By Kate Waring, English Teacher, St Peter’s Church of England Aided School, Exeter
I teach boys who are afraid to chase down a story. For them, a first line is a bigger obstacle than any kevlar-armoured, gun-wielding assassin on the gaming screen.
I haven’t made it easy for them. I breathe down their neck, ready to prise that first sentence from the paper and ‘improve’ it. I’ve thrown so many verbs, connectives and sharp-pointed adjectives at the class, that they dodge words instinctively. For these boys (and a number of girls), words are hard. All of them. Continue reading “Ready to jump in”