Whether you're teaching novice writers, older children or adults, you'll benefit from Julie Bennett's enthusiasm and expertise. She presents handwriting as both an art and a science. Either way, it can be mastered. Julie covers all bases: teaching, improving and troubleshooting handwriting. Starting with the basics - seating, posture, paper and writing implements - she then fixes the goalposts with a handwriting checklist. This is the reference point for remedying a range of common problems (e.g. uneven spacing between words and letters or inconsistent slope and slant) using Julie's multi-sensory 'Key Notes' method. A chapter on teaching beginner writers moves through the stages of writing from pre-literate to fluency, and a section on solving handwriting problems (e.g. for left-handers or those with dysgraphia or arthritis) is followed by a treasure trove of resources: schemes, aids, software, websites and books. Sign up for your copies now!

How do you ensure that what you write gets read, understood and acted upon? The Writing Skills Pocketbook describes a 3-phase approach to planning, preparing and polishing written communications for the modern business world. Central to the planning phase is a clear understanding of why you are writing and who you are writing for. The book guides you through the planning process and shows you how to test your approach. The second phase, preparation, demonstrates how to write clear, concise and compelling texts using the authors' eight golden rules. There is advice too on how to present and illustrate your written material to best effect, including the most commonly asked questions on punctuation. Don't be too hasty to send your letter, email or report. Take time to check it thoroughly using the book's '11-point critiquing checklist' and 'top tips for proof-reading'. This is the final, polishing phase. The Writing Skills Pocketbook is your essential guide to writing confidently, swiftly and with greater impact.

This pocketbook is a practical guide to helping dyslexic students overcome their learning barriers and unlock their potential. It provides an outline of what dyslexia is; ways to recognise 'at risk' signs; information about learning profiles of dyslexic students; suggested solutions; how to improve the performance of dyslexic students and pointers to further resources. The book starts by defining dyslexia and then moves on to consider the benefits of multi-sensory learning. Practical tools and techniques are provided for reading, handwriting, spelling, maths, speaking & listening, music, study skills and organisation. There are chapters on raising self-esteem and the 6 'Ls' (legibility, layout, language, links, large picture/little chunks, let it settle and look again) and on the different theories and practices currently in use. A former primary school teacher, author Julie Bennett has delivered training on dyslexia to a range of professionals, from early years practitioners to Open University staff and students. She has mild dyslexia herself and writes from first-hand experience, drawing on her work with children and adults with specific learning difficulties "Full of nuggets of information that will help teachers to understand their dyslexic pupils better, backed up with quality tips that are easily applied to the classroom to create a better learning environment for these pupils " "This inspirational book, which is engaging, informative and full of brilliant ideas, provides a true and rare insight into aiding dyslexics in their learning. It is an essential resource and I can't wait to try out many of the ideas in the classroom! "

The latest teaching standards demand that all teachers 'take responsibility for promoting high standards of literacy and correct use of standard English, whatever the teacher's specialism'. That's no bad thing, but it leaves some of us feeling under-trained and over-exposed. Enter the Literacy Across the Curriculum Pocketbook. The book is based on four principles: literacy is important for all learning; we owe it to our pupils to help them develop their literacy; developing strategies for LAC enhances teaching and learning across the school; teachers do not have to be literacy experts to promote LAC. In a series of punchy chapters, (Speaking for Success, Write Better! Vamp up your Vocabulary, Splendid Spelling, Raring to Read) Caroline Bentley-Davies presents practical ideas and simple strategies for incorporating literacy skills into your own lessons. All this plus some really helpful advice on note-making and a self-audit LAC checklist."Literacy Across the Curriculum Pocketbook is a necessity for all teachers wanting to find manageable, effective and exciting ways of promoting literacy in their lessons. A great resource!" Justin Wakefield, Literacy & Numeracy Co-ordinator, Humberston Academy, Grimsby "Innovating tips, strategies and ideas to revitalise literacy in your lessons instantly. Every page offers simple and realistic approaches to promoting literacy across all subjects. Vamp up your vocab; make tricky spelling stick; weave literacy seamlessly into your lessons. I love it!" Lesley Ann McDermott, History Teacher, St Patrick's Catholic College, Thornaby-on-Tees "Contains everything you should know about Literacy and more. Written in a clear and concise manner, even as an experienced English teacher it still taught me a trick or two!" Sarah Martin, CPD Leader, Academies Enterprise Trust

′This is a fantastic book which provides creative and practical suggestions of how to engage all children in writing′ - Sarah Martin-Denham, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education, University of Sunderland This book is a practical guide designed to stimulate story writing in the early years and primary classroom. It offers a collection of novel and effective Ideas which can be used by educators to energise, excite and motivate children to willingly write stories across the 3-11 age phase. Each chapter offers creative and innovative Ideas to get children writing stories, including: - how to help children ′see the point′ of story writing - how speaking and listening, reading and phonics can be utilised to enhance written stories - how technology can facilitate refreshing story writing - how story writing can be physically interactive. By combining theory with practice, this book is ideal for those training to teach the 3 to 11 age range, those beginning their teaching career, and those who are established in their professional role. Simon Brownhill is Senior Teaching Associate at the University of Cambridge.

'Andrew Taylor is a master story-teller' Daily Telegraph From the No.1 bestselling author of The Ashes of London and The Fire Court, this is the sixth instalment in the acclaimed Lydmouth series When the body of Rufus Moorcroft, a middle-aged widower with a distinguished war record, is found in his summerhouse, the verdict is suicide. But both reporter Jill Francis and her lover, Detective Richard Thornhill, approaching the case from different angles, discover there's more to it than that. The key to the mystery stretches back to a highly-charged summer before the war, and back to another death. A local asylum plays a part, as do a moderately famous artist and his wife; Superintendent Williamson, now retired and loathing it; Councillor Bernie Broadbent - a man with more pies than fingers to put in them; a Cambridge don; an aristocratic unmarried mother, now gleefully drawing her old-age pension; and - to Thornhill's surprise and growing horror - his own wife, Edith. 'An excellent writer. He plots with care and intelligence and the solution to the mystery is satisfyingly chilling' The Times 'The most under-rated crime writer in Britain today' Val McDermid 'There is no denying Taylor's talent, his prose exudes a quality uncommon among his contemporaries' Time Out

Find out what exactly dyspraxia/DCD is and the current approaches to diagnosis. Learn how to recognise students with dyspraxia; familiarise yourself with the effects of the condition, including secondary consequences; and equip yourself with a range of teaching tools and classroom strategies to support pupils with this 'hidden disability'. Afroza Talukdar works as a specialist teacher, providing advice to mainstream teachers on how best to address the needs of children with motor co-ordination difficulties. She cuts through the confusion of different terminologies and overlapping difficulties and explains how you can make a real difference in helping students with this disorder to achieve their potential. By the end of the book you will understand dyspraxic learners' complex difficulties and feel confident about developing a dyspraxia-friendly classroom within which they can be addressed.