Virginia MacGregor

About Virginia MacGregor

As a teacher of writing and literature I believe in the power of student-centred classrooms: that when we place students, their identities, their lived experiences and their voices, at the heart of their learning, education becomes exciting, joyful, challenging and meaningful.On a curricular level, I love teaching from every genre and period, from classical and contemporary poetry to Shakespeare, Greek plays and world literature. I\'m especially excited about bringing a range voices into the classroom, especially those that have, historically, been sidelined or silenced. Making connections between texts of different genres and from different time periods and between literary texts and other academic subjects, excites me pedagogically. I believe that the more we can encourage our students, and ourselves, to make connections across sometimes seemingly improbable texts and subject areas, the richer and deeper our understanding of our own disciplines will become. Holding an MFA in Creative Writing with a focus on the pedagogy of writing, and as a published novelist, I love seeing how creative writing can create a space for students to find their own voices. Both within and beyond the classroom, my passion is working with staff, students and families to promote wellbeing and human flourishing. I believe that wellbeing is a skill, as well as a philosophy; that it\'s a way of thinking about the world and a way of being in the world. Learning to live well in our own selves, in relation to others and in relation to the environment should form the foundation of how and what we teach young people today.In my own writing, I\'m interested in exploring some of the most pressing issues of our age with a view to better understanding the human condition. I believe that stories help us understand ourselves and our place in the world and that they build compassion. I\'ve published five novels for adults with Little, Brown and two novels for young adults with HarperCollins.

Experience

1. Author

   HarperCollins Publishers

   Jul 2016 — Present · Concord, NH, US

   Published YA novels: WISHBONES & AS FAR AS THE STARS

Education

• Oxford Brookes University

  PGCE, English Language and Literature/Letters

• University of Oxford

  Bachelor's degree & Masters Degree

• Brunel University of London

  Cerificate, Counseling Psychology

• Yale University

  Teaching Emotional Intelligence K-12

• The Manchester Metropolitan University

  Master's degree, Creative Writing