Robyn Steggles was born in Sydney, Australia and has lived here for almost all of her 49 years. She has been a teacher for the last 27 years and in that time taught many different ages and abilities. Firstly Infants aged children, i.e. from 5-8 year olds. After this, in the field of Special Education, she was an Integration Teacher where she wrote programs and assisted in the integration of Down's Syndrome children into mainstream schooling. She has taught, and worked closely with, Intellectually Disabled young adults in Technical College where they worked to develop their literacy, numeracy, computer and living skills. Then feeling like a change again she went back to mainstream education where she is today teaching upper primary children, ages 10-12. She loves her job with a passion, even after this many years, and really feels really sorry for people who don't look forward to going to work every day as she does.
Robyn first started reading the 'Harry Potter' books because she thought she really should know what the kids were all talking about in the playground. She was hooked before the end of chapter 1. Discovering how wonderful the literature is and the many ways it can be used in a classroom situation for all children has been inspiring and she is looking forward to sharing her ideas with other educators.
Robyn last came to the UK 24 yeas ago and she still can't believe she is really coming to the U.K. again to be part of Accio 2005. Even though she has travelled to most of Europe, China and Japan and even lived for a short time in Provence this trip is definitely going to be worth the 24 hour flight. Is anyone else travelling so far?