diff --git a/libs/microbit/enums.d.ts b/libs/microbit/enums.d.ts
index 5a031011..9737d884 100644
--- a/libs/microbit/enums.d.ts
+++ b/libs/microbit/enums.d.ts
@@ -268,5 +268,7 @@ declare namespace led {
     }
 declare namespace pins {
 }
+declare namespace serial {
+}
 
 // Auto-generated. Do not edit. Really.
diff --git a/libs/microbit/kind.json b/libs/microbit/kind.json
index f11f2f55..d2e363e3 100644
--- a/libs/microbit/kind.json
+++ b/libs/microbit/kind.json
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
         "led.ts",
         "music.ts",
         "pins.cpp",
+        "serial.cpp",
         "serial.ts"
     ],
     "public": true,
diff --git a/libs/microbit/music.ts b/libs/microbit/music.ts
index 1fbca2e1..ca9d2a8f 100644
--- a/libs/microbit/music.ts
+++ b/libs/microbit/music.ts
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ namespace music {
      * Gets the frequency of a note.
      * @param name TODO
      */
-    //% shim=TD_ID weight=50 help=music/note-frequency
+    //% weight=50 help=music/note-frequency
     //% blockId=device_note block="%note"
     export function noteFrequency(name: Note): number {
         return name;
diff --git a/libs/microbit/serial.cpp b/libs/microbit/serial.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..27738cd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/microbit/serial.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#include "ksbit.h"
+
+//% weight=2 color=30
+namespace serial {
+    // note that at least one // followed by % is needed per declaration!
+    
+    /**
+     * Reads a line of text from the serial port.
+     */
+    //%
+    StringData* readString() {
+      return uBit.serial.readString().leakData();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sends a piece of text through Serial connection.
+     */
+    //%
+    void writeString(StringData *text) { 
+      uBit.serial.sendString(ManagedString(text));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sends the current pixel values, byte-per-pixel, over serial.
+     */
+    //%
+    void writeScreen() {
+        uBit.serial.sendDisplayState(); 
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Reads the screen from serial.
+     */
+    //%
+    void readScreen() { 
+        uBit.serial.readDisplayState();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/libs/microbit/serial.ts b/libs/microbit/serial.ts
index b1106b98..e4637dda 100644
--- a/libs/microbit/serial.ts
+++ b/libs/microbit/serial.ts
@@ -17,32 +17,6 @@ namespace serial {
         writeString(value.toString());
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Reads a line of text from the serial port.
-     */
-    //% shim=micro_bit::serialReadString
-    export function readString(): string {
-        return ""
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Sends a piece of text through Serial connection.
-     */
-    //% shim=micro_bit::serialSendString
-    export function writeString(text: string): void { }
-
-    /**
-     * Sends the current pixel values, byte-per-pixel, over serial.
-     */
-    //% shim=micro_bit::serialSendDisplayState
-    export function writeScreen(): void { }
-
-    /**
-     * Reads the screen from serial.
-     */
-    //% shim=micro_bit::serialReadDisplayState
-    export function readScreen(): void { }
-
     /**
      * Writes a ``name: value`` pair line to the serial.
      * @param name name of the value stream, eg: x
diff --git a/libs/microbit/shims.d.ts b/libs/microbit/shims.d.ts
index 3c347c23..90180d17 100644
--- a/libs/microbit/shims.d.ts
+++ b/libs/microbit/shims.d.ts
@@ -452,4 +452,34 @@ declare namespace pins {
     function analogPitch(frequency: number, ms: number): void;
 }
 
+
+
+    //% weight=2 color=30
+declare namespace serial {
+
+    /**
+     * Reads a line of text from the serial port.
+     */
+    //% shim=serial::readString
+    function readString(): string;
+
+    /**
+     * Sends a piece of text through Serial connection.
+     */
+    //% shim=serial::writeString
+    function writeString(text: string): void;
+
+    /**
+     * Sends the current pixel values, byte-per-pixel, over serial.
+     */
+    //% shim=serial::writeScreen
+    function writeScreen(): void;
+
+    /**
+     * Reads the screen from serial.
+     */
+    //% shim=serial::readScreen
+    function readScreen(): void;
+}
+
 // Auto-generated. Do not edit. Really.