Welcome to The Hearth. This space is dedicated to personal reflections and life outside of academic research. Browse the posts below for insights into my daily routines, navigating life as a neurodivergent PhD candidate, and finding balance beyond the university.
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Leigh Bardugo – Author Spotlight
Without even realising it, I have recently been on a bit of a Leigh Bardugo binge, so I thought I’d better blog about it! Towards the end of least year I started reading her Grisha Trilogy: #1 Shadow and Bone, #2 Siege and Storm, #3 Ruin and Rising. I didn’t love these books, it took…
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Amazing Women
This year the iCentre team decided to base our theme for Literacy Week on Goodnight Stories for Rebels Girls, we dubbed our theme: “Amazing Women – in Life and Literature” In the days leading up to deciding on a theme, I was thinking rather a lot about who I am, and what I give to…
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Knowing it’s ok to be vulnerable.
Yesterday I had a moment of self-doubt and I felt very overwhelmed. I felt like there was too much being asked of me, that I couldn’t do it all, and that I would drop one of the many juggling balls I’ve got going on. However! I spoke to my loving partner (through tears), reached out…
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The book EVERYONE is talking about
Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls has certainly made waves in the literary world. I first heard about this book when Rebecca Sparrow attended the International Women’s Day Breakfast we hosted here in the iCentre and raved about this book! She did such a great job of selling it that almost all of the attendees wanted…
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2017 Goal Setting
As part of our teaching this year, we have been asked to identify two or more goals that we are going to work towards. I have decided to include my goals here: Goal description: Learning when and how to praise student work and effort. To know the difference between praising work and effort. To know…
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The 20th Anniversary of Harry Potter
It’s no secret around school that I adore everything Harry Potter. I… Own multiple copies of all the books and DVDs Own a copy of the audiobooks read by Stephen Fry and listen to them regularly Am a proud Gryffindor, sorted through Pottermore Have a large range of Harry Potter merchandise/clothing, including a cardigan and…
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Shatter Me -Mafi
Over the Christmas holidays I read the Shatter Me trilogy by Tahereh Mafi, and I fell in love with writing style and main character Juliette. The series itself goes in a direction I never would have picked and it only made me love it even more. Synopsis: Juliette has a terrible ability, her touch can…
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Critique Reading for Lynette Noni
Last year my school hosted the beautiful Lynette Noni for a writing and book chat with our year 8 students. As soon as I met her I knew that she was a kindred spirit. After a few long and hilarious emails back and forth, we decided to meet for coffee. Since then we have spent…
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2016: Favourite Books
Looking back on 2016 I thought it would be well worth the time to list my favourite books. I’d say that I read more in 2016 than I have in the last 5 years at least! Without the pressure of study (and the joy of saying “I’m working” whenever I get questioned over my reading…