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The impact that David Mason’s sessions can have on the long term improvement of children’s writing is phenomenal. He has been working with St Mary’s for a number of years and the children positively buzz with excitement when they know he is coming to work with them.

The range of topics and genres he can cover allow teachers to shine a light into the often gloomy corners of the Literacy Framework. We have used David to work with focus groups of pupils, to inspire and enliven year 2 and 6 pupils prior to SATs, to prepare an original piece of drama for a whole class entry to a drama competition as well as poetry and story writing.

I cannot recommend him highly enough!

”

I am an experienced specialist English teacher and children's author who has worked in Primary and Secondary schools since 2000, teaching and performing my work to pupils aged 4-16. I also run Inset sessions to explain my technique for improving children's writing to teaching staff.

Need a hand with the Current literacy strategy?

Where my expertise can help

My creative writing and poetry workshops deal with classroom based solutions to the Literacy Strategy. 

However, I would underline the four strands where my expertise can really assist the school:
Speaking – “Competently and creatively for different purposes and audiences, reflecting on impact and response” – I run presentation skills courses covering all these aspects of learning.
Listening – “Understand, recall and respond to speaker’s explicit and implicit meanings and comment on speaker’s use of language, including vocab, grammar and non-verbal features” – my performance sessions are excellent material for listening practice and performance analysis.
Drama – “Use dramatic techniques, including work in role to explore ideas and texts” – I write my own drama sets specifically for different ages.  Children create within a framework.
Word Recognition – “Build up a store of words that are instantly understood and recognised on sight” – Drama sessions involve narrative and continuous stream of vocabulary – the children’s language base expands whilst having fun.

Performance for all ages

These sessions develop empathy with the audience and build credibility with the pupils, some or all of whom I will later engage with on an academic front.

My audiences have varied from 20 to more than 300 over the years in schools, theatres, festivals, libraries and bookshops.

Pupils aged 5-8 years

I have written six dramas, developing them according to the needs of pupils. Titles include "Queen Oak", "Nana's Secret Garden" and "The Elf who sang the King to sleep".

Typical Year 2 timetable:

• 9.00-10.00. Introduction and repeated drama performance in hall for 25-30 pupils (PART 1)
• 10.00-10.30. Smaller groups, speaking and listening
• 11.00-12.00. Pictorial and/or written exercises from drama
• 1.00-2.00. Drama (PART 2)
• 2.00-2.30. Smaller groups, speaking and listening
• 2.30-3.00. Performance of storytelling/poetry

The timetable and contents may be negotiated according to pupil's needs and interests.

Annual Programme

Pupils aged 8-15 years
A challenging drama/creative writing package (entirely written and researched by myself). Pupils respond to the out of classroom experience, many being inspired by the subject for the first time ever.

Timetable as for younger pupils but with more emphasis on written work. "I've acted it out, spoken it and now it's a lot easier to write."

NON-RHYMING POETRY
Writing non-rhyming poetry and using this exercise to explore fictional, diary and persuasive writing. Using the same word bank, this expansive exercise saves teachers' time and helps pupil's confidence in learning from a single topic base.

Writing the poetry in the first place allows pupils to tap into a rich seam of language they never knew existed. The writing comes alive in the exercises which follow! "Good-bye" to the old, plodding verbs and adjectives. "Hello" metaphorical and abstract!

"It looks like a proper author has written it and I' m only ten years old!"

Timetable is different from that for drama and more children (up to 60) can be taught during the day.

COST

GROUP SIZES

PERSONAL
I have six wonderful children and a lovely wife. We live in Norfolk in a happy, noisy house.

I've worked as an immunopathologist, a sales training manager and have owned a restaurant. I began writing in 1993 and my first book was published in 1996.

REFERENCES
Comprehensive references can be found on my References Page. However, here are a couple of "tasters":

"David has worked in Haslemere School four days per year over the last five years.  The school has a high proportion of SEN, EAL pupils.  Through his vibrant and exciting approach, David has managed to inspire and engage all our children.

He is well aware of current developments in literacy and is one step ahead in his working towards a wider creative curriculum.

Writing has improved significantly and, as a consequence, literacy SATs results."

"David Mason has the wonderful ability to be able to lead children and staff through the creative writing process. He provides a helpful and very structured framework for writing that supports children with little confidence, whilst extending and developing the ideas of the most able.

"His flexible and approachable style resulted in a tailor-made programme to suit our school and year group needs. He really appears to enjoy his work and has a great sense of humour. The children and staff can't wait to have him back!"