Year 7 Welcome booklet

Year 7 Welcome to Swanshurst

Swanshurst Library is a brilliant place to do your work, choose books, read and make friends. We hope you’ll enjoy it here.

If you love reading and writing you’re going to love Swanshurst. We’ve got a big library full of books. We have novels by your favourite authors - people like Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Morpurgo and Cathy Cassidy - and hundreds more for you to discover too.

We also have everything you’ll need for your classwork and your homework - excellent computer facilities; a brilliant library system with links to useful websites and loads of fantastic books on all the subjects you’ll need.

So, this is your quick guide to the library.

Reminders of everything we told you at your induction session are at the back but remember, if there is anything you don’t understand don’t be afraid to ask.

Throughout this guide we’ve used the images from Charlie Brown (Peanuts) by the great Charles Schultz and from Roald Dahl’s’s books by the equally great Quentin Blake.

We hope you enjoy them!

First of all we’d like you to come and celebrate Roald Dahl day with us on

Thursday 13th September We’re having a quiz!

So sign up in the library NOW but be quick, as there are only a limited number of places.

You’re never too old to read Roald Dahl. We’ve got all his books in the library. Everyone has a favourite.

Ms Wild loves Matilda; Ms Lea loves all of them-she won’t choose; Ms Hopkins loves The Twits and Mr Beniston loves The Enormous Crocodile.

We hope you enjoy Roald Dahl day this year.

If you love reading or you want to start reading more, we hope you’ll always find something for you in the library. We regularly get all the latest books. We hold regular events and competitions; we run book groups and celebrate the main children’s literary prize’s like the Carnegie Medal and the Red House award. In case you can’t decide what to read next the Book Doctor is always on hand.

Even if you don’t like reading that much, we’re pretty confident that we can find a book you’ll enjoy.

I really need a good book

Most popular authors read by Year 7 last year Jacqueline Wilson Liz Pichon Randa Abdel Fattah Hino Matsuri Suzanne Collins Matt Groening Jean Ure Roald Dahl Jeff Kinney Marcus Sedgwick Cathy Cassidy Narinder Dhami

Old favourites and a books for you to sink you

a host of brilliant new ur teeth into this autumn.

Year 7: So Book Doctor, I love Jacqueline Wilson’s books—what else can you recommend?

TBD: We have lots of Jacqueline Wilson fans here at Swanshurst. In fact we have so many that often (especially at this time of year) you might find there are none of her books available to borrow as they’re all out on loan. If this is the case do not despair! There are lots of other authors you can try who write books just as good (if not better!) than Jacqueline Wilson’s. You might like to try Cathy Cassidy, Narinder Dhami (Bindi Babes series) or Jean Ure (Frankie Foster series) who also write about friendships, family life and boys! If you fancy trying something a bit different, there are some brilliant books that you might like to try that are popular with year 7’s.

David Almond (Skellig, My name is Mina etc.), Frank Cottrell Boyce (Millions, Cosmic etc.), Neil Gaiman (Coraline, The Graveyard Book), Liz Kessler (Emily Windsnap series), Gill Lewis (Sky Hawk, White Dolphin), Sienna Mercer (My Sister the Vampire series), Justin Somper (Vampirates), Ali Sparkes (Wishful thinking, Shapeshifters series) or the highly recommended Crowfield series by Pat Walsh. Don’t forget, if you’re really stuck for ideas than come and make an appointment to see me!

Space . . .The Final Front

In Science you’ll start the term by about space and the Solar System got lots of books for all your space homework. You can find the non books on planets, galaxies and so o on the shelves. Plus, if you look o we’ve flagged up lots of good web

At launch time!

When do astronauts have lunch?

tier!

thinking m. We’ve e related n-fiction on at 520 on Oliver bsites too!

How does the solar system hold up it’s trousers?

With an asteroid belt!

This is Moseley train station in 1910 when trains still ran on steam. In History you’re going to start term by looking at what Birmingham was like in the past and its changing community. Whatever period in history you want to think about we’ve got books (starting at 909 on the shelves) and access to the websites you’ll need.

In English you’ll be starting the term by reading Rose Blanche—written by Ian McEwan, and with brilliant drawings by Roberto Innocenti. The story is about a young girl growing up in Germany during World War II.

We have a range of books to help you with English. First of all we have a great selection of poetry (starting at 808.81 on the shelves) and plays (813 and 822). We also have a great selection of text books to help you with your homework and with revision at exam time (428 on the shelves).

There are loads of great online tools that you’ll be able to use to put a creative twist on you homework. A great tool is called Wordle. You can create “word clouds” with any text you put in. For the one below I put in lots of words linked to World War 2 but you can input anything—poems, songs or even one of your essays. We’ve got lots more great ideas for you so don’t be afraid to ask.

s k o o b r e a r o w t M ou ab

We realise of course that after you’ve read Rose Blanche you might want to give books about war a miss for a while. However, if you are interested in reading more novels about conflict and it’s aftermath here are some modern classics.

r o h t u A s t i s Vi

At Swanshust we regularly invite authors to visit. We’re starting this term with a bang and you’ll have the chance to meet Anna Perera and speak to Randa Abdal-Fattah in Australia!

Click on the books to go to their websites

Last year students met Bali Rai, Marcus Sedgwick and Keith Gray. We’ve got all their books so we hope they’ll become firm favourites with you too.

Bali writes a range of books but you might want to start with his funny ones Like Revenge of the Number Two or Two-Timer. Mainly he writes gritty books about issues facing teenagers growing up in multicultural cities. Try Rani and Sukh and (Un)arranged Marriage.

Keith Gray also writes a whole range of books. If you want to be scares try The Fearful or Ghosting. His brilliant Ostrich Boys is hilarious but also moving and thought-provoking. Titles like Creepers and The Chain give brilliant insights into what it’s like growing up in Britain today.

If you want something scary and substantial try Marcus Sedgwick’s gothic fantasies. My Swordhand is Singing is a modern classic but you could just as easily start with Witch hill, Floodland or The Dark Horse.

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I need a book for my French homework, another one for my science project and one with cake recipes so I can bake a cake for my granny’s birthday. Will I still be able to borrow ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’?

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I can’t possibly survive without reading the latest Jacqueline Wilson book. How do I find out if it’s in the library?

Oliver Search to see what we have Check to see what you have

Renew your books Reserve things

eLibrary

See you soon

Hey Snoopy, read any good books lately?

Lots