a special power that creature would have. This led into where they would live and into a wider 'world' of even more creatures and great use of language to maybe scare or even make you laugh.
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A banderbear with toothache 

6/24/2013

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Looking forward to working in Rosehill Primary for their reading event this week. 
Amongst other things we'll be looking at making maps of our own imaginary world with imaginary creatures taking, amongst other great books, The Edge chronicles as our inspiration.
Currently enjoying 'Beyond the Deepwoods' . The poor old Banderbear below looks like me before my root canal last year as he too is suffering from terrible toothache . Amazing creatures and looking forward to more amazing creatures from Years 4 and 5 at the end of the week.

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Seaside characters to meet...

6/23/2013

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Although Sir Michael Wilshaw has his sights set on failing seaside schools apparently it's not all bad for the children who live in seaside places if they're allowed to be children of course. So much exploring to do....i still have bags with little stones and shells here and there collected from nearby beaches. Here are some lovely characters who are the most fabulous re cyclers ...we could learn a lot from them. They have a secret existence maybe on a beach very near YOU and also have a friend crab called 'Sainsbury'-find out why when you enjoy the books.
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Our own quests in life....fulfilment snippet by Ken Robinson:

6/22/2013

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Loving what you do — or not:

An awful lot of people don’t enjoy what they do. They kind of get through the week and wait for the weekend. And there’s a lot of evidence for that; there’s been a lot of research to show there are huge levels of disengagement at work. You only have to look at other really startling figures like the growth in the sales of antidepressant drugs and levels of drop-out rate from schools. There’s massive evidence around the world of people not getting a lot from their lives and often being angry and frustrated from by them.

“It’s about having a balance in your life, that you find some time in your life, some point in your life where you feel you’re doing what puts you at your most authentic — the thing you were really made to do.”
And, yet, I also meet people who absolutely love what they do, who can’t wait to get to it. If you were to say to them, “Why don’t you try something else for a while?” they really wouldn’t know what you’re talking about. They’d say, “Well, this isn’t what I do. This is who I am.”

Firstly, this isn’t just about what you do for a living. I’m very clear about that. Some people can make a living from doing what they love — not everybody can. It may not be that sort of thing. They may not want to; they may not choose to. I interviewed all kinds of people for the book who were doing things that they loved but they don’t want to be paid for it. They’re doing it as it were “amateurs” in the literal Latin sense — they do it for the love of it. It isn’t just about what you do for the living. It’s about having a balance in your life, that you find some time in your life, some point in your life where you feel you’re doing what puts you at your most authentic — the thing you were really made to do.

“If you love something that you’re good at, then that’s a really great place to be in your life. And it can evolve over time.”
Being in your element, to me, is two things. It’s doing something that you’re naturally good at. So part of the argument here is that we have to have a generous conception of ability and talent. That’s one of my problems with the education system: We have a very narrow view of talent, for the most part, in education. But it’s not only doing things you’re good at — because I know all kinds of people who are good at things they don’t care for. To be in your element, you have to love it. If you love something that you’re good at, then that’s a really great place to be in your life. And it can evolve over time. But my experience of it is — and I’ve interviewed all kinds of people in all sorts of walks of life, in all kinds of different economic circumstances — that we all have this potential. It takes different forms for each of us because we’re very diverse. But it’s something worth reaching for because it gives you a sense of fulfillment that you don’t otherwise have.

The “quest” of finding your element, creating the life you want:

“If we create our life, we can recreate it…We owe it to ourselves to look deep inside to see what talents we really do have.”
Our lives aren’t linear. We create our life according to the talents that we find within ourselves, the interests that drive us, and everybody ends up having a unique resume. If we create our life, we can recreate it. Part of my argument in the book is that we owe it to ourselves to look deep inside to see what talents we really do have. Often, human talents are like the world’s natural resources. They’re buried under the ground; you don’t know that they’re there until you go actively searching for them and try to develop them.

There is obviously a balance between talent and passion…Broadly speaking, it’s this: It’s a two-way journey. Actually, no — the word I use in the book is “quest.”

“Quest” is a very interesting idea to me because if you take a journey, a regular journey, you might know where you’re heading to. You’re setting off from Boston to San Francisco. You know where it is and you know when you’ll get there. But some journeys aren’t like that. You set off hopefully, often, though, not completely sure what you’re looking for — that’s what the word “quest” is. It’s a medieval term. It’s where you’re setting out to find something with a purpose and an intention, but you’re not quite sure where it is and you hope to find it. Finding your element is like that.

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21 books for captivating assembly audiences

6/21/2013

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Hats off to any author who, when read aloud by a teacher OR Headteacher in assembly manages to captivate a wide ranging audience from Rec to year 6. As we know children can be harsh critics. In assembly this wouldn't be through a caustic review but rather by wiggling, fidgeting and requiring lots of prompts. However, pick the right book and that audience will be entranced and you'll enjoy it too.
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Picture books come into their own FOR ANY AGE-those Year 6s whether they appear to have a bad dose of Year 6 itus can often be won round by something with a sense of humour-Michael Rosen's poetry collection or Allan Ahlberg's 'Heard it in the playground' and 'Please Mrs. Butler'.
Environmental issues are covered through wonderful story telling and beautiful pictures in 'One World', 'Dear. Greenpeace' and 'Dinosaurs and all that rubbish' and 'One day I met a whale' -amongst many....
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'I am too absolutely small for school' is a great reminder for everyone even if it's not actually your first day in school. Children always animal antics and a chicken who has her first week at cow school is wonderful on so many levels, particularly with regard to fitting in. 'Worried Arthur' is a penguin having adventures....perfect combination!
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For perhaps more of a KS2 assembly something from 'The Mozart question'. Leading into Remembrance Sunday and also Christmas  are a number of books about the WW1 football match including 'War Game'.
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'Room on the broom' is great for team work as is the lesser known, quirky 'The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone'....I've had some pretty tough year 6s, apparently non plussed at the back who've cracked a smile at both of these! 
Above all the fun and 'togetherness' stories bring: from the haunting 'The Whales' Song to the funny 'Baby Brains' series, the touching 'Voices in the Park' to 'The Incredible book eating boy'.  Make sure you read 'The Last Happy ending' too...children's illustrators are  truly amazing artists.....
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And finally number 21. A book although very obviously American that makes you think, could be easily adapted to any country or setting but has an underlying message of love and inspiration for all our children. Most of all it reminds us how special they are:
'Have I told you that they are all a part of you? Have I told you that you are one of them, and that you are the

                 future? And have I told you that I love you?

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What headship means for me and maybe might again some day in another adventure

6/20/2013

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Belated thanks to Adisa the Verbalizer-an amazing poet who came in and inspired every one to write...including me:

I am from yellow hats, high viz jackets and allen keys and inflatable planets,

From a once in a life time, privileged 

opportunity

I am from parent and toddler group googly eyes straight to afternoon interviews

From presentations of watering cans and sunflowers

I am from Dr martens, builders tea and sofits and fascias

From the controversial ICT walls and neighbour complaining woodchip burners

I am from appointing inspiring people, unpacking boxes, flapjack on the floor in the staffroom

From piling up  postura  chairs and community plaything parts, a fleet of wooden trucks

I am from a team pulling together, hard work but exciting, hoping, dreaming of this school

From final preparations, paper registers, can’t go upstairs, no computers, can you believe it?

I am from silver shiny pillars and rainbow windows

From green and navy Josh Clarke - rainbow badge clad first pupil of the day

I am from awe and wonder, proud children and team, relief at opening on time

From first everythings, harvest, Humph the camel, discos, parties, towering Christmas trees

I am from a cold March day, children gathered singing heartily, colourful Chris the clown

From ribbons cut for official openings from a very nearly lost official

I am from sunny sports day, energetic, eager, win or lose, sporting spirit

From rainbow afternoons of create, make and do it

I am from children shaping the Rendlesham way

From Leaver’s assembly, first tear jerking farewells to our year 6s, always proud of who they are today.


I am from Carolyn Grace’s inspiring story

From spitfire fly by s especially for US

I am from new life and happiness

From babies, maternities, bundles of joy

I am from sadness, remembering

From pink wafers, Mike TV and special garden sofas

I am from technical glitches, ELLOH hitches


From OOPS and start again and smiles and perseverance

I am from Ofsted inspections , growing together

From celebrating our learning, Rendlesham recipes forever.


I am from team spirit, school community, one to be proud of

From the fluffy ladies team, growing, evolving, developing

I am from the best team I’ve worked with..EVER

From the most wonderful children, we’re fiercely proud of

I am from awe inspiring thoughts to collaborative creativity

From a passion for learning

I am from vision to reality, nurturing young people to be all they can be

From care, hard work, determination and ‘such fun’ smiles

I am from the rainbow school with warmth for miles

From children at the centre in all we do

I am from Rendlesham, I am from you!


All from ADISA's workshop            http://www.adisaworld.com
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June 19th, 2013

6/19/2013

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Those amazingly creative Suffolk teachers wrote some wonderful pieces which would be great for classes ....take a look at www.lightingcreativefires.com
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Releasing imagination workshop

6/6/2013

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...instead of doing the dishes he washes the fishes! A funny way of encouraging good listening.
A lovely session of crafting, writing, reading and discussing wonderful books at Kesgrave this afternoon. Thank you to everybody who came. I appreciate you all giving up your time, especially in the middle of a hectic summer term and after school on such a sunny day. Considering all those factors you were mightily enthusiastic and it was very jolly to meet you all.   I look forward to hearing how it goes from here. Happy reading and book making! 
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Children exploring their own designs

6/5/2013

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A carousel of rooms with books...so delicate and such care taken: Year 4
A pocket book to hold secrets and your imagination...look what happens when you open it out-endless possibilities for filling it:   Year 3           WOW :-)

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    Sarah Gallagher

    Avid reader, sometimes a headteacher AND founder of Story shack. A place where  you can release your imagination and see where it takes you....
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