ABSTRACT
Teaching English by the Book is based on a very simple idea: great books, wonderful poems and other rich texts should sit at the heart of the primary English curriculum. Of course this sounds like an obvious idea. And yet, in many primary classrooms, the English curriculum has come to be organised in a different way. Each facet of English that people teach depends on the others: spoken language makes reading and writing possible; an understanding of how English grammar works supports people's comprehension; reading widely is crucial for effective writing. Technical proficiency in writing, including a control of grammar and punctuation for effect, is necessary for success but so are children seeing themselves as writers, approaching writing like a craftsman and measuring their words carefully to communicate exactly what they wish to their reader. Books can transport children to new places and different times, allowing them to see through the eyes of others.
