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The educational projects in which I am involved as a
consultant, take place across England and beyond. These projects
focus on English and Art, but there are often
cross-curricular links in the work I do. I work mainly with
Key Stages 1, 2 and 3, carrying out demonstration lessons
with classes of children, observed by teachers and support
staff. I also plan and deliver training days and twilight
sessions in schools.
I make literacy exciting, raise standards in written
language, help schools to achieve excellence in handwriting
and provide excellent teaching materials for teachers to use
in their Literacy lessons. I motivate young writers by
providing a range of powerful stimuli and starting points.
Where possible, I use first hand experience, and where it is
not, I use a strong secondary stimulus, such as visual art,
music, emotive photographs, video or interesting artefacts.
To explore word meanings, expand pupils’ vocabulary and
examine ways in which a writer shows their feelings and
create atmosphere, I use a variety of exciting texts. I do
lots of ‘skill practices’ in literacy sessions, developing
simple ideas and extending sentences. I also provide
guidance on how to create attractive, stimulating
classrooms, which are ‘literacy friendly’.
I help children to produce high quality paintings and
drawings, and demonstrate effective strategies aimed at
making all teachers good teachers of art. I place a strong
emphasis on teaching painting and drawing skills effectively
and setting children tasks which are appropriate to their
skill levels. By teaching skills, promoting good use of
tools and materials, and by encouraging close observation
and attention to detail, we can open up success to all
children, and not just to the two or three in every class
who have a natural aptitude for art. I regard Art as a
vehicle for developing positive attitudes to learning and
personal qualities such as perseverance, concentration and
care, which influences children’s performance across the
curriculum.
I help schools to implement Ofsted recommendations, and
support schools who are striving towards Excellence and
Enjoyment. I provide guidance to schools wishing to bring
greater creativity into their teaching and learning. I work
with mixed ability classes and with groups of ‘gifted and
talented’ children.
I carry out courses for ‘returning teachers’, who have been
outside the profession for a number of years, updating them
on changes that have taken place in literacy, modelling
whole class text sharing, guided reading and guided writing.
These are very much ‘hands on’ sessions in which I give the
teachers practical strategies to help them to develop young
writers and develop children’s love of literature. I provide
returning teachers with a pack of literacy materials, which
I have used successfully in many schools.
I have been involved in
Sandwell LEA’s ‘Sprint’ reading project in the West
Midlands, in which my role has been to raise the profile of
reading amongst parents and Y5 pupils across the LEA,
stressing the enjoyment aspect of reading. In a large number
of Sandwell schools I have modelled good practice and
effective strategies for teachers to use in the teaching of
reading. I have met with groups of parents to promote adult
/ child reading in the home.
In recent years, I have made regular visits to the Balkans
to work on inter-active learning projects with Albanian and
Macedonian teachers and educational advisors. These have
been financed by UNICEF and the aim of the projects has been
to promote exciting, meaningful, teaching and learning,
based on first hand experience and making good use of the
environment.
I believe in the four E words: Experiences, Exciting,
Expectations, Excellence.
We should plan to provide children with exciting learning
experiences and aim for excellence, which cannot be achieved
unless the teacher has high expectations of the children and
themselves.
Every day should be exciting for children. Every day should
be special for them. They should look forward to going to
school, knowing they are going are going to be engaged in
enjoyable, challenging activities. The highest level of
progress occurs in classrooms where faces have smiles and
sparkling eyes.
If, as a class teacher, you would like my support or advice,
contact me. If you are a headteacher visiting my website, I
would very much like to come and see you to discuss
contributions I could make to what you are trying to achieve
in your school.
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