Before half term, I was one of a team of invigilators for the first children in Year 6 to sit the ISEB Pre Test. The test is used by an increasing number of senior schools to screen children before inviting them to interview and/or to sit further written examinations.
I was able to peer over the shoulders of children and assess the demand of both the English and verbal reasoning papers and it became very obvious, very quickly, the importance of having a broad and sophisticated vocabulary. Children had to recognise words such as lucid, nefarious, affray, intoxicating, mimic, flout. Sound spelling, correct grammar, along with the confident knowledge of terminology and the accurate use of punctuation, all needed to be recalled and applied quickly.
The importance of reading was never more obvious in enabling children to access the texts of the comprehension passages, understand the questions and select the correct answer.
When giving presentations on reading, I often quote American author Emilie Buchwald who says, ‘Children are made readers on the laps of their parents’. Just as peripatetic music teachers instruct children in how to play an instrument, it is the practice at home that is key to success. Learning to read is the same; as teachers we can instruct children in the mechanics of reading but the practice at home is where the real progress takes place. A home that is filled with books, magazines and a shared love for reading is the best habitat in which to ‘grow’ a good reader!
This week’s presentations on phonics and reading in the Pre Prep have been designed to help you as parents support your children in their reading journey. At the forthcoming Christmas Fair, I have curated a collection of books for children of all ages which can be enjoyed (and bought at discounted prices) by Edge Grove families. I am also stocking CGP work books, 11+ vocabulary resources and selling donated pre-loved books in order to make it easy to access quality books that will help engage your children on their reading journeys.
November is known in the literary calendar as Non-fiction November and families will also have the chance to sign up for a fabulous new non-fiction magazine called ‘Britannica Magazine’ where a 12 month subscription comes with a free fact-filled hardback copy of either Factopia or the the All New Children’s Encyclopedia. I look forward to seeing you there!
School Journalists
As we enjoy the festive season where our school families have celebrated Diwali and look forward to Hanukkah and Christmas at the end of term, our school journalists have been reflecting on what these events mean to them.
By Deeksha C
Did you know that the word Diwali (or Deepavali as it's sometimes called) means “row of lights” in an Ancient language of India, called Sanskrit? Each year the festival occurs on a ‘no-moon’ night. People of all ages love to celebrate this event because children enjoy lighting up fireworks and elderly people like cooking tasty goods and the best part - eating all of them up!
For me Diwali is a time to have fun, spend time with family and friends, celebrate and eat special types of foods such as Samosa (a crispy and spicy samosa is something which nobody can say no to! ) aloo bonda, murukku, gulab jamun and paneer tikka and many more! People draw rangoli on the floor by the entrance of their homes to welcome the gods and bring good luck, which are beautiful patterns made using colourful powders and flowers.
What is Diwali and why do I celebrate it?
Diwali is the festival of lights, Diwali or Dipawali (as Indians say), is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolise the inner light that protects us from spiritual darkness. Diwali takes place annually and lasts for five days. Today, this fascinating festival is celebrated by thousands of people in countries all around the world. During Diwali, Hindus living outside India gather at places of worship called mandirs (temple) to leave offerings to deities, watch firework displays and eat yummy food together!
Is there a story behind it?
Yes, in one of the main stories of the Hindu religion, Diwali is the day Lord Rama, his wife Sita Devi and brother Lakshmana (pronounced- luck-sh-mana) return to their homeland after fourteen years in exile. The villagers lit a path for Rama, who had defeated the demon king Ravana. This story is part of celebrations in some regions.
People also celebrate the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi during Diwali. As the goddess of prosperity, wealth and fertility, the romantic Diwali story says that she chose Lord Vishnu, one of Hinduism’s most important deities, to be her husband on the night of Diwali.
What do I do on diwali?
The weeks leading up to Diwali are traditionally a time for redecorating the home, buying new clothes and jewellery, and exchanging gifts . This is the season for dinner parties, outdoor food festivals and craft fairs, all of which help build up excitement ahead of the main Diwali celebration.
Especially in north India and my house, card games are played late into the night in the weeks before Diwali. Expect drinks and plenty of finger food at these parties, which will usually include platters of kebabs, fried savoury snacks, tandoori grills and spiced sweet treats.
This year our Diwali celebrations fell in half term.
By Miriam R
What is Hanukkah and how do Jewish people celebrate it?
“Hanukkah is the festival of lights, instead of one day of presents we get eight crazy nights” - Adam Sandler
What does Hanukkah mean to Jewish people? What better way to find out than to ask the Jewish teachers of Edge Grove!
Dr Passe - First I thought to start off with Dr Passe who is the Head of SENDCo at Edge Grove. He is also an orthodox Jew. These are his reflections:
What does Hanukkah mean to you?
It’s a fun festival of giving gifts. I love jam doughnuts, so it’s about finding the shop with the best doughnuts. One year when Hanukkah fell on Christmas Day, we did a taste test from 5 bakeries!
How do you celebrate Hanukkah?
Eating doughnuts, lighting candles, and on years when it’s over the new year break it’s skiing!
What is your favourite thing to do for Hanukkah?
Eat doughnuts (do you see a theme yet?)
What is your favourite food to eat on Hanukkah?
Do I really need to answer this one? (doughnuts)
Miss Saville - The next person I thought to ask was Miss Saville who is a specialist music teacher at Edge Grove School. These are her reflections:
Hanukkah means lots to me both in terms of its biblical and traditional aspects. It is a time to remember the great miracle of the Hanukkah story and reflect on a time where Jewish people were prejudiced for simply being Jewish but more importantly how we, as people once again, overcame it.
It is also a time of celebration and I enjoy all of the annual traditions which come with Hanukkah and how Jewish communities come together to remember the great Hanukkah miracle by lighting a candle each night for 8 nights. Hanukkah is not a very religious festival however it is widely-known for its links to other religious festivals (Diwali & Christmas) as it is the Festival of Light.
I celebrate Hanukkah by lighting the menorah each night for 8 nights, eating oily foods (doughnuts & potato latkes) and chocolate coins! I also give and receive presents from friends and family.
Light the menorah with my family and proudly place it in the window of our home.
Got to be jam doughnuts! We eat oily foods to remember the oil in the Temple which burned for 8 nights despite their only being enough for one.
Miss Senior - Miss Senior is a specialist English teacher at Edge Grove. Here are her reflections:
I like celebrating Hanukkah because it's a symbol of our history, and I like keeping traditions.
What's your favourite way to celebrate?
I love going into London to watch the big lighting at Trafalgar Square! My grandpa's father was a rabbi in Johannesburg, so every year he tells our family stories of him, and Hanukkah is a great time to gather for this and celebrate together.
What's your favourite food to eat?
Latkes and doughnuts! What a great excuse to eat lots of fried food, and remember the miracle of the oil.
Rabbi Bennett - I also wanted to get reflections from outside of school so I asked Rabbi Bennett, who is the Headmaster of Radlett Cheder (Jewish Sunday School). These are his reflections:
What does Hanukah mean to you?
A special time of year to focus on all the blessings we have in our lives as a family and a wider community.
Food! Of course, doughnuts, latkes and chocolate coins, alongside the Mitzvot of lighting the Menorah and singing the special prayers together.
After we light the candles each night we spend time as family singing songs, playing dreidel and enjoy the atmosphere together.
I'm not sure I have met anyone yet who does not like a doughnut, there is a baker in Jerusalem who makes them with a caramel filling, YUM!
My reflections - For me I really like Hanuakkh because I get to celebrate with my family for 8 nights and light the menorah.
I also like getting presents and making doughnuts with my mum! We might even have a special Hanukkah party with family and friends. The best part about Hanukkah are the delicious doughnuts, all covered with sugar and filled with jam! I love Hanukkah because I have lots of fun and eat oily foods to remember the oil that burned for 8 nights.
