We can virtually taste summer! And here’s a sample taste, in the form of the final 2 poems of the school year, from St Birinus School Poet Laureates, Ianto Cater (year 7) and Elliott World (year 8), who I’ve been mentoring this year. My thanks to both of them, for their inventive and colourful work,Continue reading “Dreaming of fast cars and barbecues …”
Tag Archives: creativity
‘We whisper to the dawn’
It’s arrived! The brand new anthology from the talented young poets at Didcot Girls’ School is finally here… “We go out for cold air, hoping there will be some/ we wait for the tiny tune of the ice cream van.” From ‘Today’ by Claire Hague This anthology brings together new poems and flash fiction, writtenContinue reading “‘We whisper to the dawn’”
Witnessing the Magic: Patron of Writing, December 2020 Update
As you’ll know if you’ve been following my blog, I’ve been busy since September 2020, searching for new Poet Laureates in the schools, as part of my Patron of Writing role, then finding new ways to work with them online. I’ve also been leading poetry workshops with year 9 and I’ve been lucky enough toContinue reading “Witnessing the Magic: Patron of Writing, December 2020 Update”
Welcome back!
It’s a bit of a sigh of relief, to know that schools are OPEN after such a long, difficult period for so many families. I can’t wait to get back into some classrooms at Didcot Girls’ School really soon, to get all of year 9 writing poetry. It’s always a highlight of my Patron ofContinue reading “Welcome back!”
‘under the sun’s rare brilliance’ – a final Patron of Writing update for 2018/19
I’ve genuinely loved every moment of being DGS Patron of Writing for 2018/19. It remains an awesome privilege for me to crack open some space in the school day for creativity and writing. And I’m absolutely thrilled to be returning next year – so watch out, next year’s Year 9, poetry is coming for youContinue reading “‘under the sun’s rare brilliance’ – a final Patron of Writing update for 2018/19”
Patron of Writing: Looking forwards. Looking back.
Photo by Rakicevic Nenad from Pexels I have the best job in the world. I spent three weeks in November feeling right at home at DGS – huge thanks to the English team, who made me feel so welcome, and a special INCREDIBLY BIG thank you to the Year 9 students (all 270 of them),Continue reading “Patron of Writing: Looking forwards. Looking back.”
Open the door
‘I open the door and then I see a lonely man as lonely as I was when I got taken away I went up to him and said Do you need a friend and the wind started to blow I was cold he was cold but there was nothing there…’ (Text © of the author,Continue reading “Open the door”
Delight
I’m at the end of my first week of poetry workshops with Year 9 at Didcot Girls’ School and just couldn’t be happier. The responses to the sessions have been absolutely glowing! So before I take the weekend off, and get some R&R in preparation for week two, I thought I’d share some of theContinue reading “Delight”
#LetsDoThisKids 8 – Here’s to ‘expanding the mind’
‘It’s expanding my mind on poetry’
“So, let’s start with your name. And why you are here.” #LetsDoThisKids – 3
No. This is not an AA meeting. This was how we kicked off the Writers’ Mentoring Programme at Didcot Girls’ School this week – an initiative that has grown out of the poetry workshops I led last term with around 250 year 9 and 10 students. As it’s a New Year (and all that) pleaseContinue reading ““So, let’s start with your name. And why you are here.” #LetsDoThisKids – 3”
Elaine Baker - Poet 