Wednesday 13 July 2011

Inspectors, farms, mice...and a winner! ;-)



This week, I've been reading , 'An Inspector Calls' by J.B. Priestley.

It's one of the GCSE set books for a pupil of mine....a 'sport mad' lad who simply

will not read! So,we've read it together and he actually quite enjoyed it!

Thankfully, he is an avid Arsenal supporter and so during our 5 minute coffee break

we are able to discuss the merits of Arsene Wenger's transfer dealings, this summer

(or lack of them!) and because I am able to hold my own (just about)

with such discussions, he thinks I am 'cool'...

and this means that he actually works hard for me! ;-)


I do feel sorry for boys such as this, who have little interest in reading.

(unless it's the back pages of the newspaper!)

Thus, when it comes to GCSE English, they struggle.

Anyway... 'An Inspector Calls'...

The Inspector in this play,
(Inspector Goole,which is a play on the word 'ghoul')
is a most mysterious character
who calls on a family, one evening, disturbs their harmony
and forces each of them
to confront each other's social responsibility.

Except there is a bit more to it than that !


The next book which I am about to read with another of my pupils, is:




I'm really looking forward to this as I haven't read it for a long time...

Generally, the schools around here choose the same books and, each year, I find myself

stranded on an uninhabited island with Ralph, Jack and Piggy...

in that 'delightful' novel, 'Lord of the Flies'...!!

Not so this year! I seem to have escaped from that island!

Throughout the summer, I'll be mucking about in the farmyard,

it seems, with Major and his mates, discussing whether

''Four legs good, two legs bad'', really is true!

LOL!

I love a good battle!

Talking of which...


Last week this happened to me...


''No you are not a school... so we cannot help you!''


One of my pupils is moving schools.

You might think that this is nothing out of the ordinary!
However...
She is half way through her GCSEs.
You might think that this may not pose a problem either.
However...
She is changing exam boards for her English Lang/English Lit
which basically means that some of the work which she did last year
will be wasted, although some might possibly be used towards her final mark.
It's all a bit of a nightmare really...and throughout the holidays she has
to do some extra work to catch up .

And so, because I'll be working with her, I got in touch with the new
exam board to ask if I could access their resources, online.
You can only access these if you are a school, with a centre number.
I received the above reply which was rather annoying!
So I sat and thought about it...
Not wanting to be beaten, I persisted!

(''Do you know who this is, it is Mrs Snippets, for goodness sake!! ''LOL!)

And it paid off!

A very kind English Advisor contacted me and said that
he would put everything I need on to a memory stick and he would send it to me.

So, as they say...if at first you don't succeed..try again!

NEVER GIVE UP!

The final book I will be reading this summer is...




It's an easy read...set in 1930s America.

The title is taken from a Robert Burns poem, 'To a Mouse'.

"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley."

( Meaning that the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.)

The main characters, George Milton and Lenny Small have a dream

and it is this dream which keeps them going.

Sadly, their best laid schemes don't work out!

***

You know, with all of these books, strong messages are conveyed

and each book certainly leaves you asking questions about

society and how we treat one another.

Considering the news at the moment, it makes me think

that we as a human race, still have an awful lot to learn!

I think I'll leave it there!

****

Finally, if you remember, my giveaway...


http://salssnippets.blogspot.com/2011/06/back-to-schooland-giveway.html


I loved reading all of your comments!


The winner, picked out of the hat, this morning, is:


http://shabbychicsarah.blogspot.com/


Please email me your address,Sarah!


Thanks everyone for taking part!


******