Poet Bernard Young School visit

Two days in Vale View Primary School for National Poetry Day

Now that I have a base in Manchester, it was great to be able to spend 2 days in Vale View Primary School in Stockport, just up the road, for National Poetry Day. This is a large school and on the first day I worked with the older children (KS2) and on National Poetry day the younger children (KS1).

Both days started with a performance and then I visited every class in turn doing class poems set to music with the youngest, and assisting the older children to work on individual poems.  The entire school was writing poetry, and at the end of each day we got together again and children performed their poems for each other. It was also a thrill to go into one class that was already watching my ‘Puddles in the Playground‘ video on YouTube that they had found themselves.

Bernard_8707use

Thanks to Louise Pearson, who co-ordinated my visit, and was very kind to email after to say that she’d had loads of great feedback from staff and children, and her class loved having me in.

Poet Bernard Young Performance, School visit

World Book Day, March 7th 2013 A day of poetry at Northlands Primary School, Rugby

WelcomeA big thank you to Northlands Primary School, Rugby for delaying World Book Day by 24 hours. Car trouble prevented me from getting there for the official event and, just like that, the school happily moved my visit to the following day.

As the photograph illustrates, on a snowy day the welcome couldn’t have been warmer.

I worked with all age groups and we had a brilliant get together before school ended to listen to new poems written and performed by the children. It was fantastic that we were joined by many parents for that.

Thanks again to the school for looking after me so well and producing some great poems.

Karen Classroom ideas, School visit

Great visit on 25th Feb to Ribbon (Merton Community Primary School) doing Road Safety Poetry

It would seem from the write up here that the visit was a success.

“On Monday 25th February 2013 poet Bernard Young came into our school. Bernard Young is a poet who helps pupils learn about road safety in a fun and innovative way through the medium of poetry.

He began the day performing a selection of his own poems and talking to us about the different styles of poetry. For the rest of the day each class were working on class poems with help from Bernard Young, ready for a presentation in the hall at the end of the day where each class would present their poems to the rest of the school.

We also had a visit from the Area Road Safety Officer to give us a road safety talk, accompanied by the Junior Road Safety Officers.” Read more…

Poet Bernard Young Classroom ideas, School visit

National Poetry Day 4th October 2012

An enthusiastic poet in the classroom has a tremendous effect, inspiring children and teachers to write and read poetry long after the poet has left. Have you planned what you are doing for National Poetry Day this year?

Bernard Young performing at Filey Primary School

Poet Bernard Young School visit

World Book Day 1 March 2012

I had a brilliant day in Chester at Oldfield Primary School who invited me to work with them on a special poetry day for World Book Day. After a very early start and long drive the warm welcome I received was, itself, welcome.

I saw lots of Wallys and discovered that Snow White teaches there. The staff (as you’ll see from the photo) were a colourful crowd and the kids were equally impressive.

They were great to perform to and the workshops produced some wonderful work which was shared at the end of the day.

James Read (y4 I think) wrote a poem in my honour. Although modesty forbids me from publishing the whole thing it ends like this…

Read his poems on Friday and you’ll be glad.

Read his poems on Saturday, then repeat them to your dad.

Read them on Sunday and you won’t feel low.

Then rush around and tell everyone you know

Bernard Young, Bernard Young

He writes great poems, does Bernard Young

Poet Bernard Young School visit

Highcliffe Primary, Guisborough 31st October & 1st November

Thanks for making me welcome. I enjoyed my two day visit very much.

Day one started off in the hall with a performance to the whole school. Great joining in on Brilliant and Ref Rap kids. Loads of poems were written. Individual and group ones. And a few class ones (with added guitar) when I worked with Reception and Yr 1 & 2.

Great to start with Reception on the morning of day 2 and finish the day with a yr 6 session. There were poems about pirates, swimming, dancing, teachers, football (of course) and a lump in the throat one about a soldier going to war.

Days like these remind me why I love being a poet who visits schools.