Literacy strategy of the week: Brainstorming. Brainstorming is simply the process of thinking about what you want to do before you do it.

Literacy strategy of the week: Brainstorming. Brainstorming is simply the process of thinking about what you want to do before you do it. It’s a little bit like warming up before a run. If you run on cold muscles it will feel stiff and awkward to start with and take you longer to hit your stride than if you warmed up properly first. So, a little brainstorming is warming up the grey matter before getting into the writing to help the writing to flow freely and productively.   

At home: You can practise brainstorming by asking your child before they do any task what they need to get ready before they do it. For example ‘brainstorming’ what they need to put in their bag in the evening for the next day might help a few students to stop forgetting their computers and chargers. 

What we’re reading: A Thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape from North Korea by Ensum Kim was an interesting read over the holidays. I enjoy reading autobiographies and found the story inspirational and moving, coming away from the book with a greater appreciation for the life we have here in New Zealand. I had read Hyeonseo Lee's The Girl with Seven Names: Escape From North Korea previously and enjoyed reading her story so it motivated me to pick up Kim's book at the Library.

The author describes the difficult lives North Koreans face in detail using personal examples of hardship and brutality. Kim describes her true story of resilience and strength as many family members die of hunger and she, along with her sister and Mother finally, after several attempts, managed to escape through China and Mongolia to become South Korean citizens. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes autobiographies, particularly those with insight into cultural differences. Kim wants to highlight to the world the struggle of many people under the dictatorship in North Korea. - Cath Bloxham

Mrs K Beaumont

HOD English

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