Virtual Author Visits
We are living in strange times for education, right now. None of us knows what capacity schools will be able to open in September, or whether they will be allowing external visits. To try to move with the times, and to continue offering what I believe to be a valuable and exciting education opportunity, I am booking virtual author visits for the new term. If this is something that you think your school would like to know more about, check out my dedicated page and get in touch.
Author Visit - All Saints, Lessingham
I can't think of many better ways to spend World Book Day than in the company of wonderful children and their enthusiastic teachers. I was lucky to spend it this year at All Saints in Lessingham, working with children from Year 3 to Year 11.
We had some lovely conversations on the writing process, their love of reading, or even the barriers they find when they try to read and what has turned them off it in the past. We played through the Monstacademy book, The Magic Knight, and I ran quick workshops on how to create believable characters from the world around us.
I had a lovely day, thank you. And a big thank you to Mrs Martin for organising it and for everybody else for making me feel welcome.
Would your children benefit from an author-led writing workshop?
Would your staff enjoy CPD on delivering and creating their own creative content?
Get in touch via my school page.
Author Visit - Countesthorpe Leysland Community College
I had a great day today working with Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 children at Countesthorpe Leysland Community College. We talked about everything from how a book goes from an idea to publication, to how much an author earns and what careers are out there involving writing.
All of the children were fantastic and opened up with some of the blockers they find when trying to read. An inspirational group.
Thank you to Mrs Challinor for getting the ball rolling and Mrs McKenzie for organising the day and Mrs Orton for helping make sure we all knew where everything was. Every school needs a librarian!
"An excellent day was had by all! Motivational in promoting a love for reading and that all have the potential to be writers. Thank you!"
Would your children benefit from an author-led writing workshop?
Would your staff enjoy CPD on delivering and creating their own creative content?
Get in touch via my school page.
Author Visit - Martinshaw Primary School
What a brilliant day today! I got to work with some amazing children from Martinshaw Primary School from EYFS up to Year 6. We investigated how a "choose-your-own-adventure" style story can help us think about the plot and the decisions we make as an author. Over the day, we wrote a collaborative CYOA story with the children guiding us all the way. We ended up with a brilliant story about a pirate dragon who went on a fruitless treasure hunt. You can play through the story below.
Thanks to all of the children and Mr Green for organising the day.
"The children thoroughly enjoyed the sessions which were fun, creative and engaging. The assemblies were a great way to raise the profile of reading and boost reading enjoyment. An excellent day which was very fun and enjoyable. The pupils really enjoyed the workshops as they were a really creative way for them to write their own stories and work as a team."
If you'd like to play the amazing CYOA that the children of Martinshaw created, have a go below. I've added some words around the ideas, but the structure, decisions and imaginative ideas were entirely the work of the awesome children.
Would your children benefit from an author-led writing workshop?
Would your staff enjoy CPD on delivering and creating their own creative content?
Get in touch via my school page.
Author visit - Birchwood Grove Primary School
On Thursday, I spent a brilliant day at Birchwood Grove Primary School in Burgess Hill. I had the fortune of working with all of the children from Year 1 through to Year 6 and they are definitely awash with brilliant ideas and enthusiasm for reading and writing.
Thank you to everyone there for making me feel welcome, and especially to Mrs Batchelor whose organisation made the day such a success!
Update: I've just received a brilliant poem from a Year 1 child inspired by the visit. I absolutely love getting this kind of thing, it makes the whole thing so worthwhile. Thank you to the amazing child who wrote it!
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Children enjoying Matt Beighton's poetry workshop -
Key Stage 2 Creative Writing workshop -
Key Stage 2 Creative Writing workshop -
A brilliant poem from a Year 1 child inspired by the poetry workshop
Would your children benefit from an author-led writing workshop?
Would your staff enjoy CPD on delivering and creating their own creative content?
Get in touch via my school page.