Born and raised in Canada, I received my B.Ed. from the University of Regina and began my teaching career with the fantastic Regina Public Schools. Ready for new adventures, I moved to the UK in 2001. I’ve spent many wonderful years in the classroom with children exploring the world of learning and enjoying those light bulb moments when new connections are made. I’ve had the opportunity to develop my skills and support other primary teachers through many roles: Literacy/English Lead, Leading Literacy Teacher for Leeds, Advanced Skills Teacher and Senior Leadership with responsibility for Assessment.
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love books. They’ve been like friends to me and I’ve spent countless hours lost in the adventures within. A passion for Literacy and to help children find the same appreciation for Reading and Writing led me to a career in teaching with a specialism in English. Over the past twenty-five years, I have built up extensive expertise in the teaching of primary English, supporting colleagues in their professional development and also linking English objectives, lessons and resources to the rigorous Key Stage Two assessment requirements. This journey has brought me to the next stage in my career: sharing my knowledge and experience with others as a primary English consultant, children’s book reviewer and author of books for teachers.
My first book in the Developing Reading Comprehension Skills series, Classic Children’s Literature for KS2, was published with Brilliant Publications in 2020. Since then, nine more books have followed. Exploring classic and contemporary fiction, poetry and non-fiction, they provide teachers in Years 2-6 with high-quality, vocabulary-building texts and a range of thought-provoking questions.
Primary English In Action is due to be published with Hachette Learning in 2026. This is a comprehensive guide to teaching primary English as a part of the wider In Action series.
Scope for Imagination 