tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post4902647106970158189..comments2024-03-15T10:48:13.261+00:00Comments on Picture Book Den: School Visits for Infant Years by Abie LongstaffUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-30444622506237442282017-03-14T13:51:36.956+00:002017-03-14T13:51:36.956+00:00I love their questions. I had 'Is your hair ma...I love their questions. I had 'Is your hair magic?' quite recently, and often 'What's your favourite chocolate?'. I always have a couple of action songs that I know they'll know that I get them to stand up and join in with me on if I see that some of them are slightly flagging. Thanks for the post, Abie.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-90374939601914456892017-03-10T23:31:08.865+00:002017-03-10T23:31:08.865+00:00This is great! I LOVE your fairytale hairdresser o...This is great! I LOVE your fairytale hairdresser outfit and hair :) and the magic potions too. Also kids at question time are adorable with their random comments. I've used the clap method before, as well as '1,2,3 - eyes on me'Becca McCallumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09339982441409936532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-6089654860002808632017-03-10T11:44:06.696+00:002017-03-10T11:44:06.696+00:00I do sessions with this age group from time to tim...I do sessions with this age group from time to time, and always enjoy it! I agree, they can make up some great stories. I read a story, and then we invent a new plotline around a very similar theme (yes, with an animal lead). I do read from a book though, rather than using a white board, and I prefer that because it creates a very focused, intimate feel - a little circle with me and the book in the middle. But I am constantly turning the book to show them the pictures - I know the story pretty much by heart so don't need to read the text.Emma Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02718171070716804800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-37696649297315041182017-03-09T12:50:22.120+00:002017-03-09T12:50:22.120+00:00Thanks this is really helpful :)Thanks this is really helpful :)Abie Longstaffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682225221860351795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-61854597622627192062017-03-09T12:49:20.601+00:002017-03-09T12:49:20.601+00:00Yes the 'everyone hush' signal is really i...Yes the 'everyone hush' signal is really important! Some schools use a clapping rhythm the kids have to copy, some do the waggling fingers method (just put up your hand and wiggle your fingers), some ring a little handbell. It's a really good idea to ask the school their method and, as Penny says, to practise it first.Abie Longstaffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682225221860351795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-89170354801347208162017-03-08T14:25:46.913+00:002017-03-08T14:25:46.913+00:00Ooops. Mentioned the above point not in a bossy wa...Ooops. Mentioned the above point not in a bossy way but because I can have my next "big story or activity" in mind, and forget to allow for that essential pause when you guide/lead the children's responses into the new thing happening. I love KS1 classes!<br />Penny Dolannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-52157782473992323022017-03-08T14:07:19.401+00:002017-03-08T14:07:19.401+00:00A small thing: whatever your own "everyone hu...A small thing: whatever your own "everyone hush" sign in is, share & practice it (cheerfully!) with the class before you start on the lively & noisy bit of activity!Penny Dolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-42117880236152681772017-03-07T17:59:59.079+00:002017-03-07T17:59:59.079+00:00So interesting - I've also written about my ti...So interesting - I've also written about my tips from an unpublished teacher's perspective too! https://beecathy.wordpress.com/2017/02/09/to-ignite-their-interest-10-tips-for-visiting-authors-in-the-early-years/ and we seem to have very similar thoughts on questions!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16486221370238615288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-22650781454677037282017-03-07T10:15:03.701+00:002017-03-07T10:15:03.701+00:00Yes, so true! Depending on the group and the mood ...Yes, so true! Depending on the group and the mood I sometimes just say, "Does anyone have something they want to know? Or maybe just something they want to tell me?" Because that's usually what they want to do. Last week I had, "I have a pet tarantula," (followed by loads of unsolicited pet stories) and "Do you know Lego Ninjago?" At least that last one was a question.Michelle Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09620246793467493696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-81256602280844925552017-03-07T09:27:45.389+00:002017-03-07T09:27:45.389+00:00Great blog. And I'm lovin' the skirt!Great blog. And I'm lovin' the skirt! Moira Butterfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17355420549929911500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-34515774121787986062017-03-06T18:54:32.240+00:002017-03-06T18:54:32.240+00:00Thanks for this post Abie. I have my first school ...Thanks for this post Abie. I have my first school visit coming up this month so this was great advice. Jonathan, I agree about the question thing. The children I work with still need a lot of support understanding what a question is!Lucy Rowlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06287658044786683327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-82858189564228266342017-03-06T16:02:49.573+00:002017-03-06T16:02:49.573+00:00Some great tips here, Abie. I can't really add...Some great tips here, Abie. I can't really add anything, just echo what you've said.<br /><br />All of my infant's "Q&A" sessions used to end up with me chairing a stream of consciousness, 'apropos of nothing' debate, until an infants teacher in one of my Skype sessions prefaced our Q & A by saying to her class "Remember, a question is something you want to find out from someone else". She obviously drilled this into them regularly and we had a proper Q & A. I've been using this phrase in infants sessions ever since with some success.Jonathan Emmetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11413964991466780348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-39888284833770200342017-03-06T10:54:19.172+00:002017-03-06T10:54:19.172+00:00Thanks, Abie! That's super-helpful. My first P...Thanks, Abie! That's super-helpful. My first PB comes out next year, and I'm saving this article so I can return to it when it's school visit time.Jacob Sager Weinsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02927206493957530542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-91332741841173370572017-03-06T09:37:13.996+00:002017-03-06T09:37:13.996+00:00Good tips, Abie. As predicted, my throat is sore f...Good tips, Abie. As predicted, my throat is sore from multiple school visits last week and I have come down with a cold! I think I would recommend clapping to get their attention if they get very noisy (as you know, most schools have a 'secret clap' that teachers use to get them to be quiet and pay attention - you clap a pattern and the kids copy). I'd also say keep a couple of extra ideas or alternative plans up your sleeve. What works for one group might not work for another so it helps to be able to change tack. Michelle Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09620246793467493696noreply@blogger.com