Senior Lecturer in Education: Primary English with Children's Literature
Senior Lecturer in Education: Primary English with Children's Literature
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Since joining Brookes in 2014 after 16 years of Primary teaching in Oxfordshire, I have asked to deliver several keynotes across the UK on Reading for Pleasure, Picturebooks and Engaging pupils in the reading and writing process. My research interests include children's literature and the Reading for Pleasure agenda. This has naturally led to writing a blog entitled 'English and Children's Literature' (Click here). The blog came about a few years ago to coincide with my joining Twitter (@Mat_at_Brookes) as a way of engaging with students, teachers, authors, illustrators and publishers with a focus on Reading for Pleasure and Children's Literature. Initially it was set up as a way of sharing my own teaching practice around the teaching of reading and my passion and 'expertise' in children's literature. The first true blog post, 'How Picturebooks Work' gained a significant interest from all of the aforementioned parties and led to delivering keynotes all over the U.K. However, the work took significant planning and preparation and I realised that although there was clearly great value in continuing this, it was not manageable.
Since joining Brookes in 2014 after 16 years of Primary teaching in Oxfordshire, I have asked to deliver several keynotes across the UK on Reading for Pleasure, Picturebooks and Engaging pupils in the reading and writing process. My research interests include children's literature and the Reading for Pleasure agenda. This has naturally led to writing a blog entitled 'English and Children's Literature' (Click here). The blog came about a few years ago to coincide with my joining Twitter (@Mat_at_Brookes) as a way of engaging with students, teachers, authors, illustrators and publishers with a focus on Reading for Pleasure and Children's Literature. Initially it was set up as a way of sharing my own teaching practice around the teaching of reading and my passion and 'expertise' in children's literature. The first true blog post, 'How Picturebooks Work' gained a significant interest from all of the aforementioned parties and led to delivering keynotes all over the U.K. However, the work took significant planning and preparation and I realised that although there was clearly great value in continuing this, it was not manageable.
Instead, I moved to reviewing children's books in depth; considering their narrative and illustrative structure as well as themes and motifs. I chose to write about, what I considered, the very best of the latest literature out there. Alongside these reviews would be an in-depth interview with the author or illustrator. My consideration here was to fill a gap in what I was seeing online. There were plenty of people online celebrating and reviewing books but very little considering making a connection to the creators be they the writer, illustrator or publisher. Sharing these posts teachers, librarians, authors, illustrators and publishers has been both rewarding and deeply pleasurable. I enjoy seeing and sharing the process as much as I enjoy reading the text and writing the review.
Instead, I moved to reviewing children's books in depth; considering their narrative and illustrative structure as well as themes and motifs. I chose to write about, what I considered, the very best of the latest literature out there. Alongside these reviews would be an in-depth interview with the author or illustrator. My consideration here was to fill a gap in what I was seeing online. There were plenty of people online celebrating and reviewing books but very little considering making a connection to the creators be they the writer, illustrator or publisher. Sharing these posts teachers, librarians, authors, illustrators and publishers has been both rewarding and deeply pleasurable. I enjoy seeing and sharing the process as much as I enjoy reading the text and writing the review.
Finally, over the pandemic and as if cyclical, I delivered a free webinar called 'Exploring Pictures in Picturebooks': a follow-up to that initial blog on 'How Picturebooks Work'. This gained significant interest on social media with over 350 attending from all around the world. A blog to accompany the webinar was placed on this site and has since received over 6000 hits whilst my YouTube channel has over a 100 followers now - so there is definitely an interest in sharing this knowledge with the public and doing so in a variety of ways.
Finally, over the pandemic and as if cyclical, I delivered a free webinar called 'Exploring Pictures in Picturebooks': a follow-up to that initial blog on 'How Picturebooks Work'. This gained significant interest on social media with over 350 attending from all around the world. A blog to accompany the webinar was placed on this site and has since received over 6000 hits whilst my YouTube channel has over a 100 followers now - so there is definitely an interest in sharing this knowledge with the public and doing so in a variety of ways.
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