I have been thinking a lot recently about Alan Booth, my English teacher from the ages of 11 to 13. … More
Tag: Writers in Schools
Life beyond the door
Last week saw an important milestone for Teachers as Writers. The CPD/feedback day gave everyone involved in the project – … More
What we talk about when we talk about writing
The more I talk about writing with students, teachers, colleagues and other writers, the less I am sure that we … More
Stealing
One of the joys of working on the Teachers as Writers project is that I get to steal. As … More
The Arvon effect
When the Arvon student is put in posession of that creative self, which was hitherto inaccessible, two things, in particular, … More
Researching writers’ engagement with teachers: the Teachers as Writers research project
Along with colleagues from the Arvon Foundation, The Open University and University of Exeter I have just begun … More
A new poem: Sunlight
I am delighted to have a new poem, ‘Sunlight’, for my dear friend Peter Carpenter, published at The Stare’s Nest. … More
Another look at Lux’s ‘An Horatian Notion’
One of my personal, private highlights of last year’s Aldeburgh Poetry Festival was a Sunday morning breakfast hosted by The … More
Making Poetry Happen
Announcing the publication of Making Poetry Happen: Transforming the Poetry Classroom (Bloomsbury, 2015). Making Poetry Happen provides a valuable resource … More
Poetry and tennis
On the Sunday morning of the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival I breakfasted with poets discussing the theme of writing poetry and … More
On generosity
By the time you read this I will be far away from here. It has not happened yet, but I … More
Poetry vs 9/11
I am taking a break from writing brand new blog posts over the summer. Instead of posting new work … More
In memory of Michael Baldwin
I am taking a break from writing brand new blog posts over the summer. Instead of posting new work I … More
Teaching people who hate poetry
I am taking a break from writing brand new blog posts over the summer. Instead of posting new work I … More
The man kept piling things on
I am driving to a thing. Not a famous thing, an out of the way thing. A classroom, perhaps. … More
Lifesaving Poets: Gerard Benson
I was saddened to hear of the death of Gerard Benson last week. A poet and anthologist, he was probably … More
The blogs I read (2)
When Ezra Pound claimed that ‘Poetry is news that stays news’ it is likely he was thinking of Katy Evans-Bush’s Baroque … More
Teaching paying attention
Lately I have been pondering the practice of paying attention, vis-à-vis my habit of keeping a notebook to capture impressions, … More
Lifesaving Poems 