You can never have enough flip-flops

A few days ago a small group of writing teachers met up at Tate Modern. Just the committed ones? Just the lonely ones? It’s a matter of opinion, I guess. We all had a good time and enjoyed each other’s writing – and it certainly beat chauffeuring teenagers, cleaning the cooker or joining the tailbacks to the coast.  But it's odd about writing, I don’t think you’d get the same sideways looks if you admitted to, say, reading - on the beach.  And before you ask, although I’ve yet to get to the beach, I have been reading: 'A History of Love', 'The Shock of the Fall', 'Bleak House', 'Secrets in the Family', 'The Book Thief', and 'Surrendered'  – and the very delightful ‘Lifesaving Poems’ edited by Anthony Wilson (Bloodaxe 2015), because Jeni very kindly gave it to me.  http://anthonywilsonpoetry.com/category/lifesaving-poems/

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In fact, the sharp detail of Kate Bingham’s  poem, ‘Things I learned at University’ (page 35 of ‘Lifesaving poems), proved an effective writing stimulus.  It’s a list poem, of sorts, and excavates a trove of life-skills not found on any approved curriculum: ‘ ... where to bike on the pavement after dark ... how to celebrate an essay crisis ... when to smoke a joint ...’ Kate’s wit lies in the finely balanced tone somewhere between self-mockery and social critique.

(Kate Bingham's poetry workshop: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2006/aug/17/poetry)

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Under the suspicious eyes of the waitresses in the Tate Modern café, we tried a variation: ‘Things I learned on holiday’. For 15 minutes, we each trawled our holiday memories for ... bizarre and distinctive learning (‘how to address an aloe called Harold’!); ... face-saving stratagems (‘how to cheat at scrabble’, ‘how to change under a towel’); ...  and those universal truths ('doing nothing is dull', ‘spontaneity needs planning’, ‘you can never have enough flip-flops’). And when we shared, there was also a wealth of wisdom about wasps! 

(Worth adopting and adapting for the classroom? That’s September sorted.)

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Then we all went off to write about whatever caught our eye, ear or imagination - Piet Mondrian, Picasso or overheard conversations in the gallery (more August than august). When we shared our talk turned to anecdotes from the writing classroom: an able year 5 girl can produce no more than a single, over-worked paragraph. Why? Because some years earlier a teaching assistant ripped out pages from her book when the writing was deemed inadequate. Maybe she thought that’s what Mr Gove meant when he encouraged greater rigour. Maybe it was. 

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We meet again on Saturday 3 October 10 a.m. for NWP's 'WRITE AT THE MUSEUM' - at the Museum of London, Docklands. This session is free and open to all interested writing teachers. Places are limited to 30. Any teacher of writing – primary or secondary - who would like to take part, should reserve a place by emailing ksullivan@museumoflondon.org.uk  The morning will involve a tour of the museum with ex-teacher and museum officer, Kirsty Sullivan, and a writing exercise led by me. There will also be plenty of time for writing freely from whatever inspires you, for sharing (should you wish), and for discussing. Please bring your writing notebook – and I promise not to tear out a single page.  

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Simon Wrigley
NWP outreach director


P.S. I’m afraid that the website wouldn’t let me edit or post anything on this site throughout July. Apologies. Most things seem to be working again now.