Reading Time: 6 minutes In a series of posts I’m going to explore the way our curriculum currently works including the rationales behind it. … More Sequencing the curriculum: Shakespeare
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Lessons on one word – Macbeth and ‘Hands’
Reading Time: 7 minutes At the beginning of the play, “Hands” is a word used to refer to Macbeth’s brutal – but legitimate – killing of the Thane of Cawdor who “‘ne’er shook hands” (1.1), symbolic of his lack of gentlemanly behaviour and loyalty in participating in rebellion – a theme of ‘hands’ throughout the play.
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A radical opportunity (or, if I were EdSec…)
Reading Time: 3 minutes I’d love to see what other peoples’ thoughts are on the below…I’m sure we’ve all had that thought ‘if I … More A radical opportunity (or, if I were EdSec…)
On creating a thematic scheme of work – text choices and setting parameters
Reading Time: 10 minutes One of the new units I’m looking at for September is war poetry. In this post, I’m going to discuss my thoughts-in-progress about why that theme, and how I’m going about choosing the texts.
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TENC20 – Oracy as a feminist act (presentation)
Reading Time: < 1 minute Below is my presentation for the TeamEnglish 2020 conference, July 4th 2020. Follow the conversation and other fab presentations on … More TENC20 – Oracy as a feminist act (presentation)
Creativity and recovery
Reading Time: 5 minutes Last night, I was cross-stitching. This year, I’ve read more than ever – fiction and non-fiction. And it’s a huge … More Creativity and recovery
Writing the comparison question for OCR A-Level
Reading Time: 2 minutes The OCR English Literature specification is great in lots of ways, but the AO balancing is a little strange. The … More Writing the comparison question for OCR A-Level
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Analysis: Compare how poets present changing relationships in Mother, Any Distance and Climbing My Grandfather.
Reading Time: 5 minutes In Mother, Any Distance and Climbing My Grandfather, these modern poets explore the ways that relationships change over time. In … More Analysis: Compare how poets present changing relationships in Mother, Any Distance and Climbing My Grandfather.
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2 weeks post-corneal graft
Reading Time: 5 minutes As it’s Thursday, it’s now two weeks since I had a corneal graft, and thought I’d just do a bit … More 2 weeks post-corneal graft
2 days to a corneal graft!
Reading Time: 3 minutes So, on Thursday morning I’m scheduled to receive a replacement cornea at St James’ Hospital. This is both awesome – … More 2 days to a corneal graft!
Linking loves
Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s been a strange week this week – being off for two days really throws out your rhythm! Looking forward … More Linking loves
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Reading Time: < 1 minute A totally brilliant week! – The release of Startling Scifi with my story in it – Some fantastic writing from … More Happiness project week 18
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Reading Time: < 1 minute I missed a week! In the rush of Easter holidays activities and relaxing! – Getting all my coursework finished marking … More Happiness project: Week 15
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Happiness project week 12
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Happiness project week 11
Reading Time: 2 minutes Things that have made me happy this week: Feeling good after a gym workout Date night at our usual place … More Happiness project week 11
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Happiness project week 10
Reading Time: < 1 minute Brilliant things this week A new resistance gym programme to vary my workout a bit more Feeling confident at work … More Happiness project week 10
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Happiness Project – week 9
Reading Time: 2 minutes Things that have been brilliant this week: – Starting to wallpaper the hallway – it’s a bit slow progress but … More Happiness Project – week 9
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Happiness Project – week 8
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Happiness Project – week 7
Reading Time: 2 minutes Brilliant and happy things this week: Being asked to be my best friend’s bridesmaid when she gets married – so … More Happiness Project – week 7
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Reading Time: < 1 minute Things that made me happy this week: My birthday!! That really took over the entire week in a brilliant … More Happiness Project – week 6
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Sequencing the curriculum: Shakespeare
Reading Time: 6 minutes In a series of posts I’m going to explore the way our curriculum currently works including the rationales behind it. … More Sequencing the curriculum: Shakespeare
Lessons on one word – Macbeth and ‘Hands’
Reading Time: 7 minutes At the beginning of the play, “Hands” is a word used to refer to Macbeth’s brutal – but legitimate – killing of the Thane of Cawdor who “‘ne’er shook hands” (1.1), symbolic of his lack of gentlemanly behaviour and loyalty in participating in rebellion – a theme of ‘hands’ throughout the play.
A radical opportunity (or, if I were EdSec…)
Reading Time: 3 minutes I’d love to see what other peoples’ thoughts are on the below…I’m sure we’ve all had that thought ‘if I … More A radical opportunity (or, if I were EdSec…)
On creating a thematic scheme of work – text choices and setting parameters
Reading Time: 10 minutes One of the new units I’m looking at for September is war poetry. In this post, I’m going to discuss my thoughts-in-progress about why that theme, and how I’m going about choosing the texts.
TENC20 – Oracy as a feminist act (presentation)
Reading Time: < 1 minute Below is my presentation for the TeamEnglish 2020 conference, July 4th 2020. Follow the conversation and other fab presentations on … More TENC20 – Oracy as a feminist act (presentation)
Creativity and recovery
Reading Time: 5 minutes Last night, I was cross-stitching. This year, I’ve read more than ever – fiction and non-fiction. And it’s a huge … More Creativity and recovery
Writing the comparison question for OCR A-Level
Reading Time: 2 minutes The OCR English Literature specification is great in lots of ways, but the AO balancing is a little strange. The … More Writing the comparison question for OCR A-Level
An extract to whole text question – a quick guide
Reading Time: 2 minutes Introduction: What’s the writer’s message or purpose? End with a sentence linking the extract to the major theme of the … More An extract to whole text question – a quick guide
Analysis: Compare how poets present changing relationships in Mother, Any Distance and Climbing My Grandfather.
Reading Time: 5 minutes In Mother, Any Distance and Climbing My Grandfather, these modern poets explore the ways that relationships change over time. In … More Analysis: Compare how poets present changing relationships in Mother, Any Distance and Climbing My Grandfather.
Building vocabulary through pairing of words
Reading Time: 2 minutes I occasionally have a competition with my classes, to find a pair of words in English that have precisely the … More Building vocabulary through pairing of words
2 weeks post-corneal graft
Reading Time: 5 minutes As it’s Thursday, it’s now two weeks since I had a corneal graft, and thought I’d just do a bit … More 2 weeks post-corneal graft
2 days to a corneal graft!
Reading Time: 3 minutes So, on Thursday morning I’m scheduled to receive a replacement cornea at St James’ Hospital. This is both awesome – … More 2 days to a corneal graft!
Linking loves
Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s been a strange week this week – being off for two days really throws out your rhythm! Looking forward … More Linking loves
Happiness Project week 24
Reading Time: < 1 minute * An amazing hen do in Haworth with brilliant friends and family * Feeling loved and valued * Getting back … More Happiness Project week 24
Happiness project week 20
Reading Time: 2 minutes Every week I’m astonished by how quickly the year is flying by! And it’s just 12 weeks until we get … More Happiness project week 20
Happiness project week 18
Reading Time: < 1 minute A totally brilliant week! – The release of Startling Scifi with my story in it – Some fantastic writing from … More Happiness project week 18
Happiness Project: Week 17
Reading Time: < 1 minute — Purposeful Y12 lesson, really focused – Y10’s sparky response to R&J – The cherry tree at school which seems … More Happiness Project: Week 17
Happiness Project: Week 16
Reading Time: 2 minutes Week 16 already? Where on earth is the year going!? There’s been a lot of good stuff going on this … More Happiness Project: Week 16
Happiness project: Week 15
Reading Time: < 1 minute I missed a week! In the rush of Easter holidays activities and relaxing! – Getting all my coursework finished marking … More Happiness project: Week 15
Happiness project Week 13
Reading Time: < 1 minute Brilliant things this week Promotion! One I’ve worked really hard for, so am very excited about starting that new job … More Happiness project Week 13
Happiness project week 12
Reading Time: < 1 minute looking out across the dales from my classroom and thinking. How beautiful it is where I work. Getting my car … More Happiness project week 12
Happiness project week 11
Reading Time: 2 minutes Things that have made me happy this week: Feeling good after a gym workout Date night at our usual place … More Happiness project week 11
Happiness project week 10
Reading Time: < 1 minute Brilliant things this week A new resistance gym programme to vary my workout a bit more Feeling confident at work … More Happiness project week 10
Happiness Project – week 9
Reading Time: 2 minutes Things that have been brilliant this week: – Starting to wallpaper the hallway – it’s a bit slow progress but … More Happiness Project – week 9
Happiness Project – week 8
Reading Time: < 1 minute Half term! Although it didn’t quite go as originally planned….having a few days off with some relaxation time was nice. … More Happiness Project – week 8
Happiness Project – week 7
Reading Time: 2 minutes Brilliant and happy things this week: Being asked to be my best friend’s bridesmaid when she gets married – so … More Happiness Project – week 7
Happiness Project – week 6
Reading Time: < 1 minute Things that made me happy this week: My birthday!! That really took over the entire week in a brilliant … More Happiness Project – week 6
Happiness project – week 5
Reading Time: < 1 minute Things that have made me happy this week: Getting my car fixed and back on the road A really great … More Happiness project – week 5
Happiness Project Week 4
Reading Time: 2 minutes Brilliant things this week…… * Coming home to a warm hug after a stressful journey * Being reminded that I … More Happiness Project Week 4
Happiness Project Week 3
Reading Time: < 1 minute Awesome things this week….or quietly brilliant * Working on our wedding invitations * Nails growing! with additional sparkle 😉 * … More Happiness Project Week 3
Happiness project week 2
Reading Time: < 1 minute Things that have made me happy this week: * Some brilliant work done by students * Finishing reading Little Women … More Happiness project week 2
Happiness project week 1
Reading Time: < 1 minute Things that have made me happy this week: Coming back to our lovely house after Christmas travels Getting 4 gorgeous dresses … More Happiness project week 1
Better self-talk
Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s important to think about how you’re treating yourself – so much is often said about treating others well, which … More Better self-talk
Find the silver lining
Reading Time: 3 minutes We had a super weekend just gone; Friday night, we drove over to Manchester to see Kacey Musgraves at the … More Find the silver lining
This week: Half term round up
Reading Time: 3 minutes I usually have tons of plans during half term. A lot are often to do with catching up and getting … More This week: Half term round up
#100happydays day 2-making Dan’s birthday awesome
Reading Time: < 1 minute
#100happydays Day 1-garden sunshine
Reading Time: < 1 minute The spring has definitely come back and may even be whispering about the thoughts of summer! I love our new … More #100happydays Day 1-garden sunshine
May moving on
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s been a hectic few weeks! Blogging’s really taken a back-seat as we’ve been so incredibly busy. Our house purchase … More May moving on
Half term thrills!
Reading Time: 2 minutes With all the hassle and political complaining about teaching, it’s an oft-repeated comment that teachers have too many holidays. Any … More Half term thrills!
Hectic continues apace!
Reading Time: 3 minutes Has been fairly crazed here so far this year! (and when does it stop being ok to think of it … More Hectic continues apace!
There and back again….
Reading Time: 3 minutes Not an original title, I grant you. But fairly true nonetheless. I have been here before. I have returned. January’s … More There and back again….
Quick goal update
Reading Time: < 1 minute I wrote a post about goal setting and how important it is to writing and thought I’d follow up with a … More Quick goal update
It’s been a while…
Reading Time: 2 minutes Some days, the writing really just *works* and it feels great, and you have what people call ‘flow’. Some days, … More It’s been a while…
12 into 13: headspinning review
Reading Time: 5 minutes I hope that, when I look back over my writing career, I recognise 2012 as an important year. I think … More 12 into 13: headspinning review
In defence of the blockbuster
Reading Time: 5 minutes The Atlantic has an interesting article in defence, really, of Stephen King. Essentially, it says that despite the fact his … More In defence of the blockbuster
Children’s fantasy worlds
Reading Time: 3 minutes This article by the Guardian – Children’s Books Reflect Harsh Reality – has some definitely interesting points to it. It’s … More Children’s fantasy worlds
“Books are mirrors, windows, or sliding-glass doors”
Reading Time: < 1 minute
Rudine Sims Bishop [the author and educator] says that books are either mirrors, windows or sliding-glass doors, and that’s important in the act of resistance. You need that mirror to see yourself, to know what you can be and know what you are. And then you need that window to see into someone else’s life so you can understand what’s happening around you in the world that you may not notice at first glance. And you need the sliding-glass door so that you can step into someone else’s life and walk in with some empathy and use that empathy to make yourself heard.
2013 Achievements
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Publishing on Amazon kindle – my short stories Shadowed and Blank for Your Message were published in February and May, and the first in what I hope will become the Chronology Protection Agency series was published in August. I decided this year I wanted to put work out there where people would actually read it – and they actually have. People I genuinely don’t know have paid for my writing. That is very cool.
I read several books on writing, including Becoming a Writer, From 2k to 10k, Stephen King’s On Writing, and have tried to apply some of what they said to my own writing practice.
I led a creative writing day-long workshop at school with some very interesting young writers.
I read 45 new books, logging them on the Goodreads Challenge for 2013. My 2014 goal is to read 50 new books, which definitely will be challenging!
I became affianced (that word again! And I choose to list it as an achievement)
I continued to become happier, more confident, more self-aware and, I hope, generous towards myself and others. Still a work in progress.
I wrote a short story and performed it at the Ilkley Literature Festival in October
Next….to consider my 2014 wishlist! And for no reason other than it’s pretty….a book picture!
