PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
As writers, we understand the ways in which writers approach writing and as teachers we know great ways to inspire young people to engage in the writing process.
Our director, Heather McQuillan is both a teacher who writes and a writer who teaches. She enjoys talking with classroom teachers about ways for them to engage, and engage with, their young writers.
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After a long career in education, working as a school and professional development leader, Heather now focuses on teaching writing. She is able to provide teachers with practical ideas to inspire, enable and guide young writers to success through a process of playful and problem-solving approaches to writing.
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Heather regularly speaks with teachers at staff meetings, Kahui Ako gatherings and educational conferences. She is also available for ZOOM sessions with staff or educational groups.
Topics include:
The Essentials of Writing
Prompts for Playful Writing
Redrafting: A Problem-solving Approach
Engaging with Boys and their Writing
Sorting Out Sentences
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Heather McQuillan has a Dip Tch (Adv), Bachelor of Education and a Master of Creative Writing (with Distinction). She is the author of a number of award-winning books for young readers and recently her first collection of short short stories Where Oceans Meet was published by Reflex Press UK. She has numerous awards and publications for flash fiction. See Heather's website here.
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PLD TESTIMONIAL
"During term 1, our teaching team, comprising of 10 year 4 to year 6 teachers, was looking for inspiration to improve our writing programmes.
We contacted Heather McQuillan through the Young Writers’ School and asked if she could work with our team. Her first session focused on what’s worthwhile in writing, boys and writing, and how to build a bank of writing ideas for future development.
Without exception we came away from our professional development with Heather, energised and keen to implement her ideas straight away.
The ideas were practical and relevant to our context and our children. This was evidenced by the increased motivation and engagement of our writers, including the reluctant ones."
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- Wendy Dent, Deputy Principal, Hoon Hay School
GET IN TOUCH
Please email us about our Professional Development options.