Section 5 Authors In Schools
5.1 Introduction
As with inviting theatre groups to perform in school, an author visit can be a powerful initiative which can have a lasting positive effect on both pupils and teachers. Sue Horner from the English Team at QCA, writes in the introduction to Writing Together; Bringing Writers into Schools, a practical guide (Booktrust, 2006).
‘We believe that working with a writer is a unique way for children and young people to understand the power of the written word and the excitement of creative composition. We want every school to have a regular programme of writers in school and all pupils to work with a writer at least once in each key stage.
Writers provide inspiration, technical advice and an example to follow. Pupils learn the craft of composition by doing, experimenting, being an apprentice. Being a powerful writer is not just about fiction and poetry, though space for this in the curriculum must be preserved. It is relevant to almost all curriculum areas and is important beyond the school gates’.
5.2 What to expect from an author visit
Whilst some writers for children have been teachers, and are used to working with young people, this is certainly not always the case, but often teachers expect a visiting writer to behave in a ‘teacherly’ fashion. This is an unfair expectation, and it is important that student teachers are not only clear about what they want to achieve from an author visit, but are open-minded enough not to expect visiting writers necessarily to engage children in lesson-type activities. Simply meeting a ‘real’ author and hearing them read from their work, is often enough.
5.3 Activity
- Ask student teachers to draw up a list of the possible advantages of having a writer (or illustrator) in school. Can each item on the list be linked to one of the five outcomes of Every Child Matters?
- What follow-up activities could be planned to support the visit? Draw up a short outline unit of work, showing how a particular type of visit could be followed up, Choose from a visit from:
- A poet
- An illustrator
- A fiction writer – choose your own genre for this
- A non-fiction writer
5.4 Useful Links
- From the Society of Authors - www.societyofauthors.net – comes a helpful guide to organising an author visit. The Society website also has a writer search facility.
- The Booktrust website, www.booktrust.org.uk/writingtogether provides a well-presented argument for having writers in schools. A QCA endorsed initiative, it is supported by top writers who give their reasons for being involved. It also explains how to organise and manage an author visit, covering planning, running and following up. It covers funding and there is a useful list of contacts.
