Wow - this summer has really been something so far hasn't it? Thunderstorms and all! I had really great weather when I was in Cornwall last week with husband Steve. We were incredibly lucky with our sea view window and everything! Hope your holidays are all just as successful.
Thought I would just pen a brief reminder that the August session is on Saturday 9th so anyone not away soaking up the sun will be more than welcome to come along for a scribble!
Hoping the summer diaries are going well!
See you soon.
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
Monday, 14 July 2014
Doing Brilliantly ...
We had the best session on Saturday last week. Three new members took our number up to eleven - the highest it has been for some time and I am over to moon! It was all a bit manic to start but it wasn't long before the enthusiasm was dancing through and around all of us like some amazing tarantella! Once we'd got the tables and seating sorted, the Young Writers just got on with it.
We were experimenting with "blind poetry" and acronyms (not anagrams as I initially said; thank you Mateus, for pointing that out to me. I think I was having a moment of word-dispraxia!). The "blind poem" (where we all write one line which is folded over before being passed to the next person), was not a huge success and I think this is because their ages are so diverse. Sophia told me bluntly "I don't get it!" so I explained it again and she said "I still don't get it!" So we went over it again and she gave it a go; coming up with a brilliant line. So I think she got it in the end. The acronyms were a much bigger success - as they were when I suggested them to the first group - and they were soon having fun playing with words, which is what it's all about after all!
Many thanks to Lucie - the librarian who came over and picked out the name for our mascot bear - it is Maddie - and everyone will get a certificate to mark their participation in this exercise. It was a great team effort.
Thanks as well to the grown-ups who have already completed their consent forms for October's Exhibition of Work. During the summer break I will ensure I see one of our contacts at the library to finalise the arrangements. I have already asked some of the members to keep specific bits of work safe for this and I will let you all know what is going on display nearer the time. If you haven't completed it yet, please try to have it ready for September.
As we go into yet another long summer holiday period, there will only be one session in August and that will be on Saturday 9th. I know most of the members will be on vacation so it will only be a token session. The summer assignment for all members is to keep a diary of what they do and where they go. It doesn't have to be a lot - just a sentence or two will suffice - it is really more to keep them writing. Having said that though, any that are handed in when the regular sessions resume in September will, of course, count towards their next certificate.
And talking of certificates, congratulations to Holly - who received her Blue membership certificate and to Fatima who was awarded her Red certificate. Several members are already well on their way to the Purple ones so keep up the good work everyone!
For those of you not away then, I will see you on the 9th. For the rest of you, September sessions resume on 6th September, which will be confirmed nearer the time.
Keep writing - and keep loving it. And just keep an eye on this blog. Happy Summer!!!!!
We were experimenting with "blind poetry" and acronyms (not anagrams as I initially said; thank you Mateus, for pointing that out to me. I think I was having a moment of word-dispraxia!). The "blind poem" (where we all write one line which is folded over before being passed to the next person), was not a huge success and I think this is because their ages are so diverse. Sophia told me bluntly "I don't get it!" so I explained it again and she said "I still don't get it!" So we went over it again and she gave it a go; coming up with a brilliant line. So I think she got it in the end. The acronyms were a much bigger success - as they were when I suggested them to the first group - and they were soon having fun playing with words, which is what it's all about after all!
Many thanks to Lucie - the librarian who came over and picked out the name for our mascot bear - it is Maddie - and everyone will get a certificate to mark their participation in this exercise. It was a great team effort.
Thanks as well to the grown-ups who have already completed their consent forms for October's Exhibition of Work. During the summer break I will ensure I see one of our contacts at the library to finalise the arrangements. I have already asked some of the members to keep specific bits of work safe for this and I will let you all know what is going on display nearer the time. If you haven't completed it yet, please try to have it ready for September.
As we go into yet another long summer holiday period, there will only be one session in August and that will be on Saturday 9th. I know most of the members will be on vacation so it will only be a token session. The summer assignment for all members is to keep a diary of what they do and where they go. It doesn't have to be a lot - just a sentence or two will suffice - it is really more to keep them writing. Having said that though, any that are handed in when the regular sessions resume in September will, of course, count towards their next certificate.
And talking of certificates, congratulations to Holly - who received her Blue membership certificate and to Fatima who was awarded her Red certificate. Several members are already well on their way to the Purple ones so keep up the good work everyone!
For those of you not away then, I will see you on the 9th. For the rest of you, September sessions resume on 6th September, which will be confirmed nearer the time.
Keep writing - and keep loving it. And just keep an eye on this blog. Happy Summer!!!!!
Sunday, 29 June 2014
Thank You ...
What a GREAT session we had yesterday! I am really liking the buzz that seems to come whenever the Young Writers get together. They are all getting more confident; some are happy to read their own work, others are happy to throw in ideas. That's what it's all about guys! It is their group; not mine. I just facilitate it! It was lovely to welcome back our seven regulars and to say hello to new member Holly. We have a list of names for our bear and by the next session, with some outside help , her - or his - name will be announced. Because so many ideas for names were being thrown into the mix, I did not even get the chance to write down whose ideas were whose - so I will have to come up with something for all of the members for helping us to choose. And I will, have no fear of that!
We carried on with poetry yesterday. I am seeing some truly amazing work here. Some of their poems have a depth and insight that defies their tender years and it kinda makes me think how easy it is to underestimate children. They are little people who think and work things out for themselves and - because they tend to tell it how it actually is rather than how they think it should be (which is what we tend to do as grown-ups, sad as that may sound), their work really strikes a chord. And with out exhibition in October, I am seriously on the look out for some good work to show. Oh - and talking about the exhibition - I am so sorry I didn't get round to doing the letters in time for yesterday's session. I promise they will be done by the next one.
We looked at poems that don't rhyme and poems that tell a story. I read a couple out and mentioned some others, then I gave out session sheets and reminded them about what we'd covered with story-writing at the beginning - how to get and develop ideas, bearing in mind characters and character names etc - and I told the members they could just as easily apply all that to writing a poem that tells a story. So the assignment for next session - which falls on 12th July - is to try to tell a story using either one poem , or a series of shorter ones.
Red certificates were handed out to Alessandro, Namoshi and Amber - a Red Band Two for Alessandro because he earned the first one at the previous group - so well done to all of them. Fatima will receiver hers next time. And Phoebe received her second membership certificate, so well done to her as well.
Finally, I want to thank all you mums and dads for your continued support, the library for their input and, of course, your talented children for helping Addiscombe Young Writers to succeed.
Good writing everyone. Se you all on the 12th.
We carried on with poetry yesterday. I am seeing some truly amazing work here. Some of their poems have a depth and insight that defies their tender years and it kinda makes me think how easy it is to underestimate children. They are little people who think and work things out for themselves and - because they tend to tell it how it actually is rather than how they think it should be (which is what we tend to do as grown-ups, sad as that may sound), their work really strikes a chord. And with out exhibition in October, I am seriously on the look out for some good work to show. Oh - and talking about the exhibition - I am so sorry I didn't get round to doing the letters in time for yesterday's session. I promise they will be done by the next one.
We looked at poems that don't rhyme and poems that tell a story. I read a couple out and mentioned some others, then I gave out session sheets and reminded them about what we'd covered with story-writing at the beginning - how to get and develop ideas, bearing in mind characters and character names etc - and I told the members they could just as easily apply all that to writing a poem that tells a story. So the assignment for next session - which falls on 12th July - is to try to tell a story using either one poem , or a series of shorter ones.
Red certificates were handed out to Alessandro, Namoshi and Amber - a Red Band Two for Alessandro because he earned the first one at the previous group - so well done to all of them. Fatima will receiver hers next time. And Phoebe received her second membership certificate, so well done to her as well.
Finally, I want to thank all you mums and dads for your continued support, the library for their input and, of course, your talented children for helping Addiscombe Young Writers to succeed.
Good writing everyone. Se you all on the 12th.
Friday, 27 June 2014
Next Session ..
Looking forward to seeing you at tomorrow's session and to finding out our bear's name! Have certificates to award and work to return tomorrow (and I will try not to forget this time!), so see you there 9.30 - 10.30, Ashburton Library....
Tuesday, 17 June 2014
Name Our Teddy ...
The session held at the library on 7th June went really well. We continued looking at poetry - limericks, this time - and spirits seemed high. It was nice to welcome back Phoebe - who was a member of the original group - and it was reassuring to see how easily she slipped back into Young Writer mode.
At the start of the session, I introduced everyone to our new mascot - a very special little bear bearing the group's name on her tee-shirt - and I threw out a challenge to find her a name. Something to do with either the group or writing would be suitable (and thank you, boys, for suggesting Jilly - that was very sweet) - so please help your young scribes to put on their thinking caps and come up with something original. There will be a special certificate for the winner.
The assignment was to write a poem that doesn't rhyme, just for a little more challenge, and to try and have them in for the next session on June 28th. Congratulations to Mateus and Sophia who were presented with the red certificates last session. I will be presenting a couple more of these next time so well done to everyone for working so hard. Don't forget to keep the certificates safe - if possible put them up on display, so that the Young Writers can see them and feel proud of their achievements.
As mentioned, the next session will be on 28th June - same time, same place. I should have all the letters available by then re the exhibition in October.
In the meantime, do get in touch if you have any feedback, comments or suggestions. See you soon.
At the start of the session, I introduced everyone to our new mascot - a very special little bear bearing the group's name on her tee-shirt - and I threw out a challenge to find her a name. Something to do with either the group or writing would be suitable (and thank you, boys, for suggesting Jilly - that was very sweet) - so please help your young scribes to put on their thinking caps and come up with something original. There will be a special certificate for the winner.
The assignment was to write a poem that doesn't rhyme, just for a little more challenge, and to try and have them in for the next session on June 28th. Congratulations to Mateus and Sophia who were presented with the red certificates last session. I will be presenting a couple more of these next time so well done to everyone for working so hard. Don't forget to keep the certificates safe - if possible put them up on display, so that the Young Writers can see them and feel proud of their achievements.
As mentioned, the next session will be on 28th June - same time, same place. I should have all the letters available by then re the exhibition in October.
In the meantime, do get in touch if you have any feedback, comments or suggestions. See you soon.
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
See You Saturday...
Back from a smashing week in picturesque Devon which breathes inspiration at every turn! Getting ready now for the next session which is this Saturday, same time, same place. I have spoken to my library contacts and it looks as if our exhibition of work will run in conjunction with the Family Learning Festival that commences on 10th October. I think it is for a week. I just need to double check all this then I will confirm in a letter that I will provide to all the members as soon as possible. This means that I can start planning the sessions so that we can get a good mix of the members' work to display. I will also produce a Permission sheet for the parents to sign which will allow me to exhibit their work. I produced a similar sheet when we were compiling Word Magic. So keep an eye out for those; they'll also be with you very shortly.
I have been thinking it would be really nice to display some of the childrens' work on this blog so I am inviting some feedback from you, Would you be happy for their work to appear? Copyright will obviously remain with the Young Writers - and it means you can show their work to friends and relatives. I would eventually like to get a website set up for them but I have neither the time nor the money to even think about that at the moment. If you know anyone who would be prepared to help with this please let me know. I have tried in vain to set up several websites but I just don't have the technical know-how and have failed miserably. Any assistance gratefully received!
I bought a mascot for the group whilst in Devon, by the way! I will bring it with me on Saturday to show everyone.
Well that is it for now. I have some assignments to read and some Red Certificates to prepare. See you all Saturday - and Good Writing!
I have been thinking it would be really nice to display some of the childrens' work on this blog so I am inviting some feedback from you, Would you be happy for their work to appear? Copyright will obviously remain with the Young Writers - and it means you can show their work to friends and relatives. I would eventually like to get a website set up for them but I have neither the time nor the money to even think about that at the moment. If you know anyone who would be prepared to help with this please let me know. I have tried in vain to set up several websites but I just don't have the technical know-how and have failed miserably. Any assistance gratefully received!
I bought a mascot for the group whilst in Devon, by the way! I will bring it with me on Saturday to show everyone.
Well that is it for now. I have some assignments to read and some Red Certificates to prepare. See you all Saturday - and Good Writing!
Sunday, 18 May 2014
Exhibition Latest ...
Hello everyone. I must say that things have really changed since Addiscombe Young Writers began having sessions at the local library. And - even though there is only between six and eight members at each session - I have to admit, the changes are very positive. Being in such a conducive setting really seems to help the children to focus - PLUS it means I can give them more one to one attention, which I think, helps to boost their confidence. On top of that, at the end of the two most recent sessions, I have had enquiries from interested parents who were just passing through and happened to catch a session in action. This is great news. It means that not only are people hearing about us, they are actually seeing how we work!
Another thing that seems to be working really well is the introduction of the new style worksheets. These little gems are giving the sessions real structure and I only wish I had thought to introduce them sooner. All this positivity of course, takes absolutely nothing away from the way the sessions used to work. It was great having twelve to sixteen (and sometimes twenty or more) children turning up to each session - but it did mean I could only really work effectively with the group as a whole, rather than on the more individual basis enjoyed by the members now. In those early days back in 2012, it was all brand new, unknown territory to me. I had no guidelines to follow, there were no how-to books available. All I really had to work from were a few comprehensive courses I had run for adults, half a dozen workshops I'd run for children and a junior reporter club, from when I was running a weekly column in the local paper. Two years on, I have learned a great deal about how to get the best out of this group and these young writers and I am so proud of how far it has come! So thank you very much for your continued interest and support. I really could not do this without you in the background; you are an amazing bunch!
This week we started looking at poetry, from its very roots hearing nursery rhymes as toddlers. I gave the members a sheet with a dozen or so words on and asked them to think of as many rhyming words as they could for each one. I was taken by complete surprise - and, if I'm honest, a healthy portion of humble pie - when I saw some of their suggestions! And the one word I thought would be most difficult for them to contend with (horse) turned out to be the one that sprouted the most rhyming words. The assignment was then to write a brand new poem using some of their suggestions. If they can do this by the next session that would be great. But - if they would rather stick to a story for the time being then that is okay too. Whatever they are writing, the very key lies in their enjoyment of writing.
I have finally got a date for the exhibition of work. This will be in October and I will tell you more about it in the next blog-post. In the meantime, the next session is on 7th June and I very much look forward to seeing you there.
Another thing that seems to be working really well is the introduction of the new style worksheets. These little gems are giving the sessions real structure and I only wish I had thought to introduce them sooner. All this positivity of course, takes absolutely nothing away from the way the sessions used to work. It was great having twelve to sixteen (and sometimes twenty or more) children turning up to each session - but it did mean I could only really work effectively with the group as a whole, rather than on the more individual basis enjoyed by the members now. In those early days back in 2012, it was all brand new, unknown territory to me. I had no guidelines to follow, there were no how-to books available. All I really had to work from were a few comprehensive courses I had run for adults, half a dozen workshops I'd run for children and a junior reporter club, from when I was running a weekly column in the local paper. Two years on, I have learned a great deal about how to get the best out of this group and these young writers and I am so proud of how far it has come! So thank you very much for your continued interest and support. I really could not do this without you in the background; you are an amazing bunch!
This week we started looking at poetry, from its very roots hearing nursery rhymes as toddlers. I gave the members a sheet with a dozen or so words on and asked them to think of as many rhyming words as they could for each one. I was taken by complete surprise - and, if I'm honest, a healthy portion of humble pie - when I saw some of their suggestions! And the one word I thought would be most difficult for them to contend with (horse) turned out to be the one that sprouted the most rhyming words. The assignment was then to write a brand new poem using some of their suggestions. If they can do this by the next session that would be great. But - if they would rather stick to a story for the time being then that is okay too. Whatever they are writing, the very key lies in their enjoyment of writing.
I have finally got a date for the exhibition of work. This will be in October and I will tell you more about it in the next blog-post. In the meantime, the next session is on 7th June and I very much look forward to seeing you there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)