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...]
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...]
Reading Workshop at Baramati
"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...]
Workshop Cancelled
The workshop scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled ... My apologies! … [Read more...]
Reading Workshop, Poona Club Library
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, 2014Time: 10 am to noonFee: Rs 500 per child Total duration: 4 hoursAge-group: 8-12 yearsObjectives: To develop a love for reading To imagine and create To understand the process of making a bookHighlights: Read aloud Act out a story Learn the process of book-publishing Play a vocabulary game Understand what copyright is … [Read more...]
Reading Workshop
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 500Contact me if you have any queries! … [Read more...]
Day Two: Vocabulary Workshop
I met a seven-year-old who could unscramble words faster than anyone I've seen.Apart from my parents of course. My parents have about thirty years of Scrabble practice, though. (That's over four times the little boy's age, for those of you who cannot do the math.)I met another seven-year-old, who was all too willing to give up after trying any given activity for about five minutes and then deciding that he did not understand what to do next.I met two eleven-year-olds, both quiet, but both totally different.I hope I meet many of them again, even though the Vocabulary Workshop came to an end today! … [Read more...]