Anne Stairmand - Writing

Anne Stairmand

AIM High Writing

Summary

Age range Primary
Books Yes
DBS Checked Yes

Booking
Contact
+44 (0)1535 656015
aimhigh@caboodlebooks.co.uk

Anne Stairmand is a children’s writer with six books out to date ranging from 3-11 years, all very funny, satirical, with crazy plots and with utterly hilarious names.

About Anne
Anne uses her vast expertise in education to ensure pupils from ages 3-12 not only have fun in her workshops, but are challenged, inspired and introduced to new ideas and writing processes. She is always keen to ensure the key skills and elements of stages in the curriculum are covered too- to keep teachers happy!

Anne has led countless workshops and author visits, worked as an author in residence in Barking and Dagenham with London Libraries and schools; author in residence Waltham Forest with libraries to raise awareness of reading in libraries; trained and mentored tutors and organisations to improve literacy in FE and work; school improvement for National Literacy Trust; literacy activities at Latitude festival.

Anne’s AIM High Writing Days

Non-fiction

Anne can take a theme, story or current news item and explore it with pupils in non-fiction genres guiding and explaining how structures, skills, tenses, vocabulary and readership impact on the text and its outcome. Invariably, even in non-fiction writing, pupils wear props to relax and enjoy the day. 

Editing and peer assessment rate highly in Anne’s workshops so all pupils enhance these skills in pairs, groups and as whole group, enjoying their accomplishments with others. Reading work out loud and creating a range of expression for the texts always causes great fun and excitement.

Anne always likes pupils to reflect on the new skills they have acquired, or share how these have been developed to suit the particular genre and readership.

Fiction and Play Writing

Whilst Anne’s stories tend to be highly amusing, this does not have to be the case for creative writing and play writing. Anne explores the different genres in writing with a range of examples to start a piece often modelling ideas with pupils. 

Anne, always without exception, uses inspirational and challenging vocabulary sheets, allowing pupils to explore new frontiers with their writing, often pausing to listen and share views and thoughts on the skills used. She encourages pupils to write where they like (within reason) to create a stimulus and element to the workshop. It goes without saying that, pupils are expected to wear props such as wigs when writing! 

Anne also works with pupils to create play scripts from ideas and stories, developing the succinctness of direction, moving a plot on and engaging an audience with speech. In creative writing and play writing, she spends a lot of time enabling pupils to understand the impact and context of speech, in particular, colloquial language and how best to use it. 

All pupils act or read out their work, and again, use peer assessment and editing to improve their writing. In nearly all cases, after a fabulous workshop, the group like to share their amazing and spectacular work with the rest of their key stage, or even the school!

A Selection of Anne’s Books

A Selection of Anne’s Feedback

March 2022 - Some comments from Anne’s recent tour of some of our Hosts in the North East of England:

I learnt a lot about upscaling my vocabulary

'Being in another school meeting an author has been a really great experience,'

'It's been the best day ever!'

'We would love to do another.'

'The children worked hard without even realising it. They were totally engaged. Writing was made an enjoyable and all the children were inspired.' - Teacher

'This has been the best English lesson I've done yet!'

'This has been a wonderful experience. I've enjoyed every minute.'

'One of the best days I've seen yet!' - Teacher

'I love reading and writing, so it was the best .'

'When I read and write I feel calm and happy. This is the best day and I loved the masks.'

'We had a wonderful day. the children were all engaged. Anne was brilliant at building their confidence and imagination, which has shown in their incredible writing.' - Teacher

Bookings
To book Anne Stairmand please contact
aimhigh@caboodlebooks.co.uk

Anne also offers visits to schools and other settings, click here for more information.