Senior Lecturer discusses autism and English in National Association for Teaching of English magazine

Dr Clare Lawrence, Senior Lecturer of Secondary Education at BGU, writes about alternative forms of communication in the classroom, and the importance of creating space for students with autism.

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Dr Clare Lawrence, Senior Lecturer of Secondary Education at BGU, writes about alternative forms of communication in the classroom, and the importance of creating space for students with autism.

Clare is an active member of the National Association for Teaching of English (NATE) and regularly contributes to their magazine, peer reviewed journal, and annual conferences.

Dr Lawrence’s most recent article, entitled ‘The Moonlight that Shines from my Open Mouth’, is the third instalment in a series of three articles focusing on the topic of autism and English.

The narrative of the article discusses autism in line with communication, creativity and writing – further explored through ‘I Talk Like a River’ by Jordan Scott.

Clare commented on the inspiration behind the topic of the article: “I have always been particularly interested in communication, which I believe to be at the heart of the subject of English.

“I have been fortunate enough to work with a diverse and fascinating range of professionals over the years including English teachers, artists, academics and students, and have continually refined my ideas about what effective ‘communication’ might entail.”

Clare shared what she hopes is the main keynote for readers: “I believe very strongly in classroom talk as a method of teaching but am also sensitive to the fact that for some pupils, talking is not a fluent or even a particularly effective medium of communication.

“I think that we should recognise diverse needs and ensure that all learners and teachers feel welcome and appreciated in our classrooms. Seeing differences in communication as opportunities for creative responses is so much more interesting than merely seeing them as barriers.”

Dr Lawrence reflected on the opportunity to write a series of articles on this topic and the usability of NATE as a resource: “I am very fortunate to be able to share my research in this area, and it is always a pleasure to be able to connect with teachers in the classroom and with our wider professional cohort, and to remind ourselves of what we already know: There is so much more to subject English than the examination criteria!

“Teaching English is a tremendous resource for all subject English teachers, and also for those working in teacher education. NATE is our professional voice and a ‘go-to’ for debate and discussion around developments in the subject and the classroom. Each of their varied catalogue of resources and publications adds richness of our understanding and experience."

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