Workshops for Schools and Adults

Teaching

                'I employed Stephanie for many years and always found her excellent. Her approach to classes was innovative and supportive and her communication skills with both students and partnership agencies were excellent. 

                    Stephanie always gave of her best as a tutor...under her guidance Stephanie's students were enthusiastic about their work...and as a tutor she has been severely missed by the students and by the WEA. 

                   I would have no hesitation in recommending Stephanie...'

                                                Linda Jones, 

                                                Tutor Organizer of Coleg Harlech/WEA (Powys, Wales)

                                                                       October, 2001

Stephanie is unusual amongst writers/poets who give creative writing or poetry workshops in that she is also a trained teacher with years of experience at the chalk face, or sliding on the floor as a drama teacher and vocal performance skills tutor.  She is as happy  initiating 6th formers and undergrads into the arcane arts of close analysis as enthralling primary kids to write their own poetry.

She can be found  drawing out reminiscences from OAPs (being one herself helps) in community groups or collaborating with other artists, such as glass students at Edinburgh Art School or facilitating adults with hearing impairment to write poetry inspired by dance at Dance Base in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh.

Her creative writing workshops include poetry, prose and  play-writing, and she also tutors  performance skills.

Highlights

Stephanie trained as a teacher of English and Drama at the Oxford University Dept of Education in 1970-71. She taught for many years in multi-cultural comprehensives in London, Bristol and Cornwall,  both socially deprived, 'special'  and academic pupils, ages 11-18.

Undergrads: She taught 'Modernism' at Aberystwith University to undergraduates for one year and continues to give poetry workshops at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Recently she taught a workshop entitled 'The Writer's Casebook' followed by a reading of her work for students at Napier University, Edinburgh (2011).

Primary: Once her own son entered primary school, Stephanie developed skills as a story-teller, not only at bed-time, but whilst running a summer school for local kids in Carno, Mid-Wales where they lived. One thing led to another...and she became a professional story-teller throughout Powys schools and contiued on moving to Scotland. She no longer offers story-telling but concentrates on poetry workshops.

Adults: She taught adults at Aberystwyth Dept of Continuing Education, then for the WEA (Powys) for many years, and then on moving to Edinburgh, she was an Open Studies tutor at the University of Edinburgh for 4 years until 2008 and now continues on a freelance basis.

She has occasionally headed off to remote islands such as Iona or the wilds of Assynt for week long poetry writing residencies tutored by Stephanie.  

Volunteering: She volunteered at the Scottish Poetry Library for 5 years and was on the team for 'Read Aloud' which visits care-homes in Edinburgh bringing poetry and song to aid reminiscences.  She has also tutored with 'Artlink' facilitating poetry  for the hearing-impaired and as a member of Scottish P.E.N has worked as a literary facilitator with refugees in Glasgow.

Contact: Please contact Stephanie if you would like her to give your group a workshop and to discuss your needs.  

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