Going back to a school at which I was once a teacher was a whole new experience for me! Despite all the reasons I quit, I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I walked around the school. This time, I was not there an employee, but as an independent trainer from the British Council. Going to the buildings where I taught English and ToK, visiting the library and the refectory, and, most importantly, meeting all the lovely people I worked with ... What a grand day!MIT Gurukul has taken on the Reading Challenge, and I worked with the PYP section today, reading out stories and teaching the children about book reviews. With Grade 1, I did a book I had not read before - There's a Shark in the Bath! It's a delightful story, one of those that is enjoyed differently by each reader. What does young Dulcie do when she sees a shark in her bath? I chuckled as I read … [Read more...]
Flickering Flames at the Pune International Literary Festival
The authors of Flickering Flames, an anthology of short stories and poems, were part of the Pune International Literary Festival (PILF) 2016! The young girls, all in the age-group 11-13, got the opportunity to read excerpts from their work at an event that welcomed a range of eminent speakers and writers.Of the thirteen members of the Writers' Club at St. Mary's, ten spoke at PILF 2016. One girl spoke of how Flickering Flames was born, after which each of the girls read a little of what they had written. They spoke of their journey with me, writing, rewriting and editing. The audience asked questions, engaging in a lively discussion with the young writers. This was just a beginning for them; I hope to see them with more books to their credit in the years to come! … [Read more...]
Performance at Tirupathi
As a child watching a cricket match live on television, I remember asking my grandfather, "How does the camera know where to look?" Two days ago, looking at five people sitting together and ensuring that our performance was screened live all over the world, I remembered my question and smiled.Performing in Tirupathi was an experience that I could never have imagined. All artistes dream of full houses, yes. At Tirupathi, it was impossible to count how many people were sitting there and watching us perform. Streams and streams of people kept joining the crowd, sitting on the steps and watching us dance.During Rama Namama Krishna Namama, when Krishna showed Arjuna his Vishwaroopam, the whole audience was with us. It was a powerful sensation - over a thousand people connected by a single emotion, a sense of wonder and exaltation. My hair stood on end as I stood in the wings and … [Read more...]
Flickering Flames – A Review
Flickering Flames is a collection of short stories and poems written by the members of the Writers' Club at St. Mary's School. Here's a little about it.Ishitaa Shevate, one of the students in the next batch of the Writers' Club, reviewed the book: here's what she has to say!This is a very nice book. It draws the reader into each and every poem or story. I couldn't stop turning pages. It is by the girls of my school. My favourite story was 'Room 37'. This book is filled with excitement. I would recommend this book to people who like poetry, mystery and other genres. … [Read more...]
Weekend Workshops at Bengaluru
The joy of travelling is when I can mix leisure with work. Last weekend was a long weekend, and in Karnataka, it was longer still because of Varralakshmi Poojai. Many were apparently traveeling, yet, several turned up for both workshops I conducted.At Atta Galatta, Koramangala, I conducted a creative writing workshop for the age-group 9-13. It was lovely, exploring elements of a story, techniques and style. We did lots of activities and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly!At The Kids Collective, Jayanagar, I conducted a reading-cum-storytelling workshop with children aged 7-10. We explored Bholu at the Level Crossing, Bholu at the School Excursion and many others. One child told me that her favourite part of the whole workshop was the story Bholu at the School Excursion; I was thrilled! … [Read more...]
Creative Writing at Vidya Valley School
In the pouring rain, we made our way across the city to a school far, far away. It was beautiful. Greenery all around us, streams in the most unexpected places - this was not a part of the city I knew. I'd heard about Vidya Valley, and met a few students from the school at other workshops. This time, though, I was visiting the school to conduct three sessions with the sixth standard as part of the build-up to the school's very own lit fest.Teaching creative writing to a whole class is always challenging. In a class of forty, if I'm lucky, eight enjoy writing. The rest couldn't care less. When all forty are required to sit together in a classroom and write ... I didn't know what to expect. Yet, in a school with its own literature fest, I was hopeful.The whole day was simply delightful! We talked about all kinds of books, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out about … [Read more...]
Creative Writing Workshop in Bengaluru
Last year, I conducted a reading workshop at Atta Galatta, and I knew I had to go back there and do something else! The place is perfect, the ambiance charming and the children I met were lovely.So now it's time to do something else, something new! Conducting the Writers' Club at St. Mary's School has shown me how much I enjoy working with children who enjoy writing. It's full of imagination, whacky ideas and magic!Creative Writing Workshop for Children Age-group: 9-13 Venue: Atta Galatta, Bengaluru Dates: 13th and 14th August, 2016 Time: 11 am to 1 pm Fees: Rs. 1,000 per participant Contact me for more details or to register! … [Read more...]
The Great Cheese Robbery
Lots of books on my blog this week: that's what happens when I do a workshop for the British Library's Reading Challenge!The Great Cheese Robbery was a delightful picture book that brought back memories of Disney's "Dumbo". I remember the first time I watched "Dumbo" and saw the elephants shriek at the sight of a mouse. I chuckled at the movie as a child, and the same images came back to me as I read this book!When I started reading The Great Cheese Robbery, I was already prejudiced towards it simply because so many children who had enrolled for the reading challenge enjoyed it so much. When children like a picture book, what other endorsement does it need?Two things about the book charmed me: the illustrations and the delightfully innocent Patrick Elephant. If I'd read this book as a child, Patrick Elephant would have been one of my favourite characters ever. He knows his … [Read more...]
The Paper Dolls
I love Julia Donaldson! I came across her work for the first time when I read and watched The Gruffalo's Child. Then, I read Running on the Cracks - a completely different book for a completely different audience. And now, as part of the Record Breakers Reading Challenge, I read The Paper Dolls, first by myself and then during my workshop with children at MGM Clover Dale. It was just lovely!I'm one of those who prefer picture books that rhyme to those that don't. I find rhyme, when well done, truly delightful and very easy to read. More than anything, I love how children respond to rhyme, like when I make them repeat Ticky-and-Tacky and Jacky-the-Backie and Jim-with-two-noses and Jo-with-a-bow. The Paper Dolls was delightful from start to end, both to read aloud and to act. What makes it even more special is that after the story, there's a page that shows you how to make your own … [Read more...]
Reading Challenge at MGM Clover Dale
The Imagination Box, which I wrote about yesterday, as well as the books I'll be writing about in the days ahead, were part of the Reading Challenge organised by the British Library. As always, I enjoyed myself thoroughly conducting a series of workshops at MGM Clover Dale High School in Aurangabad. The theme for their Reading Challenge was "Record Breakers", and there were record breakers amongst them! A pair of twins read 16 books in the last three weeks because they enjoyed the challenge so much!The first workshop, for younger children, was a lovely storytelling session. I introduced them to Julia Donaldson's The Paper Dolls. We play-acted, read the story, and then even made the paper dolls as instructed at the end of the book!The second session was with eight-year-olds who found that they were too old to read the collection for young readers. They chose to read books from the … [Read more...]