Living Life Twice

  At the conclusion of each school year, I feel compelled to write, urging teachers to quarantine a little of their well deserved holidays break time for some writing.  As we rapidly approach the end of another challenging year, my message remains unerringly simple.  If you are a teacher who writes, it is easier  to present as a writer who teaches.  Will you be embracing the challenge of keeping your own writer’s notebooks in 2022? Well, that notebook will greatly benefit from some early feeding and the summer presents as a potential feast… I am aware of the level of exhaustion that exists in schools at year’s end. It is probably more so following the unerring demands of these Covid years.  The need to tie up a multitude of loose ends prior to school closing for the summer holidays remains.   The final days of school seem to take the longest time of all the many school weeks. School becomes the epicentre of fatigue for both students and staff. I am als...

It's an enduring question for young writers - where do you get your ideas? they ask.  Often believing there is something mystical to this aspect of the writing process. It's a secret they want you to share... The truth is, ideas are everywhere.  Always an interesting conversation to have with young writers where they are challenged to consider where ideas are to be found. They quickly realize the broad horizons of choice that actually exist. It challenges their somewhat narrow concept of 'ideas.'  The challenge is to grow them as explorers of the world. The aim is to assist them develop a broader view of the extensive possibilities at their disposal. We are working to eradicate that tired  old catch-cry- I can’t think of anything to write about...’  It requires teachers to share the broad influences on their own writing. It is important to dispel the myth that writing only equates to stories. What are the territories you explore to excavate ideas?...

UPDATED February 2022 Our youngest writers frequently undervalue their own lives and the small and large moments that punctuate those lives, as a source for writing. They often cling to second hand experiences derived from watching movies, playing video and computer games as a narrow source of potential writing ideas. They therefore remain unaware that this means their writing is frequently a rehashing of somebody else's ideas.   We are all influenced by such experiences, but it would be sad if it was used to the exclusion of all those rich experiences that take place beyond the world of the screen. Kids miss out on so much if this is what inspires their thinking. So how do their teachers assist them to make stronger connections to their own experiences?  After all, we write best about those things we know the most about. We can begin by modelling how we as adult writers gain ideas for writing from a range of sources including artefacts, mementos, keep...

Last week, upon reading a Facebook post urging teachers to foist writing prompts upon student writers, I felt compelled to write the following. 'The unquestioned imposition of ‘writing prompts’ denies student writers the opportunity to practice thinking and the identifying of suitable ideas for their writing. It discourages ownership and undersells the learner. Let's encourage thinking and invest in the curious and capable learners in our care. Such practice is akin to the intellectual laziness and low level pedagogy that imposes 'sentence starters' upon the developing writer. 'Kids can't of ideas for themselves' is the errant justification for such short sighted practices. Let's encourage kids to tell their own stories. Let's value their ideas and experiences This approach is more about telling kids 'what' to write, rather than showing them 'how' to write. As an author and an educator, I feel this idea speaks to a deficit model...

At the end of each school year, I write, urging teachers to quarantine a little time for writing over the summer vacation period. This year my message remains on song. If you are a teacher who writes, it is easier to present as a writer who teaches.  In recent weeks I have met numerous teachers who have told me they will be taking up the challenge of keeping their own writer’s notebooks. Well, that notebook will need feeding and the summer presents as a potential feast… I am aware of the level of exhaustion that exists in schools at year’s end. The need to tie up a multitude of loose ends prior to school closing for the summer holidays is paramount. It’s a race to the finish line. The last week of school seems to take the longest time of all the many school weeks though. School becomes the epicentre of fatigue for both students and staff. I am also aware that on summer’s horizon teachers will have free time to relax and regenerate their energy reserves.  A time fo...

'The world is a book and those who do not travel only read one page.'  This quote is attributed to St Augustine and it sings to me. Especially now. Following a time of sustained sadness for our family with the death of a close friend, it is time to undertake some travel that is not only informative, but equally, restorative. In the dark times it is important to look out into the world and notice what is human and magical and alive with promise, despite the dark days that may have surrounded you. So with such true words ringing in my ears, it's time for some mindful meandering. It's time to seek out some brightness and shake things up a bit and embrace any available joy that may present. As a writer I am very much aware of the special gift that travelling brings a writer. It turns each of us into storytellers. Therefore it is important to take a break every now and then and just go somewhere. Leave behind your life and all its baggage for a short time an...

UPDATED January 2021 The first entry in a new writer's notebook is most important… It sets a tone and can be viewed at a statement of intent. It might aim to say this notebook is my special place to gather special thoughts and ideas.  This opening entry might be in the form of a letter to one’s self about what you intend to do as a writer in the days and weeks ahead. John, a fifth grade writer wrote the following poem as his initial entry. It’s a Place Why am I keeping this notebook?                                                                                                                           Because it’s a place where I can keep track of my life...