One of the things I have learned about myself in the last year or so is that I can sometimes … More
Tag: Education
UCU Strike: reflections and resources
Thank you to everyone who stopped by and liked or commented on yesterday’s blog post about the UCU strike action … More
UCU Strike: a list of poems about work
Today was not a normal day of work for me. Instead of teaching my amazing students, I chose to participate … More
The fear of poetry -by Muriel Rukeyser
The Fear of Poetry In this moment when we facehorizons and conflicts widerthan ever before, we want our resources,the ways … More
Lifesaving Poems: Sean O’Brien’s ‘Before’
To safe and almost universal silence I published How Far From Here is Home? (Stride) a few days before Christmas in … More
Saying goodbye
I want to congratulate you on passing this course and achieving QTS in this uniquely difficult and strange year. None … More
Courage
Courage It is in the small things we see it. The child’s first step, as awesome as an earthquake. … More
Reading and writing resources for young poets
Young Poets’ Stories project update: Today we add a reading resources for young poets page to the Young Poets’ Stories website. … More
At the teach out
Today I had one of the most precious teaching experiences of my life. Because we are taking strike action … More
On not striking, Ofsted and British values
Once again I find myself in a place that I hoped never to revisit. In 2018, the union I belong … More
Who are you influencing?
In Mind in Society, his seminal book on learning and thinking, the Russian philosopher and psychologist Lev Vygotsky said this: … More
Where to buy Deck Shoes
I am delighted to announce that my new book of essays Deck Shoes is now on sale. You can buy it direct … More
Workshopping Settee in Autumn
Settee in Autumn The leaves change colour and fall on the russet settee. Sticky buds are stuck … More
The real new year
I love this time of year. There is a wonderful Anne Lamott line somewhere about the welcome of the cooler … More
From Brussels With Love (LentBlog32)
Well, by tomorrow night, we might be out. Crashed out with no deal or sailing into a bright future presaged … More
Open letter to Alicia Stubbersfield (LentBlog31)
Dear Alicia I can’t believe it is three years since I got to hang out with you at Totleigh … More
Open letter to Ted Hughes (LentBlog27)
Dear Ted Hughes You probably won’t remember me. I wrote to you before, in the summer of 1998. I did … More
Why we need to save the Poetry Business (LentBlog26)
after Mark Halliday Because of the writing days. And because The discovery will not happen on its own, unprompted, … More