Educational
Education and Workshops
Jill and Alison
We are both qualified teachers and have taught in primary and secondary schools. Separately, we developed a passionate interest in helping reluctant readers and it was initially through this interest that we started writing together.
BBC Teach – Dyslexia: Make a difference
A series of films designed to support teachers of KS2 and KS3 pupils who have dyslexia. The films offer practical suggestions on how best to support them, with lively graphics and clear advice..
See the series
Literacy Evolve project
The potential of the reverse psychology for ‘Don’t Read This Book’ excited us greatly and it is wonderful that it is still part of a Year 2 Literacy Evolve project.
See the book
The Blue Bananas reading scheme
We are thrilled that a rhyming couplet story, Coconut Jack, is part of the Blue Bananas reading scheme published by Egmont and widely read in schools throughout the UK.
See the book
Jill Walkinton
Jill has specialised in teaching children with specific learning differences (spld) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia for a seriously long time and is currently an educational advisor for a BBC Teach project that is now online.
This series of videos is for teachers who have children with spld in their classes, but we hope very much that it will be pertinent to children too as it is their challenges that make up the core of the series, together with our tips and strategies for everyone.
Jill is working with Debbie Harris, another dyslexia specialist teacher, on this project and they can be found on Instagram: Dyslectricks (Debbie and Jill). A book of tips and strategies is being developed alongside the BBC programmes.
Alison Lewis
Lewis taught for many years in both the state and private sector. She has been Head of Year, Literacy Co-ordinator, Drama Co-ordinator, Child Protection Officer and an external SATs examiner.
Exhausted with all this co-ordination she was ready to step into the role of Touring Co-ordinator for Limelight Productions and Fiery Light Productions which present live theatre shows for well known children’s brands such as Peppa Pig, Teletubbies (which she also co-wrote) and Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom.
Educational skills
Together, we compiled the content for accompanying activity brochures for many of these shows.
Jill and Lewis love writing stories that make them laugh with quirky story lines and often-ridiculous characters. They keep in mind, those more reluctant readers, trusting that they will appeal to them too.
Jill and Lewis have done numerous workshops in schools, libraries and literary festivals and are happy to use their educational skills during these interactive events.
