English Meet 2025: report
A report on another excellent and uplifting ‘English Meet’, with six teachers sharing enthusiasms and good practice.
Read MoreJohn Warner's 'More Than Words: how to think about writing in the age of AI'
John Warner’s More Than Words: how to think about writing in the age of AI is an early and eloquent response to a technology which is particularly challenging for English teachers.
Read MoreVacancy for English teacher
We have a vacancy for a full-time English teacher, starting in September 2025.
Read MoreWebinar on revising 'Macbeth' in the Leaving Certificate
On Tuesday 18th November 2025 I am giving a webinar on how teachers can help students revise Macbeth in the months leading up to the Leaving Certificate.
Read MoreRepeat webinar on teaching Claire Keegan's 'Small Things Like These'
Repeat webinar on teaching Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These for those who missed it in 2024.
Read MoreWebinar on teaching 'Othello'
A webinar introduction to teaching Othello, especially in the Leaving Certificate, on Wednesday 10th September 2025.
Read MoreINOTE Response to New LC English Draft Specification
All English teachers in Ireland should read the response of the Irish National Organisation for Teachers of English to the recent draft curriculum specification for Leaving Certificate English.
Read MoreArtificial Intelligence, Real Literacy
Artificial Intelligence: real literacy is a short book by Paul Matthews and Jason Gulya that is blessedly free from nonsensical hype, and gives some practical and sensible suggestions for classroom teachers.
Read MoreLeaving Certificate English Draft Specification
Initial thoughts on the Draft Curriculum Specification for Leaving Certificate English (February 2025).
Read MoreThe New Oxford Shakespeare 'Macbeth'
Emma Smith’s introduction to the Macbeth volume in The New Oxford Shakespeare series is excellent.
Read MoreIrish Advisory Council: AI in Education
Thoughts on the first Advice Paper on Education in Ireland, from the AI Advisory Council, February 2025.
Read MorePresentation on teaching 'Small Things Like These'
A talk through a presentation on teaching Claire Keegan’s novel Small Things Like These.
Read MoreHarriet Walter's 'She Speaks! what Shakespeare's women might have said'
Harriet Walter’s She Speaks! What Shakespeare’s women might have said is an entertaining and insightful account of many of the plays’ female roles.
Read MoreEnglish Meet 2025
The fourth English Meet for English teachers in the Dublin area will be on the evening of Thursday 8th May 2025.
Read MoreNeil Postman's 'Technopoly'
Thoughts on Neil Postman’s wise and prescient 1992 book Technopoly.
Read MoreThomas Newkirk's 'The Art of Slow Reading'
A revisiting of Thomas Newkirk’s book The Art of Slow Reading in the new AI world.
Read MorePosts of the Year, 2024
A collection of 25 pieces of writing from 2024.
Read MoreBooks of the Year 2024
My choices as Books of the Year 2024 in several categories.
Read MoreThe 'King Lear scene by scene' series
Links to all the podcasts and transcripts from the ‘King Lear scene by scene’ series.
Read More'King Lear' scene by scene 12
The final episode of King Lear scene by scene looks at the cataclysmic last scene of the tragedy,
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