Ellen Counter
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ellencounter.bsky.social
Ellen Counter
@ellencounter.bsky.social
190 followers 230 following 7 posts
Primary English Adviser @ HFL Education | Writing & Reading for Pleasure-obsessed ✍️ 📚 | MA Children’s Lit | NPQSL | Mum 👨‍👩‍👧 | All views my own
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Means a lot coming from Barbara! Thank you @barbarableiman.bsky.social ☺️
Reposted by Ellen Counter
Three times in one week. These are dark times, my friends.
Reposted by Ellen Counter
Writing is not an arcane art. It is translating thoughts from your head to another's and trying to get them to feel the way you feel. Most everyone has the power to do this. The *ART* of writing comes from the alchemy of everything that makes you YOU- your fears, failures, hopes, voice & background.
Feeling chuffed to have an article published in Teach Primary, about ensuring we value children’s interests and experiences when it comes to writing ✍️

cdn.teachwire.net/e-mag/Teach-...
Teach-Primary-Issue-19.3
cdn.teachwire.net
Reposted by Ellen Counter
Preview THE WRITING BRAIN, Melanie's upcoming book w/Maggie Beattie Roberts! Melanie shares research-based methods for developing foundational writing skills. Learn about cognitive load theory, neurological response to learning, & more.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2027003/episodes/16576613
#TWTPod
Reposted by Ellen Counter
Have just made a couple of tweaks to my list of picturebooks that could be used in assemblies. They all link to key dates and events, and promote diversity, inclusion and empathy. Please feel free to download and adapt. The link can be found here: padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...
Reposted by Ellen Counter
Members! The Debrief, our new UKLA newsletter, has just landed in your inbox. Now the go-to place for all things UKLA, The Debrief will bring you news, events, and more each month. Not a member but want to find out more? Visit our website and sign up to the newsletter here: https://ukla.org
Reposted by Ellen Counter
My top tips for #NationalStorytellingWeek:

1) Write the story YOU want to read.

2) No writer can write a perfect story in one draft. You need to write, read, edit, rewrite. Rewriting IS writing! (see art below, by Charles M Schulz)

3) Whatever happens - NEVER GIVE UP!

sfsaid.com/2017/01/thre...
Reposted by Ellen Counter
UKLA Literacy Special Issue: The Writing Realities Framework and New Directions In Writing Research, Instruction And Learning is guest edited by Ross Young, Felicity Ferguson, and Doug Kaufman and now available online: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17414369/2025/59/1
‘The notion of play is really important’ - emphasising the need for joyful creativity - what a privilege to listen to legend @davidjalmond.bsky.social talking about how to make the writing process less intimidating whilst sharing his own notebooks ✍️👏👏 #powerfulpedagogy @hfleducation.bsky.social
What a brilliant and inspiring conference it’s been so far… #powerfulpedagogy from @hfleducation.bsky.social 👏👏
Joyful poetry from Valerie Bloom, what the research says about writing from @writingrocks.bsky.social and rethinking reading teaching & assessment from Dr Wayne Tennent… WOW!! ✨🙌
Reposted by Ellen Counter
So impressed by these first drafts of poems by some of my year five kiddos (the lesson focused on the use of onomatopoeia). One of the things I love about the @writingrocks.bsky.social pedagogy is how authentic & individual the writing is; I get to enjoy it as a reader, as well as a teacher 👏 ✍️ ❤️
Reposted by Ellen Counter
Reposted by Ellen Counter
Every school in the country needs to register for this free Children for Change ebook about climate action. Perfect for assemblies and sharing in class, and will motivate and inspire children. Created by over 80 amazing writers and illustrators. Please share! pop-up.org.uk/childrenforc...
Reposted by Ellen Counter
For anyone who's read VARJAK PAW and wants to know how it was written - or anyone interested in the #writing process - here's a free resource I made for the British Library, sharing pages from 7 different drafts. You can have a lot of fun showing this to a class!
www.sfsaid.com/2024/06/the-...
Reposted by Ellen Counter
Schools! We have a fantastic guide to running a comics club for you, with top tips from @eggyhelen.bsky.social and super illustrations by Emily Kimbell.

PLUS get a free comic from The Phoenix and the chance to win a year's subscription for your school! 💥👇

www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-fea...
How comics clubs can develop reading - and writing - for pleasure
Get top tips for starting a comics club in your school, with great ideas from PGCE lecturer Helen Jones - plus, find out how you could win a school subscription to The Phoenix.
www.booktrust.org.uk
Reposted by Ellen Counter
Thank you! My advice would be that the same principles apply:
- be a writer-teacher, write alongside the children
- make books about the things you all love/know lots about
- write for real purpose & audience
- check out @writingrocks.bsky.social for examples of projects in the EYFS & KS1
Thank you! My advice would be that the same principles apply:
- be a writer-teacher, write alongside the children
- make books about the things you all love/know lots about
- write for real purpose & audience
- check out @writingrocks.bsky.social for examples of projects in the EYFS & KS1