The teaching is the point

When you’re in the throes of the school term it’s easy to think about the next holiday. To look forward with excitement to that dreamlike last ringing of the bell signalling the time to pack up and go home. Of course, that’s normal. Teaching is a hard job. It’s relentless and frustrating. It’s easy to …

Inspire your students with a creative writing workshop

My favourite part of teaching English has always been creative writing. I suppose that's no surprise considering I am a writer myself.   Last week (November 2019) I was asked to deliver a creative writing workshop for a school in Kent. It's something I'd thought about doing for a while, so when they asked, I …

The road from reluctant writer to publishing my first novel

On December the 3rd 2017 I wrote this in my journal:  I’m excited to start writing something – but I have no clue where and how to actually start writing! I'm going to get some big bits of paper and do some planning so that I have a general direction, then pick bits I like …

Essential advice for new teachers

As a new teacher, you'll be looking back over the last year and feel as though you've been through a whirlwind. You've learned so much, you've come so far, but you may still feel like there's a mountain to climb. I asked the teacher community on Twitter, "what piece of advice do you wish you …

Five things being a teacher has taught me

As teachers, we always talk about the progress of our students. We watch them arrive (if you're a secondary school teacher like me) bright-eyed in year 7, and grow almost unrecognizably through to year 11 and sometimes even on to the sixth form. It's one of my favourite parts of the job, which I always …

Five reasons not to work during the holidays

During any holiday season, there always seems to be a big split amongst the teaching community on social media. There are those who are using the time to get ahead with their marking, planning or even going into the classroom to get things organized for the first day back. Then there are those who believe …

Six ways to make time to read when you’re busy

As an English teacher and a writer, I'm obviously all for reading. It won't surprise you to know that when parents of my students ask me what they can be doing to help their children, 90% of the time reading is the answer. That's because of the transformative effect it has... but I think you …

Creative writing mini scheme of work

I love teaching creative writing and young people can be so good at it. They have such great ideas which, when harnessed, creates some great pieces of work. I've already shared the Creative Writing Structure Strips which are incorporated into this short scheme of work.   I've used this a number of times, often when …

Five ways to relieve burnout

Over the few weeks before the Christmas break, I was feeling burned out. To an extent, I know that's normal - the evenings are getting darker, work's busy, and I put myself under pressure to get things done. The result though wasn't nice, I felt irritable, unfocused, tired, lethargic and apathetic. If you've read my …

2019 the year of FOCUS

UPDATE! (3rd June 2019) My debut novel, Kathmandu, is out now! Click below to start reading now: UPDATE! (5th April 2019) I'm really pleased to show you this. Finally, after focusing on writing for the last few months, I received the proof copy of my book Kathmandu today. 2019 the year of focus (original article) …