Here's what's next!Reading Workshop for Children Age-group: 8-12 years Venue: JustBooks, Viman Nagar Dates: 29th and 30th December, 2014 (The last workshop of the year!) Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Fee: Rs 500 … [Read more...]
Bus-Signs
I know that in situations like this, pictures speak more effectively than words, but I did not have the time to take a picture. At the back of a sleeper bus, I saw the sign:'Sleep in the Night, Morning in the Tight.'What do you reckon it means? … [Read more...]
Back from Baramati
My lovely workshop at Baramati has come to an end.One child made a card - out of a recycled wedding card.Another child naively told me, "This is Harsh's gift from class V A."Children shared what they had learnt. And one girl gave me a letter. Here's just a little part of a three-page long letter that made me feel warm right down to my toes.The next workshop is just around the corner. Sunday: British Library! … [Read more...]
Day Three: Bal Vikas Mandir
Imagination, copyright, magic, wildlife, beauty, leadership ... The list of things we discussed during the third session of my reading workshop at VP's Vinodkumar Gujar Bal Vikas Mandir was endless. With individual and team activities as usual, the sessions flew by - and I can hardly believe that I have just one session left! … [Read more...]
Free Workshop for Parents
Here's some media coverage of the free workshop I conducted for parents ... Looking forward to the Reading Challenge: details in the news clip! … [Read more...]
Reading Challenge Sakaal Times
Varsha Seshan's workshops in the Sakaal Times today!With the Reading Challenge just around the corner, I conducted a special curtain-raiser today on getting children to read."My children don't read at all!" "I keep asking him to tell me about what he's reading; he never tells me anything!" "His friend reads so much, but he doesn't read at all!" "We made him join the library, but still he doesn't read!"After every workshop, I face these responses, so I thought of conducting a session for parents before the actual launch of the reading challenge. It was a free session, open to everyone - and what fun it was! … [Read more...]
Day Two: Reading Workshop
At VP's Bal Vikas Mandir, workshops are not just enjoyable work. On Monday, after my first two sessions, I was not well. "Could I have just soup for dinner?" I asked. "Of course," was the reply. Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door - Vicks and Crocin to ensure that I slept well. That's what working in a place with thoughtful people is like! On my first day there, I met three teachers: one who had worked for 19 years, one for 22 and one for 35. I was astounded and commented on this to the principal, who calmly replied that often, when teachers join the school, they leave only when they retire. I am no longer surprised: when there are thoughtful people around you, you want to work in that environment! … [Read more...]
Mythical Maze
"Mythical Maze" - that's the theme for this years reading challenge at the British Library.What is a reading challenge all about? What does it achieve?Here's a bit about it. Children are divided into two age brackets - 5-7 and 8-13. Each age bracket has a select list of books that fit under the theme "Mythical Maze". These books are carefully selected, and are especially useful to parents who want to know what their children 'ought' to read. The main advantage here is that a whole group of children is reading the same books, a kind of temporary book club. This means that they have things in common to talk about and discuss - and the arena for this is the workshops conducted at the library. More than anything, the reading challenge achieves two things: 1) Getting over starting trouble: what to read, where to begin 2) Meeting children with common interests: Many children (and adults) … [Read more...]
Christmas Reading
Fills my heart with joy ... … [Read more...]
Reading Challenge, British Library
Last year, it was 'Creepy House'; this year, it's 'Mythical Maze'. Children in the age-group 5-13 can take part in a fantastic journey through books, discovering selkies, fairies and even the Trojan horse. There will also be three workshops for each age-group, aimed at building confidence and improving expression.Here are the details of the workshops:WORKSHOPSJuniors (5 – 7 year olds) Timing: 11.00 am to 12.30 p.m. 21 December 2014: "Reading and Role Play" by Varsha Seshan 4 January 2015: "Exploring Mythological Creatures in Indian Stories" by Pervin Saket 18 January 2015: "Myths from around the World" by Varsha SeshanSeniors (8 - 13 year olds) Timing: 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. 21 December 2014: "Idioms are my cup of tea" by Varsha Seshan 4 January 2015: "Myth Clusters and Buster" by Pervin Saket 18 January 2015: "Myths and Fables" by Varsha SeshanChildren also have the option of … [Read more...]