It is already making its mark as a resource for teachers who want to encourage young people to write about their inner lives and share their insights with others. Sophie’s life was rich in a wide range of experiences - including travel - which may seem out of reach for less-privileged young people. But teachers using the log with their classes have found that her reflections on life - including candid explorations of her fears and disappointments - speak directly to other young people, whatever their age or background.
“She’s talking about emotion - the basic experiences every person goes through,” says Nadine Mills, who bases her “inspirational workshops” for young people on Sophie’s Log. “Life skills are vital, and not taught enough. Self-confidence, expressing your own individuality - this book connects people from different backgrounds because it communicates just what it’s like to be an individual.”
Lucy Goodman, a 12-year-old who took part in one of Nadine’s workshops at Carterton community college in Oxfordshire, agrees: “I think we opened up, because her life was like ours, and some of the things she went through were very similar to us.”
Ross Martin, 11, participated in the same workshop. “It was quite inspiring because it was such a young age to die, and some of the poems that she wrote were really good.”
Rosemary Stables, head of English at the school, watched her pupils working with Nadine. “Their responses were extremely positive. They enjoyed it a lot,” she says. “One of the things I particularly liked - although it was very quick and lively - was that at the end there was some quiet time for reflection. There’s a lot of prescription now in English, and it was refreshing to see them doing something quite free and creative.”
Sophie’s work lends itself to many different approaches. Delia Evans and Samm Line have developed a 12-lesson scheme of work for key stage 3 pupils at Cranbourne secondary school in Basingstoke.
“There is a wealth of things in there you can use,” says Delia, who teaches English. “We give it to the children to delve into. It fits in very well with diary writing and also with PSHE, and ties in with other books, too. This year I’m linking it with Anne Frank, and Zlata’s Diary, and Michael Morpurgo’s Kensuke’s Kingdom.”
Samm Line has used Sophie’s poem Sunglasses as a stimulus for drama sessions:
Sunglasses In an attempt to escape reality
I put on my sunglasses,
Because my eyes were dazzled by life.
I grew used to their comforting dimness
And it was only when, many years later,
I remembered I was wearing them,
And found the courage to take them off,
That I realised what I had missed.
“Discuss how Sophie was bullied at school for being different, and how she saw conformity in her friends,” the scheme of work suggests. “Divide the class into five groups. Each group has one pair of sunglasses (purchased from Poundstretcher). The aim is to create a short improvisation that sums up the tone of the poem. Depending on the knowledge of the teacher and students, try to encourage something beyond a typical ‘bullying’ scenario. Students can use thought tracking, narration, physical theatre and other drama strategies to create their work.”
The log is particularly appropriate for pupils at KS3, says Samm Line, because “they’re starting to think about their future, but are still close enough to their childhood to want to celebrate it”. As Lee Woodley said after taking part in one of Nadine Mills’ workshops: “It made you think some things you hadn’t thought before, and it persuaded you to write your own log so when you’re older you can remember what it was like to be younger.”
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Proceeds from the sale of Sophie’s Log go to Sophie’s Silver Lining Fund. Dame Judi Dench is the patron of the fund, which has raised almost pound;100,000 since Sophie’s death to enable needy students to study music or drama. For further information visit: www.silverlining.org.uk Copies of Sophie’s Log, price pound;7 incl pamp;p, are available from 17 Silver Street, Chacombe, Banbury, Oxon OX17 2JN. Tel: 01608 810 219
Email: nadine.mills@btopenworld.co.uk
