Every so often, I think about doing a monthly round-up of workshops I've conducted and books I've read. And then I think, maybe next month. But the month that went by was just so full of wonderful things that I want very much to share everything that happened and everything that's coming up!Last month, I was invited to a teachers' conference in Bengaluru. It was one of the most heart-warming events I conducted. I shared a few pictures already, but what made it special was how involved the teachers were. I conducted two sessions - one on reading and one on writing, and both were lovely!Then came the sessions I look forward to each month - my workshops at Just Books Baner. During the last session, we worked on magical stories, and played with lovely new ideas. Then came workshops with teachers at Universal High Malad, Sanjay Ghodawat International School (Kolhapur), … [Read more...]
Young Writers’ Club – Mystery Stories
A priceless necklace has been stolen from a museum and you are one of the suspects. How can you convince the jury that you're innocent?"I was on a plane to Kashmir," said one girl. "I can show you the ticket!" A little later, she added, "And I even have a photo that the air hostess took to prove that I was there!" And immediately, the cross-questioning began. "Why did she want to prove you were there? What air hostess takes a photo of the passengers? It looks like you're trying too hard to prove you were somewhere else! You're involved in the theft in some way!"And so, we examined how we can create characters that convince readers that they're innocent. At what point does an alibi begin to sound like the character is needlessly justifying herself? Also, how can you leave clues but still surprise the reader at the end?The children at the Young Writers' Club at Just Books … [Read more...]
The Joys of Conducting Workshops
There are so many things I love about conducting workshops! I just finished a five-day creative writing workshop at Baner, and it was, as always, good fun. We began with limericks, which are always exciting. Sometimes, they're funny; sometimes, just fun. Here are a few the children came up with during the session.Day two introduced the children to the wonderful Shel Silverstein. Every time I introduce his poetry to children, I fall in love with it all over again! I used his poetry workshop kit, and here's an epigram that one of the children wrote.And that leads me to what always makes me laugh with delight during each writing workshop I conduct - imaginative spelling! Here's some more:Surprises. Workshops are full of surprises. This creative writing workshop led me to a comic inspired by Monty Python!And the sense of satisfaction at the end when you realise that ten hours … [Read more...]
Reading Workshop at JustBooks Baner
New characters, new stories and comics - today's session at JustBooks Baner was lovely!During the ice-breaker, I met all kinds of new characters. I usually encounter only Geronimo Stilton, Thea, Greg and Harry Potter. Today, I met Xan, Rafe and Joe, whom I don't know at all! And I was also delighted to find the charming Fantastic Mr Fox, Small Fox, Matilda, Bella, Arjun and Chota Bheem ... It was so much fun!Working with listening exercises brought music to the workshop, and then, before I knew it, the morning was over!A note to parents who read this: don't send your children for a workshop if they don't fit into the age bracket! They feel horribly left out! They can't cope; they feel inferior - don't put them through that! … [Read more...]
Reading Workshop in Viman Nagar
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...]
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...]
Day One: Vocabulary Workshop
The holidays have just begun, and you don't want to sit in a library and develop your vocabulary.Yet, the ten children who came to JustBooks Magarpatta City had a crazy, noisy, active, fun morning. Word search puzzles, category games, drawing, acting and speaking - all found their way into two hours. Tomorrow promises to be grand too!If you would like to join in tomorrow, please contact the library: +91-95615500003. … [Read more...]
Vocabulary Workshop Rescheduled
As Magarpatta City Public School has examinations until the 18th of October, the Vocabulary Workshop for Children has been postponed. Here are the new details:Dates: 20th and 21st October, 2014 Time: 10:30-12:30 Venue: JustBooks, Magarpatta City Age-group: 8-12 years Registration fee: Rs. 500The last day for registrations is Sunday, 19th October.Please pass the word! Sorry for the inconvenience ... … [Read more...]
Vocabulary Workshop at Magarpatta City
Now moving to a new venue - JustBooks, Magarpatta City!Vocabulary Workshop for Children Dates: 18th and 19th October, 2014 Time: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Venue: JustBooks, Magarpatta City Age-group: 8-12 years Registration fee: Rs. 500 … [Read more...]
Day Two: Vocabulary Workshop for Children
Time flew by at the second day of my vocabulary workshop, so much so that I hardly even took any photographs! It was a day of frantic word-hunting in the dictionary, attempts to communicate an idea with a single word, and word-building.Here are a couple of pictures, taken before the frenzy began. … [Read more...]