Chris Curtis
@xris32.bsky.social
English teacher, head of department, geek, avid reader of books, blogger Blog: https://learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/
NEW BLOG: Oracy - talk is cheap but group work is costly learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2026/05/orac...
Oracy - talk is cheap but group work is costly
For years, I have struggled with ‘group work’ in lessons. And, I’d admit that that was born out of a sense of control and desire to manage t...
learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com
NEW BLOG: Oracy - talk is cheap but group work is costly learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2026/05/orac...
Oracy - talk is cheap but group work is costly
For years, I have struggled with ‘group work’ in lessons. And, I’d admit that that was born out of a sense of control and desire to manage t...
learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com
A tremendous day celebrating RTT:AIC. A huge thank you to my fabulous co author, @hugheshaili.bsky.social. Our series editors @teachals.bsky.social & @spryke2.bsky.social. To every teacher who attended, thank you. @zarashah.bsky.social & @xris32.bsky.social 📚🩵
My sixth form formed an arts society with the boys one down the road with the sole purpose of buying group tickets at discounted rates. We went to see ballet and plays. It was brilliant! No teachers involved. But it was the trips through ks3 and ks4 that gave us the love of theatre to start with!
(I am talking about English here - there were other sch trips but the cost - financial and staffing - were massive)
"We need it to be acceptable to take a small group to the theatre." This this this! At a previous school we were told we had to offer school trips to an entire year, not just a small group. There were 240 kids in a year... of course we didn't run trips.
I remember going to see A View from the bridge at my local theatre. There was a group (possibly GCSE age) with a teacher next to me, and at the end, one of them turned to the teacher and just said, "WOW." That's what good theatre can do.
“The theatre was packed with students because it was a GCSE text they were studying.” Going the theatre, an art gallery, or to a sporting event, with school should be and can be a lifelong memory - not just a revision task. For some kids, this is their only opportunity to see more of the world.
Chris Curtis @xris32.bsky.social · 4mo agoNEW BLOG: What do I go to school for? learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2026/04/what...
NEW BLOG: What do I go to school for? learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2026/04/what...
What do I go to school for? The exams. Or something more.
This week I was lucky to see a production of Macbeth with students from my school. It just so happened to coincide with many other schools ...
learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com
NEW BLOG: What do I go to school for? learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2026/04/what...
What do I go to school for? The exams. Or something more.
This week I was lucky to see a production of Macbeth with students from my school. It just so happened to coincide with many other schools ...
learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com
NEW BLOG - Reading Recommendations learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2024/06/read... Books from - J.P.Rose, Megan Davidhizar, Beth O'Brien and William Hussey
Chris Curtis @xris32.bsky.social · 5mo agoNEW BLOG - Reading Recommendations learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2024/06/read... Includes Keith Gray, Ciannon Smart, Jackie French, Robin Jarvis
NEW BLOG - Reading Recommendations learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2024/06/read... Books from - J.P.Rose, Megan Davidhizar, Beth O'Brien and William Hussey
Chris Curtis @xris32.bsky.social · 5mo agoNEW BLOG - Reading Recommendations learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2024/06/read... Includes Keith Gray, Ciannon Smart, Jackie French, Robin Jarvis
This is not just a writing competition - it's a way of thinking about the water crisis & the future of our planet Help us spread the word! @georgemonbiot.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com @mrsspalding.bsky.social @xris32.bsky.social @engmediacentre.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social
Text and Language Lab@textandlanguagelab.bsky.social · 5mo agoOn World Water Day, we just announced “Our Future, Our Water, Our Stories.” 🌍💧 Calling all young storytellers! www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fgp...
If you believe in the value of English as a humane, creative and essential subject, joining NATE is one of the best ways to support its future so we can ensure that English remains rich, dynamic, and meaningful — for teachers and students. www.nate.org.uk/2025/03/05/w...
Join us for exhilarating talks, enriching conversations and wonderful new connections with people who love learning as much as you do! In the English strand we have @ahughes3.bsky.social @xris32.bsky.social @haledonal.bsky.social @hugheshaili.bsky.social @meerachudasama.bsky.social and more!
Teachers Talk Connect 2026 | Teachers Talk Radio
The multi subject national event from TTR - Free for teachers!
ttradio.org
Teachers Talk Radio@ttradioofficial.bsky.social · 5mo agoHERE IT IS! 🎉and.... just wow 😍 The full programme for TTR Connect 2026 is here and it’s happening this Saturday in Manchester. So many top teacher talks + brilliant networking opportunities. You can still grab one of the last remaining FREE tickets 👇 www.ttradio.org/connect2026
NEW BLOG - Reading Recommendations learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2024/06/read... Includes Keith Gray, Ciannon Smart, Jackie French, Robin Jarvis
NEW BLOG - Reading Recommendations learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2024/06/read... Includes Keith Gray, Ciannon Smart, Jackie French, Robin Jarvis
Enjoyed Wuthering Heights. Felt very Derek Jarman/Francis Ford Coppola. Great imagery, apart from the skin walls! I didn’t have any issues with the changes to the story because I am so used to Shakespeare reinterpretations. Very much a Coppola and Burton portrait of Victorians
NEW RESOURCE: I’ve been experimenting with @xris32.bsky.social style ‘phrase banks’ over the past term to much success! Here are the AIC ones I’ve used. Great discussions had over what each phrase means and how we can use them appropriately in our writing. Use/chuck: www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ptem7...
NEW BLOG: We need to talk about oracy A taste of my ResearchEd talk yesterday learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2026/03/we-n...
We need to talk about oracy
Silence might be golden, but talk is magical. It is interesting that the latest focus is on oracy when the past decade has been obsessed a...
learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com
We’re a month away from the book release date and 2 months away from some great CPD around ‘An Inspector Calls’. @zarashah.bsky.social, @xris32.bsky.social and @funkypedagogy.bsky.social all speaking! 🤩 Sign up below! @hugheshaili.bsky.social @miriamhussain.bsky.social @teachals.bsky.social 👇🏻
Miriam Hussain@miriamhussain.bsky.social · 5mo agoReally looking forward for the book launch of RTT: An Inspector Calls at Aston University. Tickets available below: www.miriamhussain.education/events/bookl... @hugheshaili.bsky.social @spryke2.bsky.social @teachals.bsky.social @xris32.bsky.social @zarashah.bsky.social @funkypedagogy.bsky.social 📚🎉
NEW BLOG: We need to talk about oracy A taste of my ResearchEd talk yesterday learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com/2026/03/we-n...
We need to talk about oracy
Silence might be golden, but talk is magical. It is interesting that the latest focus is on oracy when the past decade has been obsessed a...
learningfrommymistakesenglish.blogspot.com
"We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist." James Baldwin
@openingdoors.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @natecommunity.bsky.social It is so often the artists, the writers who see and speak to tyranny whilst the rest stay quiet
Omg. WTF is Happening?@lalahaenzy.bsky.social · 6mo agoSir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again. #Pinks #ProudBlue
Join NATE, the UK’s leading subject association for English teachers. Get inspiring resources, stay up to date with the latest thinking in English education, and join a supportive community — from just £5/month (£1 trainees, £3 ECTs). mailchi.mp/nate.org.uk/...
