Mike has worked in Nottinghamshire as a secondary English and drama teacher for over ten years. He has spent almost four years working in Mexican schools teaching English, music, history and drama from years 5 to 13. During his time in his adopted home of Tequisquiapan, Mike worked on a number of theatre productions, editing and directing 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Oliver' for Mexican audiences.  

Mike is passionate about Mexican culture, and retains many friends and contacts across the Atlantic. He speaks Spanish 'con sabor Mexicano' and knows many Mexican songs and stories. He is a regular performer at the Matlock Storytelling Cafe.

Mexican Tales is ideal if you are studying any aspect of Mexico as part of your curriculum. Use it to create a wave of enthusiasm that will help to maintain the children's interest in the topic over the forthcoming weeks, or to contextualise what they have already learned. Even if your focus is largely historical (e.g. the Aztecs), use it to help children understand the links between the ancient and modern cultures.

The DFES's new primary framework for literacy encourages more freedom and creativity for teachers and children alike. Use Mexican Tales as a springboard for narrative writing, biography and non chronological report writing. See further pages for more detail.

Give the children the opportunity to use Spanish and link it to a different culture; to hear and sing Mexican songs; to create Mexican style flowers and artefacts; to explore exciting new ideas with drama and stories; to learn about the different geography and history of this vast country...

Why not get involved with this global celebration on March 20th, which aims to encourage people worldwide to tell and listen to stories, in a wide variety of languages and at as many places as possible, during a single 24-hour period. Don't wait until March 20th - Mike can begin training your pupils in the art of storytelling well before this date, and there will be no stopping them by the time the big day arrives. And don't worry - we don't have to be exclusively Mexican here; the stories can be local, national or global!