About Me

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Portugal
I am from Coimbra, Portugal, and am currently teaching in a school in Soure, about 30 km away from Coimbra. I have been a teacher of English for over 20 years and have already taught different levels and age groups. After all this time I can say I love working with adult groups because there are no coursebooks and I can create my own resources. I am an avid reader, a blogger and very curious about free tools and their implementation in the classroom.
Showing posts with label International Literacy Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Literacy Day. Show all posts

Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Morning Rush

Into the bathroom,
Turn on the tap.
Wash away the sleepiness -
Splish! Splosh! Splash!

Into the bedroom,
Pull on your vest.
Quickly! Quickly!
Get yourself dressed.

Down to the kitchen.
No time to lose.
Gobble up your breakfast.
Put on your shoes.

Back to the bathroom.
Squeeze out the paste.
Brush, brush, brush your teeth.
No time to waste.

Look in the mirror.
Comb your hair.
Hurry, scurry, hurry, scurry
Down the stairs.

Pick your school bag
Up off the floor.
Grab your coat
And out through the door.
John Foster in The Works
(10th Anniversary Edition)

Happy International Literacy Day
and
Happy School Year, y'all!!!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY - 8th September

Book Image; Credit: © Shutterstock
"I know you're still young, but I want you to understand and learn this now, he (the girl's father) said.  Marriage can wait, education cannot. You're a very, very bright girl. Truly, you are. You can be anything you want, Laila. I know this about you. And I also know that when this war is over, Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men, maybe even more. Because a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducted, Laila. No chance."

A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini

For previous postings and info, please click here, here, here and finally here.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

International Literacy Day

In previous years I've already dedicated some lines and thoughts to this date. So, today I'll just leave you with a quote by Mario Vargas Llosa in "The Way to Paradise" / "O Paraíso na Outra Esquina":

"Ser inculta além de pobre era ser duplamente pobre, (Florita)"

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

8th September - INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY

Image Credit:
reading.org
Endorsed by UNESCO, this date is celebrated for disseminating literacy awareness among the world’s illiterate community.
But what exactly is LITERACY?
Image Credit: UNESCO
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read and write; UNESCO, though, defines literacy as the "ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society." indeed, literacy is a human right and essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy. This year UNESCO celebrates the power of women’s literacy.
If you’re curious, read Irina Bokova’s message (Director-General of UNESCO) on this occasion here.

Image Credit: UNESCO
If you are looking for more resources, take a look at

Before you go...today, once we are celebrating International Literacy Day and the beginning of a new school year, take some time to listen to this inspirational talk by Sir Ken Robinson "Bring on the Learning Revolution!"


Let's innovate, let's revolutionize education, let's teach creatively, let's "take the less traveled road", folks!!!It's hard, yeah, but the earlier, the better. According to UNESCO "A good quality basic education equips pupils with literacy skills for life and further learning; literate parents are more likely to send their children to school; literate people are better able to access continuing educational opportunities; and literate societies are better geared to meet pressing development."

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