Last Thursday I did a classroom end-of-the-day storytime for some Year 1 children at ALDERSBROOK PRIMARY SCHOOL, Wanstead, which was great fun, especially a certain cheeky puppet I had brought along with me.
Then, on Friday 13th, I visited all three Year 2 classes for a longer morning session about books and stories.
At first I was worried because the children came in with very serious faces . . . but in the space of a single chickaboom, they were smiley and enthusiastic and joined in with the stories and the story sound effects, and I was asked some excellent questions. (Sorry I couldn't answer more questions!) The staff were lovely and smiley too which really helps a session along.
BUT another good thing about the visit was that the hall had the most wonderful acoustics! Inside the ceiling reached right up to the roof, with partial barn-like beams and high-up glass windows so the whole space was light and airy, and sound carried so well in that space.
So often school halls and classrooms absorb and muffle sound so it is hard to hear or even to project one's voice - especially needful when being a King Lion! - and this hall was a joy. A plaque on the wall told me the building was dedicated to AUDREY RACKHAM so - whoever you were, Audrey, and I couldn't find you on google - the hall did you proud. Must be a wonderful hall to sing in!
Anyway, MANY THANKS to everyone who helped to arrange the two visits. I had a happy time and hope you did too.
Now I'm home again, with coffee and cat beside me, and it's head down for an urgent revision of a manuscript. And silence.
All up and down the land, halls with TERRIBLE acoustics - it must be incredibly difficult to get it right, I guess. (Though you'd have thought once one person had figured it out, the rest could follow suit.) (Yeah, right.) Anyway, sounds like a great visit!
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