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Kurlys Poetry

Kurlys Poetry

By Kurly

Hello and welcome to the place where I'll mainly be sharing my journey as a freelance poet and father as well as some practical insights into helping children read and build literacy confidence through poetry and Hip Hop. I'm a Shortlisted Birmingham Poet Laureate, Hip Hop artist, former teacher in a PRU (Pupil Referral Unit - which is a school for excluded pupils) and a self employed literacy engagement specialist who visits schools and community settings throughout the U.K.
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Kurly Meets Jonathan Davidson from Writing West Midlands

Kurlys PoetrySep 22, 2019

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08:10
Kurly Meets Jonathan Davidson from Writing West Midlands

Kurly Meets Jonathan Davidson from Writing West Midlands

A chat with Jonathan Davidson from Writing West Midlands at the airport on our way back from Kiev, Ukraine as part of their huge International Arsenal Book Festival. Jonathan gives some very down to Earth grounded advice for up all writers especially up and coming/emerging writers!

Sep 22, 201908:10
New Track! ‘Summer Hustle’

New Track! ‘Summer Hustle’

Inspired by my son on the microphone on Monday (plus schools are closed for 6 weeks!) I’ve jumped into my recording cycle which I’ve really missed! Quick podcast, latest track from this Birmingham (UK) poet and Hip Hop artist 😊 it’s a summer track but whether the sun is shining or not we can all shine bright, by applying our potential 😊👍
Jul 31, 201906:38
Overview of the last 3-4 months in roughly 28 mins.
Jul 30, 201928:07
11/4/19 - quick catch up of the last few weeks

11/4/19 - quick catch up of the last few weeks

11/4/19 - latest on the school Safeguarding words project/dress rehearsal and a couple of other projects
Apr 11, 201908:41
15/3/19 - this week’s action review

15/3/19 - this week’s action review

Building on relationships - planting seeds and nurturing growth for greater action.
Mar 15, 201911:36
5/3/19 - keeping it moving - building relationships - upcoming meetings on Monday

5/3/19 - keeping it moving - building relationships - upcoming meetings on Monday

Quick reflection of meetings with video content creators, school staff and training delivery coming up this Monday (11th Mar)
Mar 05, 201916:47
4/3/19 - reflection of the last couple of weeks!

4/3/19 - reflection of the last couple of weeks!

This episode touches on my journey of being a single father (with shared custody) and a freelance poet working in schools, the importance of collaboration and supporting others who inspire me such as anti knife campaigner Alison Cope.
Mar 05, 201924:23
Quick podcast on route to swimming with my kids, my son briefly speaks about choosing his options

Quick podcast on route to swimming with my kids, my son briefly speaks about choosing his options

Quick podcast on route to swimming with my kids where my son briefly speaks about choosing his school options - last week we (me, his mother and sister) went along to his Year 8 parents evening about choosing subject options for Year 9 which was useful, we got to meet and greet the subject teachers and ask questions. He has some clear ideas about what he likes, which in my view is the most important thing especially at this early stage, he can adjust as he moves forward. My job is to help him feel confident enough to know that any mistakes made are an important part of the learning journey (not a reason to give up, which is often linked to concerns around other people’s judgement!) learning from his own and others’ ‘mistakes’ is an important part of being successful and happy as you simply get better at avoiding them as you continue along the pathway of competence towards expertise. Find out what you enjoy, work hard/spend time being thorough at it (which you don’t mind doing cos you enjoy it), be patient, offer what you do as a service to solve problems for others because your good at it, do it for free, charge a fee/get equity or both for doing so. Gain experience and earn a living doing what you enjoy whilst helping others = successful and happy.
Feb 21, 201903:40
Co-Op Youth Loneliness project update, new ‘Summer Hustle’ lyrics preview - while on route to Stoke

Co-Op Youth Loneliness project update, new ‘Summer Hustle’ lyrics preview - while on route to Stoke

15/2/19 - low sound quality on this one - a quick ‘Youth Loneliness’ project update along with a quick preview of some of my ‘Summer Hustle’ lyrics (getting ready to drop some summer tunes!)
Feb 21, 201908:12
Homework, Alison Cope and the British Police Symphony Orchestra
Feb 12, 201919:53
Youth loneliness project update at a secondary school in Stoke On Trent and an easy writing activity

Youth loneliness project update at a secondary school in Stoke On Trent and an easy writing activity

Check out the writing task, short easy and very effective!
Feb 09, 201913:52
Reflection of Alison Cope’s panel discussion and a review of the last couple of days...

Reflection of Alison Cope’s panel discussion and a review of the last couple of days...

To learn more about Alison Cope please visit: alisoncope.com to view the video content of yesterday’s panel discussion on The Guardian Live with Gary Younge and the police crime commisioner David Jamieson please visit: youtu.be/Lnb6uxYUIzk
Feb 07, 201913:29
Working with excluded pupils and do you remember trying to get noticed BEFORE the internet?!

Working with excluded pupils and do you remember trying to get noticed BEFORE the internet?!

A quick summary of my day in 11 minutes or so, including today’s session in a PRU, updates on a regional school project I’m helping with and present day opportunities...
Feb 04, 201911:17
Mad Libs and Loony Libs - nouns, verbs and adjectives exercise

Mad Libs and Loony Libs - nouns, verbs and adjectives exercise

Print out from the Mad Libs website (http://www.madlibs.com/printables/) or use the Loony Libs app to fill in the gaps of prewritten stories to create fun, whacky original tales... great little session starter that my children found out and showed me earlier today...
Feb 04, 201904:48
Did you know the average human being lives 4,000 weeks? ...Thoughts around time & tonight’s event

Did you know the average human being lives 4,000 weeks? ...Thoughts around time & tonight’s event

Some reflections of time, ideas around building awareness and developing your interests/career mixed with some reflections of tonight’s live performance at the Wolverhampton Literature Festival with the Poets Against Racism and why I encourage my children to come along and film it ❤️❤️❤️
Feb 03, 201913:34
Today’s workshop reflection and having fun with some of Aesop’s fables (interactive lesson starter!)

Today’s workshop reflection and having fun with some of Aesop’s fables (interactive lesson starter!)

Quick summary of today’s workshop in Stoke on Trent Along with a quick starter activity for the classroom using the book Aesop’s tales (which has 200 short stories) to build literacy/performance confidence with youngsters. Here’s a quick link to see what book I’m referring to (but of course this activity can run with any age appropriate story https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/edited-by-belinda-gallagher/200-aesop-s-fables-512-page-fiction/GOR004917106?keyword=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0Ma26Pmb4AIVwrztCh3XqAXyEAQYASABEgI06fD_BwE
Feb 02, 201907:37
Evidence the positives you bring to others in a day...

Evidence the positives you bring to others in a day...

Doing so isn’t so you can boast about it... it’s so you can keep in mind the ways, no matter how small, you make a positive difference - whether on your own or part of a team. Which is reassuring, and might be part of the equation of figuring out what pathway to take your life if it feels right for you. Maybe your a natural story teller who makes people laugh about tales of your day, or your the person people often ask about a computer problem... I think it’s a good place to start thinking about how you like bringing value to others (for me it’s poetry/Hip Hop/workshops) but it’s all a journey, and every one needs some direction to get somewhere better. If your stuck why not start here.
Feb 01, 201908:30
Having doubts about myself and figuring out why

Having doubts about myself and figuring out why

In this episode I begin to unravel the reasons why I’ve felt such a heavy wave of doubt. Taking your eye off your North Star, your bottom line, your reason for doing what you do, your ‘why’, for any reason can be a huge factor in contributing to down days - especially over time. My wobble during my workshop with children on Saturday helped me notice! Also in this episode I share the literacy activity that got me out a hole and my writing session back on track! The Opposites Poem!
Jan 31, 201917:58
Reflections of recent sadness

Reflections of recent sadness

When things appear to be going right and all of a sudden something inside you slips and you fall into an unexpected and unexplainable panic and sadness... this happened to me a day or two ago. Today I’ve put everything aside - basically stayed in bed in a bid to quietly process and figure out what’s up and where I am today...
Jan 29, 201907:10
Mistakes are life lessons

Mistakes are life lessons

Sharing a moment - my son’s mistake being a positive life lesson 👍
Apr 09, 201802:60
Rapping a 400 year old Shakespeare poem on route to a meetin

Rapping a 400 year old Shakespeare poem on route to a meetin

Rapping a 400 year old Shakespeare poem on route to a meeting - got any favourite poems/sonnets that you’d like me to rap?? Give me a shout 😊👍
Apr 03, 201802:11
Talent in the classroom

Talent in the classroom

Advising pupils with talent to use hashtags to get their talent seen.
Dec 20, 201709:47
Quick hello/intro from me

Quick hello/intro from me

Intro hello!!
Dec 20, 201701:14