To Sir@@ With Love (New Windmills KS4)
The New windmill series
What’s inside...
One of a series of top-quality fiction for schools. Based on the author's own experiences, this is the story of a black teacher's trials and triumphs with a group of senior pupils in an overcrowded London school. This schoolroom drama that inspired the classic Sidney Poitier film is “a microcosm of the racial issues . . . A dramatic picture of discrimination.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
13-18
Length
192 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Ricardo (Rick) Braithwaite
Barbara Pegg
Pamela Dare
Gillian Blanchard
Mr. Florian
Denham
Discussion points
How do the different characters in the story demonstrate respect and what can we learn from them?
What challenges does the teacher face and how does he overcome them? How would you handle similar situations?
How does the setting of the story influence the characters and events? Can you relate it to any real-world locations?
What lessons about life and relationships does the book offer? How could these lessons be applied in your own life?
How does the story show the importance of education? Discuss some ways education has impacted your life.
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the story, focusing on the characters’ emotions and the choices they make.
Draw parallels between the book’s setting and challenges with real-life scenarios your child might encounter, enhancing relevance and empathy.
Ask your child to think about how they would feel in the characters’ situations, fostering a deeper connection with the text.
Urge your child to think critically by asking what they would do differently if they were in the teacher's place.
Highlight the moral lessons from the book and discuss how these can be applied in daily life, fostering ethical thinking and decision-making.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Respect and Tolerance
Explanation: The story highlights the importance of showing respect and tolerance towards people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to embrace diversity and treat everyone with respect, regardless of their cultural or ethnic backgrounds.
Example Lesson: Value of Education
Explanation: The protagonist, a teacher, demonstrates the transformative power of education and its role in empowering individuals.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to value their educational opportunities and strive for personal growth through learning.
Example Lesson: Overcoming Adversity
Explanation: The characters in the book face and overcome various challenges, showing resilience and determination.
Real-World Application: Children can be inspired to face their own challenges with courage and perseverance, understanding that they can overcome obstacles with effort and positive attitudes.