Reading Tales

My Class 1 pupils enjoy stories. They can't read in English, but they like it when they listen to different stories, especially when I make this reading interactive.

A group of my Class 6 pupils has recently visited my youngest pupils and I asked Mila and Nikolina to read The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Beatrix Potter to their younger friends. 

Both groups enjoyed this a lot.

Zoran, I3

Nevena, I3

The Magical World of Beatrix Potter

My Class 2 pupils have just stepped into the magical world of Beatrix Potter and liked it. 

By the way, they've recently started learning the Latin alphabet, so Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes turned out to be just the right choice for them.

Earth Day

I've shared with my Class 4 students another activity I made in Edpuzzle. They need to answer the questions correctly to watch the rest of the read aloud story about Earth Day.

Inspired by the story, they made creative drawings and shared Save the Earth messages.

Uroš: Save the Earth, clean the forests, plant trees!

Lara: Clean Earth is the happy Earth!

Iva: We must save the planet because we have only one.

Mia: We must separate our trash and help our planet!

Jovana: Save the Earth! Recycle and plant trees!

Ana: Save the planet Earth! We live here!

Dragana: We must help the Earth!

Ognjen: Make every day Earth Day!

Dušan: By recycling, let's help our currently sad planet!

Saint Patrick's Day

I've shared with my Class 4 students the activity I made in Edpuzzle. They need to answer the questions correctly to watch the rest of the read aloud story about Saint Patrick's Day.

Reading Challenge

My Class 8 students (13-14-year-olds) don't like reading books. However, they enjoy competitions. That's why I've challenged them to read three English graded readers in one month. I'm happy to say that most of them completed the challenge, so we organised presentations, with a quiz, of course.

Green Kids

Green Kids is an eTwinning project which gathered the children from England, France, Greece, Spain and Turkey around the same goals: 

- to learn about the natural environment,
- to create awareness about environmental issues,
- to investigate possible solutions to "save the World",
- to start initiatives to help "saving the World",
- to develop creative writing and storytelling.

In one of the lessons, my Class 3 students and I first talked about our endangered animals, including our local birds, and the ways we can help them. Then, I asked them to make groups according to the animal they want to 'write' about. They decided on the parts of their stories, illustrated them and later told them. Two stories (Green Kid and Asio Otus, and Green Kid and Otis Tarda) are now in the joint storybook on StoryJumper.

Read this book made on StoryJumper

The Dead of Jericho

Compare the book to the TV episode with the same name:

'The Dead of Jericho' is an amazing novel written by an amazing author, and the film adaptation of it is well produced and well written. But, in my opinion, I was more drawn to the book, it was just more interesting to me than the movie.
The movie was primarily based on the book, but there are some major differences. One of the major differences is, for example, that in the movie Morse and Anne are portrayed as friends, but in the book they only speak to each other at the party where they meet. In the movie, Anne has curtains in her bedroom, which is not the case in the book, and also in the movie Anne confronts Jackson about spying on her, but there is no mention of it in the book. Finally, Anne's last name in the movie is not Scott.
But, these are not the only differences in the movie. In the film, an investigator interviews Anne's mother, but there is not a mention of her mother in the book. Anne's mother also mentions that Anne married at the age of 18, but in the book Anne states that she married at the age of 19. And also, if you did not read the book, you would not know that Ned's real name is actually Michael Murdoch, and that in the book he did not steal from her. Also, the date of Anne's death is different. In the book, Morse never hit his head. An interesting difference is also that Tony's real name is actually Conrad Richards.
There are a lot of differences listed here, but there are also a lot of similarities. The characters in the movie are very similar to their description in the book and the first time that the police interviews Jackson is the same as the interview in the book, basically, he says the same things. And also there are some other similarities, like Morse's arrest, Anne's baby, Anne's death from hanging, and even Jackson blackmailing Richards.
These are just some of the differences and similarities about this great novel, which is one of the greatest ever written, in my opinion.

Kosana Jakonić, VIII4, 22 May

Write a book review:

I have recently read a book named ’The Dead of Jericho.’ It is a crime novel and a mystery, written by Colin Dexter. The story takes place in a part of Oxford named Jericho.
When Chief Inspector Morse met a wonderful woman Anne Scott,  he did not expect that she would hang herself only six months later. He heard about the sad news and had to investigate it, even though it was not his case. He found out a lot of things, like the fact that the front door was unlocked. He interviewed Anne’s neighbours and the blacksmith that worked in the town. After some time he managed to get the key from Anne’s door. When he got into the house he saw so many details that could help him investigate better. But, unfortunately he got caught by the police after he had finished his investigating the house. He got caught by a man named Constable Walters. Constable Walters was a helper of Chief Inspector Bell who was in charge of Anne Scott's case. They went to Morse’s home and exchanged all the information they had collected. The next day, the second murder happened in Jericho. It was Anne’s neighbour, George Jackson. Morse was very confused, but the Assistant Chief Commissioner wanted him to be in charge of the case. In the next few days, he found out about other details. At the end of the book the murderers were caught. Charles and Conrad Richards, Anne’s lover and his brother, were the killers.
The main character is Chief Inspector Morse. He is very intelligent, but he seems just like any other person, not like some investigator who manages to solve a murder case. Other characters in this crime story are Lewis, Charles and Conrad Richards, Celia, the Murdoch family, and many others...
I liked this book a lot. It is interesting and exciting, but at the beginning the story was very confusing because of all the new characters that appear, but by reading I just loved it more and more. The book was quite scary and thrilling at some points and that is what I liked the most about this book.

Lazar Turudija, VIII1, 30 May

The Woman in White

Laura's marriage is arranged. What do you think about this idea? What are its advantages and disadvantages?

These days, there are not many arranged marriages, but in the previous centuries there were a lot. One of the prime examples is the marriage between Laura and Sir Glyde. They were complete opposites. Laura was beautiful, charming and sweet and Sir Glyde was an evil and egoistic man.

The disadvantages are written in this book, showing how Laura and many other women in that century were mistreated by their husbands. They were yelled at, kept in their rooms like prisoners, and some were even beaten.

Despite this, there are also some advantages to an arranged marriage, like having financial stability. There were a lot of women who were poor and chose to get married to support themselves and even their families.

Although there are  advantages to an arranged marriage, these advantages are overshadowed by all the disadvantages.

Kosana Jakonić, VIII4, 25 May

Alissa by C. J. Moore

Alissa is the girl who loves reading. She wants to go to school, but her father sends her into the city to work. She is my favourite character because she is a good girl and the author described her well.

Alissa has black hair. She is a very skinny and tall girl. She is twelve years old.

She lives in a village with her father. Her relationship with her father is not very good, because he sends her to the city to work.

Alissa loves reading books. She is a very good, quiet, girl, who wants to go to school. She is very polite with people.

She does not like her job. She does not want to be a cleaning lady. Later on, Alissa goes away with a rich lady and continues going to school.

Branislava Laković, VIII1

Love Story by Erich Segal

Describe your favourite character.

My favourite character is Jenny. She is a poor girl, whose father is a baker. She is not rich like Oliver, the man she falls in love with. I've chosen her because she is very musical, shy, good and modest a lot.
She has brown hair and full eyebrows.
Unlike Oliver and his father, Jenny and her father are in a good relationship. That is why she thinks that Oliver has to stop hating his father. She has a big heart and tells Oliver to go to his father's birthday because he loves him which proves that she knows what the father's love is. 

Jenny's father is a very relaxed and peaceful man. When Oliver first meets Phil (Jenny's father), he says that he has never eaten so many cakes before. Oliver calls  his father Sir and Jenny calls her father Phil and speaks to him like with a friend. On the other hand, Oliver talks to his father like to a God. 

Jenny is a shy, quiet, modest and clever person.
Her relationship with Oliver is very serious. They love each other a lot and they have their families' support. Oliver is a bit obsessed with her. He would literally do anything for her. He would give her all the money he has. 

Jenny always stands next to Oliver in every situation and supports him along the way. She is very honest and tells him when he isn't right about his father. 

When Oliver met her, he knew that she was the one and that they would make a perfect couple. I can say that they were perfect. It didn't matter that she was poor and he was rich.
Jenny likes playing the piano. Oliver says that she sounds amazing. She used to hang out with her musical friends.
Jenny was a wonderful person and I'm so sorry that she died and couldn't have children with Oliver. 

Mina Vidović, VIII1

Love Story by Erich Segal (reading activities)

Write the story from Jenny's point of view

We all got into a garden called life. The roads that we walk are different, we move at a time, change, laugh, get ill, and most importantly, love.

So, I have loved a sweet and smiling person. the one who has radiated warmth to my heart. His name is Oliver. I have realised that he was one missing piece that would complement the mosaic of my heart.

I felt all the beauty and tender feelings when I had conversations with him. His smile has been the cure for my wounds. I have known that in addition to all the good luck I had with him, something bad was bound to happen. 

I have found out that we could not have children, that I had cancer and was going to die. Oliver finds it too hard to tolerate that fact. 

Those last days of my life we spent together were the most beautiful ones of my life. With him, I felt the beauty of life. With him, I regained all the other feelings that had been lost.

I am sorry I cannot spend the rest of my life with him. I am sorry I will have to leave him in this rigid world. He will have to fight through life alone. I loved him, he loved me, it was perfect, but everything that is perfect does not last long.

Doroteja Čikić, VIII2, May 2012      

Write the story from Oliver's point of view

If I'd have to tell you the whole story from the scratch, it wouldn't be so interesting as to the moment when I first met Jennifer and fell in love with her. 

It was enough to take a look at her black eyes. Those eyes didn't let me look away, they were like a magnet for my heart. I felt the desire to live again. I felt happiness in my soul, the one that had been lost for a long time.

The first time we met, we fell in love. Unfortunately, it all suddenly simply ended. Although our love was great and unconquerable, Jenny couldn't get pregnant. Like any future father, I myself wanted to have a child. I wanted to have a boy with her. But, this wish was taken away from me by cruel destiny. 

Once we got over the fact that we couldn't have children, the doctor called me and said that Jenny had cancer. All these beautiful and delicate feelings I got from my Jenny would be lost! Too much suffering and pain would sink my heart again and my soul would cry forever. 

When Jenny was buried, I couldn't speak. Her death locked my voice. I didn't want this to end. We promised each other the eternal love! But, that couldn't be fulfilled. 

Jenny is now in heaven with the other angels and I look forward to that day when death will join my dearest Jenny and me again.

Dragan Ševo, VIII2, May 2012

Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey (reading activities)

The Character I Like Best

Brat Farrar is the most interesting character for me. He is about twenty years old. He looks similar to Simon and Patrick Ashby. In fact, he is their cousin, an orphan from America. Thus, the likeness.

When he comes to England, a family friend of the Ashbys, Alec, realises that he looks just like the missing Patrick. So, he offers Brat to impersonate Patrick and take the Latchetts estate. The Ashby family accepts Brat nicely like he was real Patrick. He starts loving the family too.

Soon, Brat notices that Simon often acts weird towards him. Brat’s curiosity and wisdom bring him to doubt that Simon in fact killed Patrick because of Latchetts. He succeeds in finding Patrick’s body and solves the mystery of Patrick’s disappearance.

Brat’s lust for fortune brings him to the family, but he has a good heart, and he knows that the family is more important than the estate.

Igor Pavlić VIII2, May 2012

Write a different ending

One night Brat left for the quarry and along the way he met Simon. Simon asked Brat to confess that he was not Patrick as he killed him. Simon asked him to go away and leave the family alone. He offered to pay him for it. Brat agreed and went back to America, bought horses and a farm. He developed a business and, in a few years, became a rich man. He went back to England as he always liked Eleanor and asked her to marry him. The twins were married too and had their own kids. It was revealed that Simon killed his brother, and he spent the rest of his life in prison. Meanwhile, Aunt Bee died, and the three girls inherited her possession. Brat went to America with his wife. They had twins and lived happily ever after.

Denis Nastovski VIII2, May 2012

Čaba Kurunci, VIII5

Tess of the U'rbevilles by Thomas Hardy (reading activities)

Write a poem about your book

She loved, she suffered for her love,

Peaceful and pretty like a dove,

She lived in misery, she lived in pain,

All of her sorrow, love seemed to drain,

Touch of his hands, kiss of his lips,

She forgot that time slowly slips,

He loved her, but wanted to forget,

She missed him, but wouldn't tell him yet,

As she cried, tears fell on the floor,

Tess wanted to be happy,

But happiness seemed to ignore.

Fighting for true love, she left in tears,

But in the end,  she found a way to chase away her tears.

Teodora Stankov, VIII1, May 2012

 

The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff (reading activities)

Compare two characters

Marcus Flavius Aquila is just nineteen, a thin, dark, arrogant citizen of the city of Rome. His forehead is branded between the brows, showing the mark of the Raven degree of Mithras. 

Marcus is the son of a soldier. As a boy, he lived quietly on the family farm near Clusium while his father served with legions in Judea, Egypt and Britain. 

His father had planned to retire in Britain, but instead marched out with the ill-fated Ninth Legion, the Hispania, never to be heard of again.

After Marcus's mother's death, Marcus was raised by his Roman uncle, a greedy official, who sold the family farm.

The auxiliary Cohort of the Second Roman Legion is Marcus's first command.

 Esca is a defeated gladiator that Marcus purchases to be his personal slave. Their relationship quickly becomes much more than just a master and his slave. In fact, Esca and Marcus are almost mirror reflections of each other. 

Esca is from the Brigantes tribe, from Northern Britain. His father, like Marcus's, was a commander, a clan's chieftain. 

In the battle against the legions, Esca was injured, taken prisoner and enslaved to fight as a gladiator. But, Esca describes how ten years earlier he watched a legion marching north never to come marching back, 'I had never seen such a site before. Like a shining serpent of men winding across the hills, a grey serpent hackled with the scarlet cloaks and crests of the officers.'

Ferenc Fekete, VIII5, May 2012

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (reading activities)

Describe the friendship of Mole and Ratty

The friendship between Mole and Ratty is a strong bond that nobody can break. These two friends are so good to each other because they know that to keep a good friend is never easy. 

When Mole's house was flooded, Ratty was the one who welcomed him with open arms. 

Ratty and Mole spend their free time together in fun and laughter. 

Once, when Ratty was showing the woods to Mole, he advised him not to go there, because the forest was very dense and he could get easily lost. But, Mole went on a tour in the forest. He made a few steps into the woods and got lost. The horrible sounds were coming from many sides. He was sorry because he did not listen to Ratty. What he did not expect was the hand of Ratty seen somewhere in front of his face. After that, they went home together. This event further strengthened the friendship between them. In the future, Mole promised himself to consult Ratty for everything first. 

These two friends have shared, share and will share everything together. As I said before, this friendship is very strong. They will assist each other in every situation, even if they should pay very high price for that. 

It is great to have such a good friend who understands, respects and loves you.   

Ana Šogorov, VIII2, May 2012

The Card by Arnold Bennett (reading activities)

Give a virtual tour of the places described in the book

The first town is Bursley. It is a small town where people are very nice, but I feel like everyone is minding everyone's business.

There are many small houses for rent in Bursley and the rent is not high. 

The main street is Brougham Street. It goes down the hill to the canal and contains a number of pottery factories. 

The second town is Longshaw. You have so many intresting things to see there, like the beach and the sea, the rooms for you to sleep... At 'St Apaphs Road' bookshop you can buy the newspapers, souvenirs and other things. 

There are many ships, so you can go on some nice boat trips while you are in Longshaw. 

In Hanbridge town, there are many beautiful houses of rich people. This town is like the centre of the Five Towns. They have a really big Town Hall and a very respectable football club.

Anastazija Petkov, VIII2, May 2012  

Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad (reading activities)

Write an imaginary interview with the author of the book

How was the novel originally published?

It was originally published as a serial in Blackwood's Magazine.

When was it published?

The novel was published between October 1899 and November 1900.

Who is Jim?

He's a young British seaman, who becomes first mate on the Patna, a ship full of Pilgrims travelling to Mecca for the hajj.

What happens to them?

Jim joins his captain and the other crew members in abandoning the ship and its passengers.

What happens to the Patna?

The Patna and its passengers are later also saved and the actions of the crew are exposed.

Aleksandra Terzić, VIII3, May 2012

Imagine you're Jim. Write a diary entry for one day on the island.

The Battle

One dark night, I arranged for the teams of men to pull guns right up to the top of one of the mountains by using ropes. It was difficult, hard work, and all the time the men and I were lifting and pulling while old Doramin was just sitting and watching silently in his chair. The Malays had already believed that I was doing the impossible.

As soon as the sun rose, the first shots were fired on my order, and the battle began. Dain Waris and I led a group up the second hill towards Sheriff Ali's stockade. We were the first to break into the Arab's stockade. 

The battle was violent, but short. The stockade was burnt down and Sheriff Ali and his men were defeated. Some were dead, but most of them were chased away into the jungle.

Dejan Škorić, VIII1, May 2012 

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins (reading activities)

Describe Blake's life ten years later in a letter to one of the other characters

Dear Mr Murthwalte,

After these ten years, the life has been much better for Rachel and me. My job as an investigator has been great and I am really enjoying it. Though I doubt that I will ever have such a case as 'the Moonstone' again. In a way, that is good. That event has taught me much about life and people.

That was sure the most intense experience in my whole life. I am well aware of it. After all that has happened, life blessed Rachel and me with a beautiful daughter, Stephanie. One day, when she is old enough to understand all the decisions and consequences of the event, I will tell her the whole story. 

I hope that you are okay now. Your decision to visit India again must have brought you many memories and flashbacks. 

I understand that travelling brings you joy. So, send us a letter from afar and interesting countries sometimes. Good luck wherever you go. 

Your thankful friend,

Franklin Blake

Dobrila Bokan, VIII1, May 2012

Matilda by Roald Dahl (reading activities)

Write an imaginary interview with the author of the book (answers missing)

What inspired you to write this book?

How was the book accepted by the public?

Do you believe that telekinetic powers really exist? Would you like to have them?

What did your family say about the idea of telekinetic powers?

Was it hard to stay focused on writing this book?

Are you satisfied with the success of your story?

Do you consider 'Matilda' one of the best books you have ever written?

How long did it take to write this book?

What is the message of your story?

Vladimir Jakšić, VIII2. May 2012

Prepare a quiz

Who is Matilda?

She is a girl who did not have a nice childhood.

What are the names of Matilda's parents?

They are called Tinija and Henry.

Where does Matilda spend her free time?

In the library and with friends from school.

What is the name of Matilda's teacher?

Her name is Miss Honey.

What is the name of the headteacher of Matilda's school?

Her name is Mrs Truchbull.

Does Matilda have any brothers or sisters?

She has one brother.

What is the name of Matilda's brother?

His name is Michael.

What is the relationship of Miss Honey and Mrs Truchbull?

Mrs Truchbull is Miss Honey's aunt. She is half-sister of Miss Honey's father.

Where does Matilda have to live with her parents?

She is supposed to live in Spain.

Since Matilda was adopted by Miss Honey, is she happy now?

Yes, now she lives a happy life.

Dragan Ševo, VIII2, May 2012

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (reading activities)

This is a story about two different sisters. The older one is called Elinor and she represents sense, and the younger one is called Marianne, who represents sensibility.

Elinor is sensible, calm, clever and she hardly ever expresses her feelings. When Elinor finds out that Edward Ferrars, her secret true love, is engaged with another woman, she keeps her pain for herself. Behind her coldness, there is hidden sensibility and a big heart, which belongs to Edward.

Elinor is a generous person, too. She is nice, polite and everybody loves her. Elinor is the smartest in the family. She advises her mother and sisters to make some decisions. She takes care of them and we can see that when Marianne gets ill.

On the other hand, Marianne is sensitive, full of passionate and romantic feelings. She likes having fun and partying all night long. She cannot understand how Elinor can be so cold and not express her feelings.

Marianne believes that true love can only be felt by the young. When she meets Mr Willoughby, who is romantic and passionate just like her, she falls in love with him. The time that she spends with him is the most pleasant and romantic time she has ever had. When Mr Willoughby comes to Marianne to say goodbye to her, because he has to leave the town and Devonshire, Marianne reacts passionately and refuses to talk to him. Here we can see that she is different from Elinor who would probably stay calm at this.

There is also Colonel Brandon, a middle-aged man, who likes Marianne. Is he going to conquer Marianne’s heart?

I liked the book very much. The characters are very interesting and complicated people.

Ivana Grubišić, VIII2, May 2009