iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

The Sept emagazine is out in schools (see details below). Have you re-subscribed yet? Thought of subscribing for the 1st time. Over half the sixth forms in the country do, and have access to all past issues & a searchable archive of 1000s of articles. www.englishandmedia.co.uk/emc-magazine...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

We've had some lovely poems by students sent to us after #NationalPotryDay, prompted by the EMC resource. What I love is how varied they are - coming from students' own choices of what to write about. If you've got any to share from your classes, do let us know! Examples to follow in replies below.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Here's the second of my poems up on Scaryness.com website, with the theme of 'Halloween Cancelled'. I hope some primary age pupils will recognise these feelings and smile! scaryness.com/halloween-ca...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Tenor, vehicle and ground have been appearing in lots of English curriculum plans, promoted by a few eduinfluencers. I've been v sceptical about their usefulness in teaching metaphor. In a forthcoming EMC resource, linguist Peter Stockwell explains the problem with them.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Working on the @engmediacentre.bsky.social report on our survey of poetry at KS3, funded by Tower Poetry, I’ve been looking back at some of my articles and blogs on poetry. I’m especially proud of this one, for @magmapoetry.bsky.social magmapoetry.com/archive/magm...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I wrote this poem and entered it for the Poetry Society Stanza Competition on 'Wonder'. I heard it was longlisted but not chosen. Here it is, in case it might be recognisable to other parents & grandparents!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Everybody should be a 'poetry person' today! poetrybyheart.com/poems/hey-yo... @poetrydayuk.bsky.social @poetrybyheart.bsky.social

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Another really lovely, heartwarming novel for children by @coralrumble.bsky.social about a boy whose family skeletons and secrets turn out to be more important than the story of the skeletons of drowned local sailors he thinks he's investigating! Thank you for the book, Coral!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I've been doing some 'admin' on my poems today & realise how many I've written - many read to the grandsons, some published, some hopeless efforts, others waiting for a home. Here's one I've unearthed that will be just right for my lovely 10-month-old granddaughter!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

It’s just arrived and I’m getting stuck into @attielime.bsky.social’s fabulous new book. What a treat - crunch, crunch, crunch! Delicious!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I've been devising a resource for @engmediacentre.bsky.social for @poetrydayuk.bsky.social on Thursday 1st Oct - a simple, doable activity fuelled by fabulous poems that take an unusual angle on the theme of 'Wonder'. If you're an English teacher, watch out for it on EMC website - up by Monday!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Really excellent Editor’s Briefing on PISA in @tesmagazine.bsky.social email this morning by @jonsevers.bsky.social Worth signing up to read the whole thing but here’s one good passage.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I wrote a clutch of poems at @carolebromley.bsky.social's fab workshop 2 weeks ago. This pm I've done some more work on a few - on Halloween, autumn, a message to my 10-year-old self & school routines. I've sent one off as a submission to a website & will look for homes for the others at some point!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This is a lovely opportunity for English Lit students of secondary school age - and so great to see that there is an opportunity for a creative response or a critical one! englishassociation.ac.uk/the-betty-ha...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

n case you missed it over the summer, EMC has put on its website a report from 2006 on vocational learning at A Level, with an informative overview & why it's valuable for ALL students, not just lower attaining. Worth reading given govt plans & ideas! englishandmedia.co.uk/projects/wor...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Just finished 'The Correspondent' by Virginia Evans. What a great novel! The use of letters is a tour de force...and not just a method but a key element in the plot and an exploration and meditation on letter-writing. I reckon it'd make a great A Level text, either set text or for NEA!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

If you subscribe to emag, I'd love to know what you think of the article I've written on themes in drama. It's focused mainly on 'King Lear' to exemplify the ideas but it has wider relevance to thinking about themes in any drama text. Here's the start!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

My understanding is that The English Review is no longer being published. That means emagazine is the only mag for A Level English Lit. If you used to subscribe to The English Review, do take a look! Subscribe now & you get instant access to the full archive of 1000s of articles & Sept issue online.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Sept emagazine is now online. What a privilege to be able to publish such incredible writing from academics, teachers & students. This issue is a stunner! Don't forget tor renew – or subscribe for the first time. (The website has a sample issue to look at.) www.englishandmedia.co.uk/emc-magazine...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

I published this article on CPVE & TVEI in 1988. Reading it now, I think there’s a great deal here that is worth knowing & reflecting on in considering new vocational initiatives. .

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Here's my second new poem up on The Dirigible Balloon website. This one's for the theme of 'Flight' and is called 'Feathers'. Do take a look at all the amazing poems up there too! dirigibleballoon.org

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

I'm so pleased to have two new poems up on the wonderful Dirigible Balloon website, the brilliant project of @northernjim.bsky.social! The theme was Fun, Frolicking, Friendship, Fascination and Flying. Here's my first one:

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

So delighted with this review of ‘Snap!’ in ‘English 4-11’, the @engassac.bsky.social @natecommunity.bsky.social @uklitassociation.bsky.social magazine for primary teachers.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

I’m absolutely thrilled with this review of my collection of poems for little ones, 'Snap!' in the Autumn issue of @englishassociation.bsky.social @natecommunity.bsky.social & @uklitassociation.bsky.social magazine 'English 4-11'. amazon.co.uk/Snap-Poems-Chi…

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Another comment from an English teacher (who has now left the the classroom). A major job for the new Sec of State, Lucy Powell, is to significantly change accountability measures based on results only, what English GCSE looks like & its peverse impact on the subject & how it's taught.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

New report on Reading for Pleasure, from the House of Commons Education Committee, took lots of evidence & offers many very significant ways forward. The quotations below are a clarion call for major change at secondary level & particularly GCSE English. committees.parliament.uk/publications...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

I'm going to be doing a 1/2 hour performance for little ones 4+, at this event tomorrow, at 10.30am. Do bring along children, grandchildren, grand-nieces and nephews for a fun session, with actions, rhymes, silly poems (and some serious ones) and a special puppet friend called Bertorelli!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

This is a truly wonderful opportunity, for English teachers, if you've not come across it before. The teachers who have been involved over the past few years have nothing but praise for it! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/projects/rea...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

I honestly don't believe any English teacher can afford to miss this! Here's what teachers said about the full-day course last week. The online webinar offers a cut-down version! Bookings close 8am 29th June. www.englishandmedia.co.uk/courses/768c...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

I've been proofing Sept issue of emagazine & loving the articles in this issue. You and your students can enjoy them too & if you subscribe for 1st time now, you'll have the bonus of instant access to the website with 1000s of articles & back issues. englishandmedia.co.uk/emc-magazines/

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Thought I wouldn't manage a Father's Day poem but managed to get my act together and here's one to share with little ones and their dads!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Arrived home from a week away to find this on the doormat! I’ve loved her two previous YA novels, so a new one is an exciting event. Thank you @tiafisher.bsky.social. I can’t wait to read it!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Today I went to Auschwitz. I wanted to bear witness & remember. However much you think you know, you cannot really understand until you stand on that ground & see the scale, the enormity, the cold calculation, the ruthless, inhuman cruelty. My family - Sarah, Carola, Judith - you are remembered.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

With Sports Days coming up, in schools everywhere, here's my poem from 'Snap!' about what can go wrong! www.amazon.co.uk/Snap-Poems-C...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Cross about recent changes to A Level set text choices? The loss of a 'great' author or text? Here's what you can do:

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Very enjoyable hour spent interviewing Romesh Gunesekera this morning about his writing, and especially the re-issue of ‘Reef’.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

My copy arrived yesterday. Gorgeous magazine. Thank you so much @thetoypress.bsky.social

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Excellent ‘From the Editor’ comment by @jonsevers.bsky.social in my @tes email weekly briefing this morning. He puts his finger on the problems created by the trad/prog wars stirred up by Nick Gibb & why ‘the ghost’ of Gibb is still controlling the agenda for reform in very damaging ways.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Really enjoying dipping into Victoria Gatehouse’s lovely collection of poems for children, out this week with @theemmapress.bsky.social Full of wit & wonderful insights into the natural world!

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Reviews for 'Snap!' have dried up after the 1st flurry of responses. I'd love more! I'd especially love to hear about whether your chlldren, grandchildren, EY, KS1 or KS2 classes have enjoyed reading the poems. shorturl.at/YKuqr

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Poems from 'Snap!' are in @northernjim.bsky.social Dirigible Balloon anthology & website, @northerngravy.bsky.social, TygerTyger & most recently on @poetrybyheart.bsky.social timeline. There are plenty more like this in the book itself + lovely colour illustrations! www.amazon.co.uk/Snap-Poems-C...

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Creative-critical tasks can get a bad press, as if they're just a bit of 'fun' & don't pay their way. But if well set up, they can be a very fruitful way of exploring texts critically. e.g. looking back at an @engmediacentre.bsky.social AL resource on 'Reef', I found this book cover activity.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

This arrived today! I’m really enjoying @joshuaseigal.bsky.social’s witty, fun poems. I’m sure my grandsons will enjoy them too.

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Exciting news! One of my poems has just gone up on @poetrybyheart.bsky.social 7+ timeline. When I see who else is up there, I can't quite believe it. I really am a 'poetry person' now! I hope some children choose it to perform it in forthcoming competitions. poetrybyheart.org.uk/timeline/7plus

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Barbara Bleiman @barbarableiman.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Entries are coming in for emagazine Close Reading Competition 2026. Students have till 20 May to get their entries in! There are cash prizes, publication in emag & the kudos of winning (to put on a CV & UCAS form) plus all the benefits of just taking part! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/competitions...

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