Sally&Moomin

By trying, each day, to do better than the last. By being unafraid to admit when some things don't work out. By listening to those who are coping better than me. There are more challenges this year than most, but the basic strategy has barely altered.

I was in last week of term tired-teacher mode. But the moments of joy are amazing and bring strength. A kid who couldn’t choose a book on Monday and needed a recommendation but bounced back in today for the next in the series I suggested... #ReadingForPleasure is everything!

Looking back over books borrowed this term, these series are the favourites so far. Any recommendations for the next books to buy? Thank you amazing authors and illustrators @johngreenart @markbradleyart @jamiesmart @H_Muncaster @Lillustrator @TraceyCorderoy @StevenLenton

Spirits lifted at the end of a long week to hear some of my former pupils outside my classroom by the reading display board reminiscing delightedly “Not Now Bernard, Splat the Cat, oh Meg and Mog, I loved Meg and Mog… it was SO good!” #readingforpleasure matters from a young age

I have always loved Shirley Hughes' books: the illustrations which were like a mirror of my childhood and the characters - children with strengths and foibles laid bare. Thank you for all that joy, @shirleyhughes_ theguardian.com/books/2022/mar…

My timeline is full of people expressing their sadness at the loss of Jan Pienkowski and celebrating his beautiful work. The power of pictures in stories is evident, they are lodged in our memories. A reminder if one was needed of the importance of illustration.

The authors are often better known, but the illustrators create a huge amount of the appeal of books aimed at young children. The Meg and Mog books are perennially popular in my classroom. Thank you Jan Pieńkowski! theguardian.com/books/2022/feb…

It has to be the librarian - someone whose role is to open those doors of wonder and magic, to help find the alternative path for those who need it... we are lucky enough to have this and I value these colleagues very highly indeed.

If the children are going to succeed they need to believe you believe in them. That’s why relationships have to come first.

This article expresses so well thoughts which have been floating around my head for a while. Let go, take time, appreciate observations, discuss ideas, go off on tangents... above all don't rush children forwards, make the most of now.

Slightly disturbingly: gag, creative and unique. I realised afterwards that "gag" was part of "engaging"... gagging children isn't part of my teaching style (though that would probably count as unique), hopefully engaging them is!

In my virtual classroom, it was by bringing the familiar and well loved to daily interactions - the class mascot became my assistant teacher for a class of 6- and 7-year-olds. My self-isolators now have been invited to join key moments of the day, like story time, by video link.

One of the great privileges of teaching in the first year of primary school: I get to open this door for so many children. And it is a joy every single time!

What do you do when you break your elbow and cannot teach for a week? Complete the @Seesaw ambassador refresh course! #seesaw #SilverLining

Oi! We have an eXtraordinary #competition for you as part of the Oi Aardvark ABC blog tour! To #win a FULL SET of the Oi books by Kes Gray and @_JimField just like and retweet this post! Competition closes midnight Sunday 20th September T&C's: hachette.co.uk/wp-content/upl…

#TeamPooh at the weekend and during the holidays, #TeamPaddington when I'm working, is that allowed? It should mean Pooh right now, but I'm deep into preparations for the new term, so feeling more Paddington-ish right now.

Perfect for children from families who speak other languages and want to get used to listening to English again before school starts (and for anyone who loves listening to stories!)