Ryan the Writing Tutor

15/10/2026

Did you know 'environment' has IRON MEN hidden inside it? Benny spotted that, and made spelling it look like a doddle!

Dyslexia throws him some curveballs, but seeing him come up with brilliant memory tricks like these is exactly why Benny is my latest Phonics Superhero! 🦸

07/10/2026

Have you got a confident young writer with stories bursting out of their ears? They might just like to try my 'Soaring Writers' sessions...🦅

We'll be dreaming up Hogwarts-style fantasy worlds, inventing villains straight out of a Roald Dahl story, and we might even nick a few tricks from their favourite authors along the way (shh... nobody tell Roald!)

01/10/2026

Is this the best poem in the world? Well, probably not. 😂 But I was pretty chuffed to get published in this anthology when I was 10!

I know the words are a bit gloomy, but... happy !

P.S. Any former Windmills Junior School pupils remember this little book? Friends of Windmills School

28/09/2026

I've been hatching something exciting over the summer... and it certainly wasn't that teeth-chattering afternoon of climbing at Go Ape that I challenged myself to do for my birthday!

I've actually had a good tinker with my writing sessions, giving them what the kids would probably call a 'glow-up'.

The first one is 'Fledgling Writers'... 🐣 This one's actually pretty close to what I've already been doing with my younger writers, but now I've given it a shiny new name! I've designed it especially for 8–12 year olds who find writing a bit tricky. So, instead of writing about something with as much soul as a worn car tyre, we'll start with what excites them - whether it's Minecraft, football, or something totally random - and turn that into a brilliant story or a poem.

And, of course, no tree-climbing required, so that's a bonus (for me at least!)

21/09/2026

Did you know, when I'm not tutoring, I'm part of the team at Mid Sussex Radio?

And here I was yesterday at Hurst Festival, spinning all the party tunes for Super Sunday... watching the village attempt the YMCA was probably my favourite bit! 😂

Daryn Buckley, Ryan Cannell & Natasha is your MSR 103.8FM team today at Hurst Festival Super Sunday . Find us the South Ave , Rec. Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common Parish Council

16/09/2026

"If I were a superhero, I'd be called... Sonic Speed!"

That's what Charlie told me on his 'What My Tutor Needs to Know About Me' poster a few years ago.

Now it's almost time to welcome a few new writers to my lessons, and I can't wait to see what curiously wonderful answers they'll squiggle on theirs!

09/09/2026

It seems like yesterday and also a lifetime ago. But here I am, back in 2001 wearing the famous bright red Downlands Community School jumper as a fresh-faced Year 7!

I wonder what this smaller version of me would think I'd be doing in 2026. Probably still reading Garfield annuals and playing Bubble Bobble on my Game Boy, maybe! 😂

But one thing I do know is that I really wanted to teach, so he would be very pleased with that!

What did your younger self hope you'd be doing today?

27/08/2026

What gets you out of bed in the morning? For me, it's not the dawn chorus or a mahoosive bowl of Ready Brek. It's the little moments...

* Louie's sonnet about Fortnite getting published.
* Evelyn whizzing through her phonics.
* Torin, Lucas and Remi's wonderfully bonkers stories all winning writing competitions.

These are just a few of the memories that have made this school year such a good one. ❤️ I've shared a few more on my blog...

A look back at some of the little moments that made this school year special, from published stories and sonnets to a spelling breakthrough or two.

24/08/2026

A touching review from Torin’s mum ❤️

His published story was one of my highlights of the year, especially seeing how happy he was when he found out!

I’ve shared Helen’s full review and Torin’s story on my website, if you’d like to have a read: https://www.ryan-the-tutor.co.uk/l/a-touching-review-from-torins-mum/

13/08/2026

I can't wait to use these fun little boxes in our lessons! Each child will get an Ideas Bank to fill with story ideas, interesting words, characters and all the creative nuggets that pop into their heads. Then when they need a bit of inspiration, they can have a quick rummage and find an idea that catches their eye.

What would you put in your Ideas Bank?