Joe Harkness is a naturalist and SEND teacher from Norfolk, England, where he runs an autism base in a mainstream secondary school. In 2019, he wrote Bird Therapy (Unbound) which was longlisted for the Wainwright Prize the following year.
I couldn't wait to start trying out Joe's ideas which take personal development beyond the classroom and make it possible to engage a wide range of learners for whom chalk, and talk is not their preferred modality. Joe's breadth, depth and clear 'how tos' make this book indispensable. - Pooky Knightsmith, ntal health ambassador and educator There are so many fantastic ideas in Inside/Outside that Schools can implement and embed across all subjects in their Curriculum. Teachers can use these creative ideas with resources to instil the importance and benefits of learning outside in nature, helping to support, boost young people's health and wellbeing. - Edd Moore, Multi Award Winning Primary School Teacher and Eco Coordinator. Joe Harkness is a force of nature. Full stop. This book is a prerequisite read for any educationalist working within the complex world of emotional intelligence. By reliving his own experience, Joe uses his positive nature to forge a connection between the outdoors and positive learning experiences. From Maslow's hierarchy of needs to the ever more prevalent awareness of mental health, he challenges the reader to identify their own triggers to an emotional response, Joe uses a level of psychology to encourage a level of self-reflection that is seldom seen in education. He has opened my eyes. A must read. - Darren Hollingsworth, Principal, Cromer Academy They say, if you're lucky when you're at school, you'll have one teacher who will change your life. I was lucky. Mr Carnegie was an incredible teacher who, besides officially teaching me English in the classroom, outdoors kindled a lifelong love and appreciation of the natural world. Quite unnoticed by me at the time, he gave me the tools to be a better person, a more thoughtful and calmer young man. This was decades ago. How many people now are so fortunate to find such a teacher? Perhaps now, thanks to Joe Harkness, a great many more may do so. Inside/Out is written with insight on so many levels - it is perceptive, intuitive, and shines with his love for the natural world and the power it contains for positive change. - Jon Dunn - Author of Orchid Summer and The Glitter in the Green, Bloomsbury.