Norfolk Home Learning
From small beginnings to great success
Help with English
Language and Literature
I’m a globally-published author of literacy materials for children and teens and I'm often asked to give private lessons to boost youngsters' reading, writing, spelling or grammar.
Helping with dyslexia, real or supposed, is one of the challenges I sometimes face. Whatever the problem, youngsters like being taught by an author and often make a good response!
Key Stage 1
My picture book Fisherman Fred is the sort of thing that gets young children reading - and drawing and writing! After much experiment, Fred has found the best words for his sign - a lesson in careful use of language!
Key Stage 2
To keep pupils inspired though the junior years, there's my gruesome novella The Gibleteers - here's the back cover! - which I've often read as guest author in schools. I've also read it in pupils' homes in north Norfolk and Norwich - as well as my own home near North Walsham.
Key Stage 3
11 is the age when many youngsters have to change schools and face new social challenges and teaching methods. Private tuition can often be the breath of fresh air they so badly need. I've been giving the one in the photo some tips about essay-writing and she's sharing the results right now!
Key stage 4
Many pupils struggle to connect with First World War poets, Shakespeare and all the other set authors. I make it my business to bring literature alive for GCSE and A level students, just as I do for younger ones.
One way of bringing it alive is by getting pupils to act out scenes from their set plays. The photo shows a pupil turned into Lady Macbeth in her own front room. 'She won't forget that in a hurry,' said her well-pleased mum.
I always reply but prioritise families in East Anglia.
Here's a tip to help youngsters with spelling:
Don't present them with 'bogey' pairs like 'there' and 'their.' That's ok for testing, not teaching.
Instead, look at pairs like 'here' and 'there' or families of words like ear, hear and heard.
Thanks to Fisherman Fred artist Tony Goffe and Gibleteers artist Ray Mutimer for letting me use their work on this page; also to J Wiley and Sons for the use of their dyslexia cartoon.