Welcome to ThinkLit – a website aimed at supporting students with free study material and making the lives of busy teachers a little bit easier.
Read on below to find out more about the person behind ThinkLit.
Helen
Teacher, writer, mummy, pgce tutor
My education and qualifications
I qualified as a teacher of English and English Literature in 2007, and have been teaching post-primary school students for 18 years.
I have an MA (Hons) in English and Biblical Studies from the University of St Andrews and a PGCE with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) in English for Secondary Education. I love teaching English, especially poetry.
I am currently studying a part-time MSc in Software Development … I love creating content for ThinkLit and am looking forward to being able to create educational apps at some point in the future. Watch this space!
My experience in the classroom
Over the last 18 years, I have had the opportunity to work with students at Key Stage 3, 4 and 5. I have taught students of all abilities in both selective and non-selective schools, and in both single and mixed sex schools. My experience has taught me that every student learns in different ways, and I strive to create engaging and effective lesson that meet the needs of individual learners.
PGCE tutor
In addition to my classroom experience, I have also had the privilege of working as a PGCE tutor for student English teachers. This role has allowed me to share my knowledge and expertise with the next generation of educators and to help shape their teaching practice. Through my work as a tutor, I have gained valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing new teachers. I am committed to providing resources and support to help them succeed.
The purpose of ThinkLit
This website is designed specifically to support teachers and students in Northern Ireland studying CCEA’s English and English Literature specifications, but of course everyone is welcome! I believe that as a teacher, you shouldn’t have to pay for teaching resources from your own pocket, so I aim to keep as much as possible on here free, however some of my resources are available to buy. This just helps with running costs and time spent creating.
If you have enjoyed the free resources and would like to support my site’s running costs, please do click the ‘Support me’ button to buy me a virtual coffee.
5 facts about me:
- I am a very happy wife and a very very proud mummy to a little boy and a little girl.
- During lockdown 2020, when my son was 4, I spend hours at the kitchen table with him. We started (blindly) singing along to the Jolly Phonics songs on YouTube. From there, we started linking sounds together. And from there, this middle aged secondary school English teacher taught her 4 year old to read. It will always be a very proud moment: proud of myself for persevering when I felt completely clueless. But more-so, proud of that little boy for being the smartest 4 year old in town! Check out the Jolly Phonics if you are also sitting at the kitchen table with a 4 year old!
- I am pretty scared of birds. I weave all over the footpath in an effort to avoid them, and can’t look at one, so I often end up walking into something because my eyes are closed in fear!
- I love skincare and makeup. My most recent splurges have been at Beauty Pie … read about the brand here if you are interested in high quality products at affordable prices. Not sponsored … I’m just a fan!
- I make an excellent cupcake. My secret is … following a good recipe! Check out my favourites: Hummingbird Bakery red velvet and Hummingbird Bakery carrot cake. You really can’t go wrong by following a good recipe.