Reading and viewing

A quieter lunchtime choice Dear Student Council, Please turn the unused corner beside the library into a quiet lunchtime space. Students who enjoy reading or drawing sometimes struggle to find a calm place in the busy playground. Two benches and a box of drawing boards would give them somewhere to settle. Some students worry that a quiet space will take away a place to run. However, the corner is already too narrow for running games. The large oval would remain open for active play. Could we try the quiet space for two weeks and ask students whether it helps? A trial would let us improve the idea before spending money on more equipment. Yours sincerely, Amir, Year 4

Tuesday's rehearsal I thought I knew every line of our play. At rehearsal, I spoke before Jo had finished, skipped a whole sentence and forgot to turn towards the audience. Our teacher asked us to try the scene again, more slowly. This time I listened for Jo's final word. I took a breath before answering. The pause felt enormous to me, but our teacher said it helped the audience understand the change of speaker. At home I was going to practise the speech ten times without stopping. Now I have a different plan: Mum will read Jo's part, and I will practise listening as well as speaking. Knowing my own lines is only part of the job.