Fortnightly 170
Fortnightly 170 is the last issue of this academic year. ‘The Occasional’, for paid subscribers, follows in July and August.
Read MoreThe Perfect Classes
A memory of perfect classes discussing The Portrait of a Lady.
Read MoreAlex Quigley's 'Why Learning Fails'
Comments on Alex Quigley’s book Why Learning Fails (and what to do about it),
Read MoreLeaving Certificate English 2024: Paper 2
Comments on the Higher Level literature Paper 2 in the 2024 Leaving Certificate.
Read MoreLeaving Certificate English 2024: Paper 1
An assessment of English Paper 1 in the Leaving Certificate, June 2024.
Read More'Irish Times' article
Additional notes to my ‘Irish Times’ article on the future of education in Ireland.
Read MoreFortnightly 169
Fortnightly 169, the penultimate one this academic year, starts with great American literature: Robert Caro, Emily Dickinson.
Read MoreEmily Dickinson: The Gorgeous Nothings
Emily Dickinson: The Gorgeous Nothings is both a lovely book, and a handy resource if you’re teaching the poet.
Read MorePreparing for Leaving Certificate English 2024
Some ideas for effective revision in the final days leading up to the English Leaving Certificate exams, 2024.
Read MoreAndrew Atherton's 'Experiencing English Literature'
Andrew Atherton’s Experiencing English Literature: shaping authentic student response in thinking and writing provides stimulating ideas for English teachers at all stages of their careers.
Read MoreTurn Every Page
Lizzie Gottlieb’s 2022 documentary Turn Every Page is pure pleasure. It traces the decades-long relationship between her father Robert, the most distinguished editor in American letters, and Robert Caro, the greatest biographer of all.
Read MoreFortnightly 168
Fortnightly 168 includes a rich mixture of the fast (AI and social media) and the slow (John McGahern).
Read MoreThe Most Important School Subject
A provocation: studying poetry is the most important activity in school.
Read MoreEnglish, AI and the thermostatic principle
Jottings on Generative AI and English teaching.
Read MoreThe English Meet idea
Some thoughts on the first three years of English Meets at St Columba’s College.
Read More'King Lear' light and dark: webinar
Links and notes from my webinar on Tuesday 7th May 2024 for the English Community of Practice organised by Joe Rolston via Wexford Education Support Centre.
Read MoreEnglish teaching post, 2024-25
Vacancy for a full-time English teacher for the academic year 2024-25.
Read MoreFortnightly 167
Fortnightly 167, the second on Substack, is now out.
Read MoreEnglish Meet 2024: a report
A report on the third English Meet at St Columba’s College, in May 2024.
Read MoreOn Jonathan Haidt's 'The Anxious Generation'
Thoughts of a teacher on one of the books of the moment, Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation.
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