Rita Haywire

Never more urgent Jeanette Winterson ❤️

My daughter is the youngest voter in the village and got a round of applause in the polling station. Marvellous.

Everyone knows Labour are going to win the election, but if you’re feeling like there’s no point in voting as the outcome is a foregone conclusion, I’d like to draw your attention to something really radical that is on offer tomorrow: 1/8

@MissHartEnglish @linsladeschool @Cedars_Upper Year 7s to Crim? Wow

What a week! Introducing y7 @linsladeschool to Crim (they were fab! 🤩) & 8 lots of Soc Sci inductions for new y12 @Cedars_Upper - Law, Crim, Soc … aware, engaged students! See you in Sept. #ambition #SixthForm #aimhigh

Reason one: It’s enjoyable – so it can’t be work! We are inclined to think that learning has to be full of struggle. If we are doing something that is intrinsically interesting and pleasurable, we can question whether it is proper learning. I’m sure we have all experienced either reading aloud to a class, or being read to, when the atmosphere has shifted; when there’s a magical, invisible connection between everyone in the room. It’s what @ClareSealy calls the ‘collective cuddle’! It doesn’t happen every time of course, but we do all recognise it. And because it’s deeply satisfying, there’s a sense it’s not proper work. But it is proper work!

@AbiFAHynes It is fabulous

I put this off because I feared it'd be too depressing but omg I can't put it down. What a wonderful hearty meal of a book

@mrs_denglish This poem destroys me every time

Most devastating line in poetry.

@bertsbooks Union Street by Pat Barker

I have an #ImportantFridayQuestion What's your favourite book written by a woman? #InternationalWomensDay You can pick only one. Commit.

@IrksomeBrooks @MrsThorne Surely not! Tuc biscuits every time

@MrsThorne Excellent work! 🫡 what flavour Club biscuit did you go for?

Blood donation 22 ✔️ 7 mins 45, slow today. More star jumps in the car park beforehand next time.

@MrJSearleCS Lounge wear? Is that Director speak for a tracksuit? I spent it back-bending, hand standing and on my head. Happy half term

An insight into my approach to half terms. Take 1 day. Waste it. Be unproductive. Sit in lounge wear. Binge a box set. Totally switch off. Be OK with it! Get rested and come back stronger, ready to enrich the children even more! Have a great rest.

@therroneill I still have my original copy and still read it.

What's the first book you ever read or the one that made you fall in love with reading as a kid? This is mine my mam bought it for me because I loved animals. I loved this book so much I taught myself to read with it before I went to school at 5 years old. #readingforpleasure

@RachelFairfiel1 @therroneill I loved this.

@therroneill And Helen Keller ❤️

Ending a very long half term chatting books with year 9 was uplifting. They were describing the joy of crying at an emotional piece of writing. Nice.

Obligatory BOOK GIVEAWAY! ‘100 for 100: Macbeth’ is out a week today. We’re so excited to share it with you. Repost this and we’ll pick a winner at random on Wednesday to receive a free copy! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👑🗡️ @teachals @JohnCattEd @Team_English1

@mrsbaileywrites If the tears come, allow them. Pause, breathe and if possible carry on. The strength does somehow come from somewhere. ❤️

In four days, I’m going to give a eulogy for my dad. It’s written but I’m not sure how I’ll get through this. Every time I practise it, I sob. Does anyone have any advice or wisdom? He was a brilliant man and I want to do this justice at his memorial ❤️

What's the most important thing you can do for your kids? READ TO THEM EVERY DAY! Reading aloud is incredibly powerful - even 10 minutes a day can change their lives forever. #literacy (Art: @chrisriddell50)

@Louiestowell Some Kind of Wonderful

@HeyListenGames @MissHartEnglish

@GCSE_Macbeth Novels by Pat Barker Ashtanga yoga Coffee Eurythmics Outlander (books and tv) @IrksomeBrooks ?

5 topics I can talk about for 30 mins with 0 prep? - Hamlet (or Macbeth I guess) - The music of the White Stripes - The novel Wolf Hall and its sequels - My ideas for reforming the English curriculum - The TV show The West Wing and my other top 5 shows