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Reading Challenge, British Library

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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: WORKSHOPS Juniors (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 Seshan Seniors (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 Seshan Children also have the option of … [Read more...]

Reading Workshop at Baramati

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"Do you know who Augustus Gloop is?" I asked. "A Roman emperor!" responded a boy, promptly. We all laughed; we could not help it. Articulate, enthusiastic and full of energy, the children from Vidya Pratishthan's Bal Vikas Mandir filled Monday and Tuesday with ideas and action. "Have you heard of Roald Dahl?" I asked another bunch of children. "He wrote 'Daffodils'," came the response. Spending eight crazy hours with over a hundred children, I delighted in how involved they were with each element of the reading workshop. One session is over, three more to go! … [Read more...]

Changes

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I've been away from my blog for three weeks! Now, nothing seems Momentous enough to resume my regular writing. So, finally, I'm putting lots of things together just to set the writing rolling once more. 1) I got married. 2) I had another birthday and became one year older. 3) I discovered that Red Turtle (an imprint of Rupa) has a book called Great Books for Children: A Guide by Preeti Singh, which mentions The Story-Catcher as part of its list. 4) I'm beginning a new venture - workshops in schools. Starting this Monday, I will be conducting reading workshops at VP's Vinodkumar Gujar Bal Vikas Mandir, Baramati. I'm back to my blog! … [Read more...]

Arangetrams and Anniversaries

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My dance teacher does not remember the exact date of her Arangetram, but she does remember that it was in 1964. Just for today, I'm going to pretend to myself that her Arangetram was the 29th of October, 1964. Because today, I think of all the time that has passed since our Arangetram: my sister's and mine. It's ten years since ours. 29th October, 2004. Ten years. Ten years of learning, performing and teaching. Ten years of acquiring a blend of pride and humility. Ten years of discovering beauty and expression. Ten years of understanding our bodies better - not so much through talent of our own as because we persevered. And just for today, I will pretend that our ten years marks my teacher's fifty years. Because then I realise how much farther I can go. Ten years, then, is nothing. … [Read more...]

Reading Workshop, Poona Club Library

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This is the first time I have received so many queries about the workshop! Here are a few more details, just to make things clear. Reading Workshop for Children Dates: 1st and 2nd November, 2014 Time: 10 am to noon Fee: Rs 500 per child Total duration: 4 hours Age-group: 8-12 years Objectives: To develop a love for reading To imagine and create To understand the process of making a book Highlights: Read aloud Act out a story Learn the process of book-publishing Play a vocabulary game Understand what copyright is … [Read more...]

Of Education and Breaking Traffic Rules

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My signal turned green. I began to move - and banged into a motorcycle going the wrong way, and breaking the signal into the bargain. With my hand and foot mildly grazed, I was more than a little angry. I had not yet noticed that my bike was damaged, or I would have been still angrier. The rider was a little sheepish and did not say much, but the woman riding pillion was enraged with me. "My signal was green, couldn't you see?" I fumed. "I was in the right! Why do people who cannot follow rules ride?" In turn, she asked me if I could not see, if I was blind. Even more angered, I repeated that the signal was green for me. Her eyes blazed. She accused my of flinging abuses at her. She said she could ensure I was beaten. Angry, helpless and bemused, I had nothing else to say. I could only repeat that I was in the right! "Green, red, green, red," she threw at me. "If you cannot even … [Read more...]

Diwali

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We were in mourning this Diwali for my grandfather who died earlier this year. I remember, as a child, feeling so bad for people in mourning. I remember someone telling me about her father-in-law's brother's death, because of which the entire family was in mourning. And I remember feeling a little guilty about thinking about how pointless it was to mourn for a faraway relative. This time, though, it was not like that. I realised the difference between mourning and grieving. I think, to me, mourning is remembering. Each year at Diwali, my grandfather gave us 1,200 rupees: 300 rupees for each one. As  a child, I was excited by it. As I grew older, I smiled at the diligence with which my grandfather remembered each one of us every year. I remembered how we put up lights at my grandmother's window during her last few years. I remembered how, when I was very young, and my sister and I … [Read more...]

Reading Workshop

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I started going to the Poona Club library - no, I never called it 'United Services Library' - longer ago than I can remember. I do know, though, that in my head, Poona Club library was the only real library I knew. Not because it had exceptional books. Not because it opened my eyes to books I had never seen. But because it was a silent stone building full of books. A real library. Thrilled to be conducting a workshop there! Reading Workshop for Children Dates: 1st and 2nd November, 2014 Time: 10 am to noon Age-group: 8-12 years Registration fee: Rs 500 Contact me if you have any queries!   … [Read more...]