What do you think?
Rate this book
Sam Sylvester's class #1
Who, Sir? Me, Sir?
When a group of English schoolchildren are told that they are to be in a tetrathlon (swimming, running, shooting and riding) against the perfect Greycoats school, they are totally unenthusiastic but rally when a teacher encourages them.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
About the author
K.M. Peyton
91 books146 followersKathleen Wendy Herald Peyton MBE, who wrote primarily as K. M. Peyton, was a British author of fiction for children and young adults
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 10, 2020
The pupils of Hawkwood Comprehensive School are stunned when they learn they are to compete in a Triathlon against the posh Greycoats Independent School. The four unlikely competitors have to master swimming, running, shooting, and, most difficult of all, horse riding. Nutty, the only experienced horse rider, is determined to succeed, but she doesn’t have a lot to work with. their chances seem slim, the only horses they can afford being ones that were on their way to the knacker’s. The horses are as ill assorted as the team members, and just as endearing. The story of how the motley team strive to achieve their goal is both hilarious and touching. This is one of K.M. Peyton’s best books.
January 14, 2016
We loved this book as a family and it still makes me laugh. British author, K. M. Peyton, wrote some great YA, the Flambards series, various horse and musical stories, always stories kids like to read. Her school library ratings were always tops.
Her ear for teenage dialogue is good. She doesn't use slang which becomes outdated and she tells a great story. Her writing style is excellent, her characters are 3D and her plots move along with great twists and turns.
'Who Sir? Me Sir?' is about a bunch of kids who are propelled into an extraordinary feat by Deirdre McTavish, better known as Nutty. And she is. She took an average pony and trained him and herself into national champions because she has a dream. She's going to ride in the Olympics. Naturally all her classmates at the Comprehensive school think she is Nutty! All that work and for what? But without her they would not have continued to enter as a team in the local tetrathlon, and challenge the snooty boys public school down the road.
The book is a good easy read, there are strong male characters as well as Nutty, so it would appeal to boys as well as girls and it would be a good book for parents to read with their children.
Her ear for teenage dialogue is good. She doesn't use slang which becomes outdated and she tells a great story. Her writing style is excellent, her characters are 3D and her plots move along with great twists and turns.
'Who Sir? Me Sir?' is about a bunch of kids who are propelled into an extraordinary feat by Deirdre McTavish, better known as Nutty. And she is. She took an average pony and trained him and herself into national champions because she has a dream. She's going to ride in the Olympics. Naturally all her classmates at the Comprehensive school think she is Nutty! All that work and for what? But without her they would not have continued to enter as a team in the local tetrathlon, and challenge the snooty boys public school down the road.
The book is a good easy read, there are strong male characters as well as Nutty, so it would appeal to boys as well as girls and it would be a good book for parents to read with their children.
October 1, 2014
Greycoats was a school with smart, rich and neat students and there was a school called Hawkwood which were really different with Greycoats. A teacher in Hawkwood, Sam Sylvester wanted them to have ambition so he made a Hawkwood team which against Greycoats in the sporting competition. He chose Rossiter, who was usually called 'Hoomey' by his habit to say, 'Who? Me?', Nutty, a girl fighter,Bean, Jazz and Gary. They thought it would be impossible to win but who knows? This book continued boringly but the ending was unexpectable. I think I chose this book by this cool title.
October 29, 2012
Review for 10/22
-MACMILLAN READINGS,Level 3
-Time 10/19=10minutes 10/20=20minutes 10/21=10minutes 10/22=20minutes
-7 word summary:teacher-ambition-chance-pool-horses-competition-shooting
-Discussion question
1:What are you called by your friends?(Do you have your own nickname?)
A:I am called "Momi" by my friends because my family name is "Momiyama". But, some friends call me "Shoichi". They are my local friends in my childhood.
2:What do you want in your life? Please give three things.
A:For me, money, friends, and job. Because these three things can give me happiness in my life to be satisfied.
I like this story. In this story, a teacher at Hawkwood School said "I want you to have ambition" to his students. I like this sentence! I also want to have ambition for all things.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Review for 10/30
-MACMILLAN READINGS,Level 3
-Time 10/24=10minutes 10/25=10minutes 10/26=10minutes 10/27=10minutes 10/29=20minutes
-7 word summary:secret-horse-money-lessons-kill-time-frightening
-Discussion question
1:What is the most expensive thing that you have bought recently?
A:In my case, it is cell phone. I changed my cell phone from Docomo to softbank. I bought iPhone5 last week.
2:What do you regularly do every day?
A:I am checking weather forecasts and horoscopy by using my cell phone every morning.
I have read this book since last week. This book dose not have difficult words, but I could not understand the content of story easily. Today, I could finish to read this book.
-MACMILLAN READINGS,Level 3
-Time 10/19=10minutes 10/20=20minutes 10/21=10minutes 10/22=20minutes
-7 word summary:teacher-ambition-chance-pool-horses-competition-shooting
-Discussion question
1:What are you called by your friends?(Do you have your own nickname?)
A:I am called "Momi" by my friends because my family name is "Momiyama". But, some friends call me "Shoichi". They are my local friends in my childhood.
2:What do you want in your life? Please give three things.
A:For me, money, friends, and job. Because these three things can give me happiness in my life to be satisfied.
I like this story. In this story, a teacher at Hawkwood School said "I want you to have ambition" to his students. I like this sentence! I also want to have ambition for all things.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Review for 10/30
-MACMILLAN READINGS,Level 3
-Time 10/24=10minutes 10/25=10minutes 10/26=10minutes 10/27=10minutes 10/29=20minutes
-7 word summary:secret-horse-money-lessons-kill-time-frightening
-Discussion question
1:What is the most expensive thing that you have bought recently?
A:In my case, it is cell phone. I changed my cell phone from Docomo to softbank. I bought iPhone5 last week.
2:What do you regularly do every day?
A:I am checking weather forecasts and horoscopy by using my cell phone every morning.
I have read this book since last week. This book dose not have difficult words, but I could not understand the content of story easily. Today, I could finish to read this book.
October 17, 2014
1. 10/9=50m 10/10=50m
2. Oxford level3
3. Competition,running, swimming, horse, practice, girl, cheat
4. Greycoats students are richer and more clever than Hawkeood students. Therefore, Hawkwood students decided to join the competition against Greycoats students.
3boys and a girl whose name is Nutty was chosen by teacher. They want to win them!
They practiced running, swimming, shooting and riding horses everyday. At first, they are not good at doing everything but...
At last... Which school win???
5. I really like this story because the character of those students is funny, interesting and humanity. Rossiter is called "Hoomy" by his classmates because when his teacher call his name, he absolutely say "Who, sir? Me, sir?". That's funny! He was not good at any sports but practiced hard. My most favorite scene is about the boy whose name is Nail. He was not kind boy, but as communicated with his horse, he became to like it. He slept with his horse and made good relationship with it! We can know that actually he is really kind boy.
2. Oxford level3
3. Competition,running, swimming, horse, practice, girl, cheat
4. Greycoats students are richer and more clever than Hawkeood students. Therefore, Hawkwood students decided to join the competition against Greycoats students.
3boys and a girl whose name is Nutty was chosen by teacher. They want to win them!
They practiced running, swimming, shooting and riding horses everyday. At first, they are not good at doing everything but...
At last... Which school win???
5. I really like this story because the character of those students is funny, interesting and humanity. Rossiter is called "Hoomy" by his classmates because when his teacher call his name, he absolutely say "Who, sir? Me, sir?". That's funny! He was not good at any sports but practiced hard. My most favorite scene is about the boy whose name is Nail. He was not kind boy, but as communicated with his horse, he became to like it. He slept with his horse and made good relationship with it! We can know that actually he is really kind boy.
October 14, 2015
1. Publisher: Oxford
Level: 3
2. 10/10 = 60 minutes, 10/12 = 20 minutes, 10/13 = 20 minutes.
3. Teacher
Ambition
Team
Competition
Swimming
Riding
Horse
4.a. It's not their team any more. It's us, our team.If we want to do the competition, they can't stop us.
b.I liked this passage. This passage was said when Nutty persuaded her team's member Nails into participating in the competition. Nutty also hegitated to patcipate in it at first, but she decided to try it. I thought she said this passage not only to Nails but also to herself, so I felt her strong will from this passage.
5. I thought this book was funny, but it was not just funny. In this story, students who were not good at sports tried to a sporting competition. At first, some members were reluctant to enter the competition because their teacher made them enter it. However, as they practiced hard, the team's bond gradually change strong. It gave me a great impression. This book also taught me the importance of having ambition.
Level: 3
2. 10/10 = 60 minutes, 10/12 = 20 minutes, 10/13 = 20 minutes.
3. Teacher
Ambition
Team
Competition
Swimming
Riding
Horse
4.a. It's not their team any more. It's us, our team.If we want to do the competition, they can't stop us.
b.I liked this passage. This passage was said when Nutty persuaded her team's member Nails into participating in the competition. Nutty also hegitated to patcipate in it at first, but she decided to try it. I thought she said this passage not only to Nails but also to herself, so I felt her strong will from this passage.
5. I thought this book was funny, but it was not just funny. In this story, students who were not good at sports tried to a sporting competition. At first, some members were reluctant to enter the competition because their teacher made them enter it. However, as they practiced hard, the team's bond gradually change strong. It gave me a great impression. This book also taught me the importance of having ambition.
November 26, 2014
1. oxford 3
2. 11/26=100
3. school good bad students competition crazy win
4 a) ”Who, sir? Me, sir?” he said, in a frightened voice. 'But I can't swim, or ride, or shoot! I can't do any of those things!” ”You can learn,” said Sam. ”You'll have to.”
b) Hoomey was chosen a member of sporting competition. At first, he had no confidence but Sam knew it but wouldn't change member. I thougut Hoomey's life started to change at the moment and I was excited.
5. This story is about school life. low-level school students compete with clever school. At first, chosen members were unmotivated or had no confidence but gradually changed. I thougut people can carry on to acheive their aim if good friends cooperate or encourage.
2. 11/26=100
3. school good bad students competition crazy win
4 a) ”Who, sir? Me, sir?” he said, in a frightened voice. 'But I can't swim, or ride, or shoot! I can't do any of those things!” ”You can learn,” said Sam. ”You'll have to.”
b) Hoomey was chosen a member of sporting competition. At first, he had no confidence but Sam knew it but wouldn't change member. I thougut Hoomey's life started to change at the moment and I was excited.
5. This story is about school life. low-level school students compete with clever school. At first, chosen members were unmotivated or had no confidence but gradually changed. I thougut people can carry on to acheive their aim if good friends cooperate or encourage.
October 10, 2012
*oxford bookworms library, level3
*time:10/8=60min.,10/9=4min.
*7words:school, rich school, competition, 4 boys, fight, practice, win
*questions:
1, Are you good at running, swimming, shooting and riding?
Nothing! I like only swimming but can't swim fast. There are no sports I am able to do well.
2, Did you have good relationship with other schools when you were junior high school?
Yes, I was belong to brass band club and we often met other school students when we had competition.
I like this book. Firstly, this title is very cool.
My favorite phrase is “You can do it if you try.“
It is said by a girl who always cheer up boys.
It made me strong not only boys!
*time:10/8=60min.,10/9=4min.
*7words:school, rich school, competition, 4 boys, fight, practice, win
*questions:
1, Are you good at running, swimming, shooting and riding?
Nothing! I like only swimming but can't swim fast. There are no sports I am able to do well.
2, Did you have good relationship with other schools when you were junior high school?
Yes, I was belong to brass band club and we often met other school students when we had competition.
I like this book. Firstly, this title is very cool.
My favorite phrase is “You can do it if you try.“
It is said by a girl who always cheer up boys.
It made me strong not only boys!
October 30, 2012
I read for 60 minutes.
I did not finish.
7summary
School race swimming horse ride end team
DQ
1.Have you ever ridden a horse?
No, I have not. It is terrible, I think.
2.Have you ever raced with someone?
Yes, I belonged to baseball club, so I raced to get a position.
week2
I read for 62 minutes.
7 words
training pool shoot race cheat win dolor
DQ
1. What is your favorite sports?
A: I love baseball. I like soccer too.
2. Have you ever cheated?
A: No, I have not. It should not be allowed to cheat.
I did not finish.
7summary
School race swimming horse ride end team
DQ
1.Have you ever ridden a horse?
No, I have not. It is terrible, I think.
2.Have you ever raced with someone?
Yes, I belonged to baseball club, so I raced to get a position.
week2
I read for 62 minutes.
7 words
training pool shoot race cheat win dolor
DQ
1. What is your favorite sports?
A: I love baseball. I like soccer too.
2. Have you ever cheated?
A: No, I have not. It should not be allowed to cheat.
May 8, 2015
I like this motivated story , I like the idea of challenges and work hard to achieve dreams and goals , although ( Nutty, Jazz , Nails and Hoomey ) didn't win at last . But I like their hardworking and challenging themselves . At last they learned a valuable lesson and all of them have a dream and an ambition to work hard in order to follow it and achieve it .
June 17, 2015
1, Oxford level3
2, 6/14 60min, 6/15 30min, 6/16 40min
3, school, ambition, against, tetrathlon, horses, shooting, win
4a, I don't like the teacher first,
4b, The students didn't want to join the competition but he forced them to join it.
5, I like this story. The school which has some problematic students beated clever school in the competition.
2, 6/14 60min, 6/15 30min, 6/16 40min
3, school, ambition, against, tetrathlon, horses, shooting, win
4a, I don't like the teacher first,
4b, The students didn't want to join the competition but he forced them to join it.
5, I like this story. The school which has some problematic students beated clever school in the competition.
September 5, 2022
4 12-year-old students in a British comprehensive school are entered by their over-enthusiastic teacher into a tetrathlon (swimming, riding, shooting, horseback riding) against a local private school. Their problems include one cannot swim, 3 have no horses & don't ride, & none of them know how to shoot. A book that impressed me--lastingly--that I reread every few years.
June 27, 2024
There is something wrong with the writing or layout, with too much illustration more than needed sometimes, but then skipping a lot in other times. It feels like a summary of a summary.
Fine idea but nothing too exciting to keep reading, I finished it because why not? and because its only 58 pages.
Fine idea but nothing too exciting to keep reading, I finished it because why not? and because its only 58 pages.
March 11, 2023
10,295語
November 18, 2013
Class8 (11/12)
1 MACMILLAN READINGS,Level 3
2 Time 11/10=70minutes
3 7-word summary
teacher-school-game-swimming-horses-shooting-training
4 Discussion question
Do you have the period when you studied hard?
Yes, when I was 2nd-4th year elementary school student, I studied hard at home and friends' home. So sometimes they seemed to be angry with me because I would play at friends' home, but actually I studied there. I guess they wanted to play.
5 My reflection
I always think what make student do their best for their futures. This teacher has a good idea!!! I will try it in the future.
Class9 (11/19)
1 MACMILLAN READINGS,Level 3
2 Time 11/17=60minutes
3 7-word summary
secret-pool-cooperation-hurry-enjoying-cheating-parents
4 Discussion question
Have you cooperated with friends on yours and seen them through?
Yes, during my junior high school days, our class made our enormous efforts for a sports meet and got the 1st prize. We felt glad, crying. It's one of the impressive memories & in the future I want to get a taste like that.
5 My reflection
Great story. It is difficult to make students so motivated about studying.
Also they were having a hard time doing their best. Teachers should understand that aspect.
1 MACMILLAN READINGS,Level 3
2 Time 11/10=70minutes
3 7-word summary
teacher-school-game-swimming-horses-shooting-training
4 Discussion question
Do you have the period when you studied hard?
Yes, when I was 2nd-4th year elementary school student, I studied hard at home and friends' home. So sometimes they seemed to be angry with me because I would play at friends' home, but actually I studied there. I guess they wanted to play.
5 My reflection
I always think what make student do their best for their futures. This teacher has a good idea!!! I will try it in the future.
Class9 (11/19)
1 MACMILLAN READINGS,Level 3
2 Time 11/17=60minutes
3 7-word summary
secret-pool-cooperation-hurry-enjoying-cheating-parents
4 Discussion question
Have you cooperated with friends on yours and seen them through?
Yes, during my junior high school days, our class made our enormous efforts for a sports meet and got the 1st prize. We felt glad, crying. It's one of the impressive memories & in the future I want to get a taste like that.
5 My reflection
Great story. It is difficult to make students so motivated about studying.
Also they were having a hard time doing their best. Teachers should understand that aspect.
October 13, 2015
1.level 3
2.Oct 9,20min Oct 10,40min Oct 12,30min oct 13,20min
3.children,school,ambition,competition,cheating,parents,swimming
4.a)There are two schools. The children who go to Greycoats school are clean and tidy and study a lot. The children who go to Hawkwood school have a lot of trouble and don't study . But one teacher try them to have ambition. So he made team which take part in triathlon competition.
b)I was disappointed the scene Hawkwood's student cheated because Greycoats student cheated first. Hawkwood student was training and practicing so hard. However cheating comes to nothing . I wanted them to do right things because they had been trying hard even if their teachers had given up.
5. Sports are worth doing .If we don't win, we can get something . To try hard is very important. They couldn't win and they cheated at the end, but they had a great time with their friends. They tried hard with their friends and their relationships became really better than before.
2.Oct 9,20min Oct 10,40min Oct 12,30min oct 13,20min
3.children,school,ambition,competition,cheating,parents,swimming
4.a)There are two schools. The children who go to Greycoats school are clean and tidy and study a lot. The children who go to Hawkwood school have a lot of trouble and don't study . But one teacher try them to have ambition. So he made team which take part in triathlon competition.
b)I was disappointed the scene Hawkwood's student cheated because Greycoats student cheated first. Hawkwood student was training and practicing so hard. However cheating comes to nothing . I wanted them to do right things because they had been trying hard even if their teachers had given up.
5. Sports are worth doing .If we don't win, we can get something . To try hard is very important. They couldn't win and they cheated at the end, but they had a great time with their friends. They tried hard with their friends and their relationships became really better than before.
October 14, 2015
1. Oxford, level 3
2. 10/12=50 min. 10/13=60.
3. Teacher, school, Hoomey, Nutty, trouble, horse, competition
4. a: I want you to have ambition. To do things. To want things.
b: An ambition is very important to do something. However, it is difficult thing, I think. In my case, it is slow that I show a motivation, so I want to find that I can be absorbed and I do hard it.
5. Students in Hawkwood school were good at fighting than at passing examination. Students in Greycoats were very clever. A teacher in Hawkwood wanted to prove that Hawkwood has also good point. Students practiced hard own events to win. Through a competition, students had ambitions. The competition was tetrathlon. It is nice experience to become absorbed in something.
2. 10/12=50 min. 10/13=60.
3. Teacher, school, Hoomey, Nutty, trouble, horse, competition
4. a: I want you to have ambition. To do things. To want things.
b: An ambition is very important to do something. However, it is difficult thing, I think. In my case, it is slow that I show a motivation, so I want to find that I can be absorbed and I do hard it.
5. Students in Hawkwood school were good at fighting than at passing examination. Students in Greycoats were very clever. A teacher in Hawkwood wanted to prove that Hawkwood has also good point. Students practiced hard own events to win. Through a competition, students had ambitions. The competition was tetrathlon. It is nice experience to become absorbed in something.
May 26, 2016
1.level 3
2.Apr 19,45min. Apr 20, 45min
3.children, school, competition, ambition, cheating, parents, swimming
4.The children who go to Greycoats school are neat and serious. The children who go to Hawkwood school don't like studying. They are very different. A teacher in Hawkwood, Sam Sylvester, try the students to have ambition. So he made team which take part in triathlon competition.
b)I was surprised that Hawkwood's student cheated because Greycoats' student cheated first. Hawkwood student practiced hard for this competition. I wanted them to compete seriously.
5. Playing any sports is good thing, but you shouldn't cheat. The sports help you to grow their abilities of cooperation, observation and so on.
2.Apr 19,45min. Apr 20, 45min
3.children, school, competition, ambition, cheating, parents, swimming
4.The children who go to Greycoats school are neat and serious. The children who go to Hawkwood school don't like studying. They are very different. A teacher in Hawkwood, Sam Sylvester, try the students to have ambition. So he made team which take part in triathlon competition.
b)I was surprised that Hawkwood's student cheated because Greycoats' student cheated first. Hawkwood student practiced hard for this competition. I wanted them to compete seriously.
5. Playing any sports is good thing, but you shouldn't cheat. The sports help you to grow their abilities of cooperation, observation and so on.
Read
November 18, 20151. Oxford level3
2. 11/17 30min 11/18 80min
3. School ambition competition swimming horse practice cheat
4. A "I want you to have ambition. To do things. To want things."
B Having ambition is not easy. I don't have ambition. So I have to have ambition because it is important to make an effort toward the ambition.
5. At first, the children didn't have ambition. And they are not good at playing sports and they didn't want to that. But they made an effort, they had a confidence. And through the competition, they have ambition. I like this book. This book is not only interesting but also importance of having ambition.
2. 11/17 30min 11/18 80min
3. School ambition competition swimming horse practice cheat
4. A "I want you to have ambition. To do things. To want things."
B Having ambition is not easy. I don't have ambition. So I have to have ambition because it is important to make an effort toward the ambition.
5. At first, the children didn't have ambition. And they are not good at playing sports and they didn't want to that. But they made an effort, they had a confidence. And through the competition, they have ambition. I like this book. This book is not only interesting but also importance of having ambition.
October 7, 2013
Oxford university press level 3
10/1 =13min, 10/4 =15min, 10/6 = 20min, 10/7 =14min
boys, horses, swimming, riding, shooting, competition, ambition
Have you ever practiced something hard?
Yes, I have. When I was junior high and high school student, I belonged to track and field club. I had run everyday and It was very hard for me.
I do not like this novel because there are many characters which do not have any features in this novel. I could not remember the characters, so I was also confused the story.
10/1 =13min, 10/4 =15min, 10/6 = 20min, 10/7 =14min
boys, horses, swimming, riding, shooting, competition, ambition
Have you ever practiced something hard?
Yes, I have. When I was junior high and high school student, I belonged to track and field club. I had run everyday and It was very hard for me.
I do not like this novel because there are many characters which do not have any features in this novel. I could not remember the characters, so I was also confused the story.
June 11, 2014
1. Oxford bookworms library
2. 6/9 = 40 minutes, 6/11 = 80 minutes
3. a good fighter, Tetrathlon, competition, horses, pool, riding, shooting
4. a. "You can just get changed. We're going round to the Smiths' and you can tell them you're sorry all this!"
b. Thanks to Nutty's parents, she can apologize using Mr. Smith's pool secretly, what's more, Mr. Smith made her an opportunity to practice shooting. He is a kind man.
5. It's a good story. Students who started trouble corporate each other, and at long last, they win smart students at the tetrathlon competition.
2. 6/9 = 40 minutes, 6/11 = 80 minutes
3. a good fighter, Tetrathlon, competition, horses, pool, riding, shooting
4. a. "You can just get changed. We're going round to the Smiths' and you can tell them you're sorry all this!"
b. Thanks to Nutty's parents, she can apologize using Mr. Smith's pool secretly, what's more, Mr. Smith made her an opportunity to practice shooting. He is a kind man.
5. It's a good story. Students who started trouble corporate each other, and at long last, they win smart students at the tetrathlon competition.
April 13, 2016
1. OXFORD, Level3
2. Time: 80min.
3. teacher, trouble, swimming, competition, horse, shooting, even
4. a) No winners, no losers.
b) This book is about school. Students joined competitions as a group. The result was not good but they just did their best. So it is like an academically idea. So I like it.
5. I think this book is good for students. We have each goals. This book gave me an opportunity to think about result is not important for students. We must do our best to accomplish our goals.
2. Time: 80min.
3. teacher, trouble, swimming, competition, horse, shooting, even
4. a) No winners, no losers.
b) This book is about school. Students joined competitions as a group. The result was not good but they just did their best. So it is like an academically idea. So I like it.
5. I think this book is good for students. We have each goals. This book gave me an opportunity to think about result is not important for students. We must do our best to accomplish our goals.
September 26, 2012
I like that book. Even thought it's kinda boring book, the content and the title are cool
Read
October 3, 2013fghfghfghfghfghf
September 24, 2022
Awesome wonderful kids' book. Almost as funny as the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews