Terry Caffrey
"Adults and children alike hang on his every word and soon realise their own potential"
- Jo Ward, Stockport Arts Officer
Content
About Terry Caffrey
Terry's School Visits
Terry's Latest Book
Samples of Terry's Poems
Recommendations & Reviews
Download Information Sheet for Schools
To Make a Booking
About Terry Caffrey
Terry Caffrey is a writer and poet who has worked in over 2,500 schools and prisons. He was the North West’s first ‘author/reading champion.’ He has an innaite ability to make words and language FUN and can motivate even the most reluctant readers, no matter what their age. He’s worked with the Halle Orchestra in Manchester, the Citadel Theatre in St Helen’s, and Manchester City FC.
Terry shows audiences far and wide that poetry is alive – it isn’t just stuff written by dead people and weirdos. The rhythm and beat of rap is poetry, too, and it’s right up to date.
He’ll encourage you to put your ideas down ‘before they escape’. Then he’ll make you feel proud about creating something that is uniquely yours and didn’t exist until you put words on the page.
To get you started, here are some tips from Terry:
• Choose a topic, like the weather
• Get out and feel it, hear it, see it
• What’s it doing?
• How does it feel against your face and body?
• Think of it as a person – what game is it playing?
• Make it rhyme or not – it’s your poem so it can’t be wrong
• About 8–12 lines
• Have fun!
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Terry’s School Visits
Terry school visits are heaps of fun for people of all ages, from 1 to 101 (and older)!
A typical full day visit by Terry begins with a whole school presentation lasting 45 minutes to an hour followed by three to four creative poetry workshops with class sizes.
His visits are interactive and sessions are linked to building self-esteem, confidence, and the desire to want to engage and put words down on the page at any age. He encourages students to perform their work along with him at the end of the day and finishes his visit with a book signing.
The whole school community, including governors and parents, are encouraged to attend his presentations.
Workshops can include up to 34 students, and usually last for 45 minutes to one hour, as well.
Alternatively, Terry can work with one group for a full day rather than different groups throughout the day. He works with all age group and learning levels and can tailor workshops to address specific school projects, lessons and themes.
He encourages follow-up work after his visits so that schools can build on the legacy of writing frames, methods and ideas that he leaves behind wherever he goes.
Terry also specializes in running workshops geared towards more specific issues in schools. Please contact us to discuss further options.
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Terry's Latest Book
**Terry signs all copies of his book purchased by students on the day of his visit.**
It Wasn't Me Miss
This is perfect laughing poetry.
Read it and...
Fell the tingle in your toes
The giggle in your grin
The titter in your tummy
The chuckle on your chin.
Live it Love it Laugh it
Crack a smile
Be in stitches for a while
Click here to download free sample poems from this book!
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Samples of Terry’s Poems
IT WASN'T ME MISS
It wasn't me Miss, it was him
and if it wasn't him, it was her.
And if they said that I did it,
then I didn't Miss -
'Cos I wasn't even there.
And I didn't break the glass Sir.
And I didn't move the chair.
And I know they said I did it
But I wasn't even there.
Take a look at me face Miss
You can see it in me Lovely eyes
Honest it wasn't me Miss
and I never tell lies.
But I always get the blame Sir
Even though I was somewhere else
'Cos it's never him or her
and I wasn't even there.
Ask them what they were doing
And why did they run away?
Why pick on me Miss?
It's not fair, that's what I say.
And I didn't have the last biscuit
There were some left in the tin
And that sweet wrapper's not mine Miss
I drops me litter in the bin.
Take a look at me face Miss
You can see it in me Lovely eyes
Honest it wasn't me Miss
and I never tell lies.
And anyway, I don't live here
I live at number 53
Which is down there and round the corner
So it couldn't have been me.
Take a look at me face Miss
Me eyes are crystal clear
You know it couldn't be me Miss
So Ner, Ner, Ner, Ner, Ner!
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SAY NO
Playing out with a friend
or being away from your home.
In a crowd playing games
or just being on your own.
If you're really smart and clever,
you'll just listen to me.
Tell your mum or dad,
where you're going to be
Say who you are playing with,
where you are going to go
Take care and stay cool.
You can always say NO!
If you are out shopping
and you've been everywhere.
Don't wander off alone,
you must always be aware.
Staying cool is the rule,
whether in or out of school
Say who you are playing with,
where you are going to go.
Take care and stay cool
You can always say NO!
It makes sense to be sensible
and stay out of harms way
Keep the laughter in your eyes
then you can say 'NO'.
Tell mum who you are playing with,
where you are going to go.
Take care and stay cool
You can always say NO!
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GRANDAD
When my Grandad snores in bed
strange noises come out of his head.
My Grandad snores for England
the crowd sings out and cheers.
But Nan puts on a hat
throws a blanket over the cat
puts her fingers in her ears
and hopes the noise disappears.
The dog it runs outside.
The hamster tries to hide.
My Grandad snores in fits and starts
but the snoring is not as bad as his
spelling.
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Recommendations & Reviews
"Terry is brilliant to work with. The children love him and his fun and his expertise knows no boundaries."
– Steve Pickett, Head of Halle Orchestra Education
"Thoroughly enjoyable! A brilliant wordsmith, so very likeable, and the work that the students produced was excellent."
– Martin Maris, Head of BBC Phil Education
"Adults and children alike hang on his every word and soon realise their own potential."
– Jo Ward, Stockport Arts Officer
"Fun, Fun, Fun and more Fun."
– Peter Evans, National Football Museum
"The kids love him and talk about his visit and can't wait for the next one's to happen." "Terry Caffrey spent two fabulous days"
– Elaine Roberts. Lookafter Children, Lancashire
"Terry Caffrey spent two fabulous days with 44 of our reluctant writers from across the City. They arrived wary and worried about what their day would hold. Little did they know who or what was waiting for them. Terry started the day getting to know the children's names and making them smile. They played games and were sonn laughing and enjoying his quirky sense of humour. Slowly but surely they started to emerge from their shells and were then raring to write. Terry made the children feel at ease as he told them he was unconcerned about their spelling, rather that he just wanted them to get down their own ideas down. The children were buzzing, unafraid of creating their own poems and keen to share ideas. I wholeheartedly recommend Terry and his workshops to anyone and would welcome him back to my school anytime."
– Anne-Marie McElhinney, Headteacher, St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Peterborough
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Download Information for Schools
The following information is designed to send home to parents about one week prior to Sonia's visit. Please download it, modify as you wish, and then print out and make copies for pupils to take home with them.
Information Sheet & Book Order Form for Sonia's school visits
To Make a Booking
To make an enquiry about Terry Caffrey, or any of the other authors, poets & illustrators listed on this website, please phone us on +44 (0) 1535 656015, or email us at info@authorsabroad.com