Ellen Counter
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ellencounter.bsky.social
Ellen Counter
@ellencounter.bsky.social
200 followers 230 following 7 posts
Primary English Adviser @ HFL Education | Writing & Reading for Pleasure-obsessed ✍️ 📚 | MA Children’s Lit | NPQSL | Mum 👨‍👩‍👧 | All views my own
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Reposted by Ellen Counter
suecowley.bsky.social
Something I'm hearing a lot from teachers atm is about learners being too passive in lessons. My sense is that this may well be linked to the idea of learning as 'content delivery' into children and young people's memories. If we see learning as an interaction instead that will help with engagement.
November 6, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
barbarableiman.bsky.social
Another superb blog on writing! I so wish @writingrocks.bsky.social had been on the core panel and a key voice in the creation of the DfE Writing Framework.
October 8, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
writingrocks.bsky.social
Teaching the writing processes to children

By Ross Young and @ellencounter.bsky.social

writing4pleasure.com/2025/10/08/t...
Teaching the writing processes to children
download this article The act of teaching writing to children has undergone significant evolution over the centuries. While writing itself is an ancient skill, explicit instruction in how to write,…
writing4pleasure.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
nikitagill.bsky.social
Three times in one week. These are dark times, my friends.
Upon Seeing The Saint George's Flag Next To Anti-Refugee Graffiti Again This Week Sometimes I wonder what Saint George, a man who had a Palestinian mother and a Turkish father, a man who gave away his possessions to the poor and the sick, to those most in need of aid, a man who was taken as a prisoner of war and tortured, would think that a flag in his name is flown by a country that is sending arms to destroy his mother's homeland while using that same flag as a symbol to say that those who need asylum most are enemies who are not welcome here. - Nikita Gill
September 5, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
crobertcargill.bsky.social
Writing is not an arcane art. It is translating thoughts from your head to another's and trying to get them to feel the way you feel. Most everyone has the power to do this. The *ART* of writing comes from the alchemy of everything that makes you YOU- your fears, failures, hopes, voice & background.
September 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
writingrocks.bsky.social
9/ 🔗 Explore Further:

For a comprehensive understanding, read the full article here:

writing4pleasure.com/asking-write...

Understanding these insights can empower teachers to foster a more effective and engaging writing environment for their students.
Asking writers: What subject knowledge do teachers need to teach writing?
Original paper: LINK By Debra Myhill, Teresa Cremin and Lucy Oliver Introduction This research paper explores teachers’ subject knowledge for writing. It presents findings from the Teachers a…
writing4pleasure.com
April 18, 2025 at 9:07 AM
ellencounter.bsky.social
Feeling chuffed to have an article published in Teach Primary, about ensuring we value children’s interests and experiences when it comes to writing ✍️

cdn.teachwire.net/e-mag/Teach-...
Teach-Primary-Issue-19.3
cdn.teachwire.net
April 7, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
writingrocks.bsky.social
Transcription and oral language are key to children’s early writing development

writing4pleasure.com/2025/03/31/t...
Transcription and oral language are key to children’s early writing development
Original article: LINK By Cynthia Puranik, Molly Duncan & Ying Guo Our Writing Map shows how transcription and oral language skills contribute significantly to children’s early writing de…
writing4pleasure.com
March 31, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
shubitz.bsky.social
Preview THE WRITING BRAIN, Melanie's upcoming book w/Maggie Beattie Roberts! Melanie shares research-based methods for developing foundational writing skills. Learn about cognitive load theory, neurological response to learning, & more.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2027003/episodes/16576613. 
#TWTPod
Promo Image for the Two Writing Teachers Podcast. This week's Digging Deeper Dialogue is Foundations of Written Expression.
March 30, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
jonnybid.bsky.social
Have just made a couple of tweaks to my list of picturebooks that could be used in assemblies. They all link to key dates and events, and promote diversity, inclusion and empathy. Please feel free to download and adapt. The link can be found here: padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...
March 26, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
sineadh.bsky.social
Really happy to see this article about our wonderful Write from the Beginning project @flissj.bsky.social @doctorchungie.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social @elresearchsch.bsky.social

www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/feat...
How a project with families is boosting children's writing right from the start - Nursery World
How an early writing project has been working with researchers, schools and communities to encourage the literacy skills of children. By Caroline Vollans
www.nurseryworld.co.uk
March 26, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
uklitassociation.bsky.social
Members! The Debrief, our new UKLA newsletter, has just landed in your inbox. Now the go-to place for all things UKLA, The Debrief will bring you news, events, and more each month. Not a member but want to find out more? Visit our website and sign up to the newsletter here: https://ukla.org
February 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
whatsfsaid.bsky.social
My top tips for #NationalStorytellingWeek:

1) Write the story YOU want to read.

2) No writer can write a perfect story in one draft. You need to write, read, edit, rewrite. Rewriting IS writing! (see art below, by Charles M Schulz)

3) Whatever happens - NEVER GIVE UP!

sfsaid.com/2017/01/thre...
Cartoon showing Snoopy by Charles M Schulz writing and rewriting. Caption: "Good Writing Is Rewriting"
February 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
uklitassociation.bsky.social
UKLA Literacy Special Issue: The Writing Realities Framework and New Directions In Writing Research, Instruction And Learning is guest edited by Ross Young, Felicity Ferguson, and Doug Kaufman and now available online: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17414369/2025/59/1
February 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
ellencounter.bsky.social
‘The notion of play is really important’ - emphasising the need for joyful creativity - what a privilege to listen to legend @davidjalmond.bsky.social talking about how to make the writing process less intimidating whilst sharing his own notebooks ✍️👏👏 #powerfulpedagogy @hfleducation.bsky.social
February 6, 2025 at 3:29 PM
ellencounter.bsky.social
What a brilliant and inspiring conference it’s been so far… #powerfulpedagogy from @hfleducation.bsky.social 👏👏
Joyful poetry from Valerie Bloom, what the research says about writing from @writingrocks.bsky.social and rethinking reading teaching & assessment from Dr Wayne Tennent… WOW!! ✨🙌
February 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
samcreighton.bsky.social
So impressed by these first drafts of poems by some of my year five kiddos (the lesson focused on the use of onomatopoeia). One of the things I love about the @writingrocks.bsky.social pedagogy is how authentic & individual the writing is; I get to enjoy it as a reader, as well as a teacher 👏 ✍️ ❤️
February 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
navangovender.bsky.social
thank you for applying...
February 1, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
writingrocks.bsky.social
Writing For Pleasure and the role children’s emotions play in exceptional writing classrooms

writing4pleasure.com/2023/01/31/w...
Writing For Pleasure and the role children’s emotions play in exceptional writing classrooms
Before we start, let me define what a Writing For Pleasure pedagogy is. Writing For Pleasure is actually nothing more than a synonym for world-class writing teaching (Young & Ferguson 2021, 202…
writing4pleasure.com
December 6, 2024 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
jonnybid.bsky.social
Every school in the country needs to register for this free Children for Change ebook about climate action. Perfect for assemblies and sharing in class, and will motivate and inspire children. Created by over 80 amazing writers and illustrators. Please share! pop-up.org.uk/childrenforc...
December 6, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
whatsfsaid.bsky.social
For anyone who's read VARJAK PAW and wants to know how it was written - or anyone interested in the #writing process - here's a free resource I made for the British Library, sharing pages from 7 different drafts. You can have a lot of fun showing this to a class!
www.sfsaid.com/2024/06/the-...
Pages from 7 different drafts of Varjak Paw by SF Said, illustrated by Dave McKean, showing the development of the opening through the writing process
December 3, 2024 at 7:46 PM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
booktrust.org.uk
Schools! We have a fantastic guide to running a comics club for you, with top tips from @eggyhelen.bsky.social and super illustrations by Emily Kimbell.

PLUS get a free comic from The Phoenix and the chance to win a year's subscription for your school! 💥👇

www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-fea...
How comics clubs can develop reading - and writing - for pleasure
Get top tips for starting a comics club in your school, with great ideas from PGCE lecturer Helen Jones - plus, find out how you could win a school subscription to The Phoenix.
www.booktrust.org.uk
November 28, 2024 at 7:35 AM
Reposted by Ellen Counter
ellencounter.bsky.social
Thank you! My advice would be that the same principles apply:
- be a writer-teacher, write alongside the children
- make books about the things you all love/know lots about
- write for real purpose & audience
- check out @writingrocks.bsky.social for examples of projects in the EYFS & KS1
November 28, 2024 at 6:29 PM
ellencounter.bsky.social
If you’re interested in writing for pleasure, or just writing teaching in general, hopefully this is of interest! Thursday (online) from 4-5:30pm 👇

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/why-childr...
Why children need to write for pleasure now more than ever - Ellen Counter
Eventbrite - National Association of Advisers in English presents Why children need to write for pleasure now more than ever - Ellen Counter - Thursday, November 28, 2024 - Find event and ticket infor...
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 26, 2024 at 9:00 PM