~ About me ~
I’m Esther, Mum, a Primary teacher and booklover, with 18 years of teaching and leadership experience across the Primary age range in a variety of school settings, including in areas of high deprivation and with high mobility.
Over the years, alongside my teaching, I’ve provided whole school and 1:1 support, first as a Specialist Leader of Education and most recently as an Educational Consultant, delivering bespoke CPD in schools and specialising in reading for pleasure and school libraries.
As an educator, I’ve discovered two key elements to create best practice: build positive relationships and create curious life long learners.
What is the key to both of these? Reading and a love of books and literature.
I’m a huge advocate for using books to enrich and lead learning throughout the curriculum and am passionate about creating a reading for pleasure culture in classrooms.
~ My Book Box ~
My Book Box has taken many forms through the years ~ from a plastic bucket to a fancy picnic basket ~ but in every classroom it has been a place of excitement, support, solace, wisdom, joy and wonder as children discover it’s contents.
In 2021, the Book Box took on a virtual form as well as I began sharing books and classroom ideas over on Instagram and @mrsbrownsbookbox was born!
Do give me a follow there. I share weekly themed collections using the hashtag #8brilliantbooks. If it’s bookish teaching ideas you’re after then #4ideasforabook is your go to, or check out #creatingreadingclassrooms for reading for pleasure tips. Many of the books I share support emotional literacy and wellbeing which I believe are at the core of learning..
~ Emotional literacy ~
My classroom experiences have shown me the powerful impact of using picture books to help children to develop their emotional literacy and empathy skills and to support positive mental health and wellbeing.
With poor mental health on the rise amongst children and teens, supporting their emotional wellbeing is fast becoming a teacher’s primary focus. How can a child learn if they are anxious or struggling to understand their emotions?
I am passionate about the power of books and reading to transform outcomes for children and as an important tool for improving wellbeing and developing empathy. Pupils both see themselves, and learn to understand others, through the characters and situations they experience in stories. Books open discussions into important topics and themes and allow pupils to ask questions and explore their own thoughts and feelings within a safe space.
~ The Book box Values ~
Everything here at The Primary Book Box HQ is aligned to my core values, with Honesty, Integrity, Kindness, Care, Quality and Inclusive practices in mind at all times.
