Page 38

Reviews

For pupils

Fighting fire

Former fire fighter Dave Fanning created Phil the Fire Engine to teach young children about the dangers of fire. He’s been speaking on fire safety for decades after witnessing a blaze that killed an 18-month-old baby after her three year old brother started a fire in their home.

The adventures cover house fires, bonfire night, the danger of matches, and hoax calls, among other things.

Janey Hulme

Phil the Fire Engine by Dave Fanning. £4.95 per book + p&p. CD with two stories £9.95 + p&p. Available at www.philthefireengine.com

Winning cards

This set of cards was designed by 14-year-old Crawford Johnston to help improve writing skills at KS2/3. The set consists of 58 bright plastic cards with £1 symbols on one side and writing tips and explanations of parts of speech, pronouns, adjectives, how to form paragraphs and much more, on the other. The idea is to use as many cards as possible when writing an essay and count your financial score at the end.

JH

Creative Writing Magic Money Cards. £300 for schools’ box (30 sets/box)/£16.90 for single set + p&p. Order from www.creativewritingmmc.co.uk or phone 01733 223367.

Maths fun

This book represents an outstanding contribution to learners’ interest in numeracy and mathematics.

Numeracy can present major challenges for pupils. This outstanding publication from a nationally recognised teacher provides teaching and learning opportunities and strategies to inspire, motivate and promote numbers as fun, useful and applicable for all.

A must-have for any school’s mathematics and resource centre.

Len Parkyn

The Dyscalculia Resource Book. Games and Puzzles for ages 7 to 14 by Ronit Bird. Sage. 226pp + CD. £24. ISBN 9781446201688.

Get 20% off RRP on The Dyscalculia Resource Book. Visit www.sagepub.co.uk and quote UK12R0001 at checkout. Free copies will be given to the first five people to respond.

For Teachers

Towards understanding

It’s important to challenge prejudice and stimulate debate, but some of us don’t have the confidence or knowledge to lead these discussions.

Being Muslim tackles what it means to be Muslim now and provides an entry into the Muslim world. Useful information helps the teacher to lead a debate from a position of knowledge.

The book is one of the Groundwork series intended to give an overview of an important or controversial issue.

Lee Ryder

Being Muslim by Haroon Siddiqui. A&C Black. 160 pp h/b £8.99. ISBN 1408127814.

Inspiring others

There are many types of school, and many kinds of head teacher. This book draws on the profiles of 19 head teachers to illustrate how these inspirational people can help children achieve their full potential.

If you’re contemplating a career in school management or are already there, you’ll find many interesting points to think about in this book. It makes clear the importance of good leadership, and that the priority is always the children.

LR

How to Create a Successful School by Francis Beckett. Biteback Publishing. 192pp p/b £14.99. ISBN 9781849540162.

Not sleeping rough

A rough guide to the off-beat and off the beaten track places to stay in Britain. There are over 250 places to pick, from the Highlands and islands to Cornwall on a budget.

Stay in a former Canterbury fire station with jelly-bean bright chandeliers, or Sleepzzz in Scotland, an old railway carriage wrapped with flowers; or my favourite, close to the Lake District – an old shepherd’s hut made with galvanised steel, insulated with sheep wool.

A multitude of practical tips and beautiful photos make this an ideal guide.

Roger Brockbank

The best places to stay in Britain on a budget by Jules Brown, Samantha Cook, Helena Smith, James Stewart. Rough Guides. £9.99. ISBN 9781405391023.