Author visits by Kathryn Cave
Working as an author with a group of children is a real delight. No two sessions are the same. Ages in the group and fluency in writing and speaking English are key factors when deciding the kind of session you want: a lively free-the-imagination ideas-generating encounter (where I do any writing down that has to be done), a more sustained session on making and writing stories, or a read-aloud / Q & A author visit (with the focus on Something Else, other picture books, or longer stories). I do - and enjoy - all of these. And I'm open to other ideas and suggestions. A few details below.
Brainstorming creative sessions
Feedback from recent
workshops
"The children have
been so enthusiastic
about their writing. I
gave my class some more time
to finish their writing this afternoon, as they requested, and they were working in self-imposed silence - this is almost unheard of for Year 2 in the afternoon!"
"I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work on Thursday. The feedback
I have had from the other teachers has all been very positive and the children certainly seemed inspired
by your visit. . . I hope you enjoyed the school as much as we enjoyed having you.
It was a pleasure to meet
and work with you."
I take a bag of things of one kind or another
(a mix of the strange and the everyday}, and
use these as props to prompt the children to come up with ideas for stories and characters.
Sometimes there are lots of ideas. Sometimes one or two get more fully developed. But all through the session there are opportunities
for children to dip into the bag again and
again and discover something that might fire
the imagination.
I note down the ideas that emerge and send
a written version back after the visit.
The bag of objects comes into play at
first, but afterwards there's time for the
children to try writing up their own ideas.
With older groups the focus is on how stories
are told, particularly on ways to begin and on
creating characters and situations that
feel real.
Whatever the orientation of the session, there's usually plenty of time for the children to ask questions about being a writer, the mechanics
of book making, who does the illustrations, and so forth. And I'll read a short extract from one
or two of my books if that seems a good move - but the emphasis is more on children's work
than on mine.
Where do I visit?
Anywhere practicable.
I've carried out workshops in London, in Surrey, and farther afield, including visits to Somerset, Wales, northern England and Scotland. I live in Hampstead, London.
Writing sessions
"The quality of their writing, particularly my hard-to-motivate boys, is excellent.
I would say that for some of those children this is the best piece of writing they have produced all term. I will be doing my very best to build upon it!"
Q & A sessions / Reading aloud
"Thank you so much for everything you did on Tuesday. The teachers and children had a
a very special day with you and have spoken about how much they enjoyed it. So a huge
thank you from us and from me."
