tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post5577156008288991930..comments2023-06-10T22:42:19.087+10:00Comments on Australasian Christian Writers: Encouraging the Next Generation of Writers. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-34185715011583077862014-03-24T14:46:01.445+11:002014-03-24T14:46:01.445+11:00Unfortunately there isn't a lot of time for fr...Unfortunately there isn't a lot of time for freedom of expression. Teachers are stressed trying to fit in all the information they must give. It's one of the reasons I am now an ex-teacher :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-38529607053570051542014-03-23T18:28:17.040+11:002014-03-23T18:28:17.040+11:00Thanks Rose. That's a great tip. The library ...Thanks Rose. That's a great tip. The library near me has a bunch of animal hand puppets, so I'll check out what they have. The girl I'm reading to is in Prep, so not really up to reading herself yet, but that's a great idea for keeping attention. It's meant to be a long-term relationship, so hopefully I'll be able to stay with her through primary school.Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-50090757593320185952014-03-23T05:23:43.848+11:002014-03-23T05:23:43.848+11:00I love that piece of writing. And you're so ri...I love that piece of writing. And you're so right--it's important we give them the courage to write whatever they want. I think English classes can stifle creativity. Encouraging them to just write out what they're thinking without worrying about it being perfect is a great way to get them to learn to love to write.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-18011310667813403842014-03-22T18:00:45.568+11:002014-03-22T18:00:45.568+11:00Oh, Jenny - I am also challenged with handwriting....Oh, Jenny - I am also challenged with handwriting. And I am very lucky I did a word processing course in High School, because that is where I learnt keyboard skills. <br /><br />Tully did get the quad bike - not a brand new one, but a good second hand (and limited powered) one that he can learn on safely. But I think my husband and our family friend (who fixed up the motor on the bike) have had the most fun on it so far. Seeing grown men doing laps up and down the driveway on a kid's quad bike is pretty funny. :-) Rose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-66142769949808957412014-03-22T17:55:18.739+11:002014-03-22T17:55:18.739+11:00Hi Ray, isn't it great to have an event like y...Hi Ray, isn't it great to have an event like your festival that includes children and their work. I also thought that the Young Adult prize category in previous CALEB Awards was a great addition. It's so good to see that our young writers have opportunities to share. Rose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-45946649870981036112014-03-22T17:45:56.575+11:002014-03-22T17:45:56.575+11:00I just explained to Catherine that the 'stamps...I just explained to Catherine that the 'stamps' book in the photo above is actually mine. I did it when I was in Primary School and kept it all these years. I could never throw it away because I had been so proud of it at the time. It's so good that you have these journals from your children. You will all cherish them more and more as they grow. xoRose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-4727838870823836362014-03-22T17:40:20.089+11:002014-03-22T17:40:20.089+11:00Yes, I noticed that, Andrea. Students are being ta...Yes, I noticed that, Andrea. Students are being taught so much more about the technical aspects of writing - which is a great thing, and an important addition to the curriculum. But I do wonder if the scales have swung too much towards theory. Tully told me yesterday that in Art they couldn't draw what they wanted, they all had to draw the same thing (a peacock), and it had to be done the way the teacher told them. He usually loves art, but he was so disinterested in this task. There has to be a way to give these children the freedom of their own expression while still completing the standards set by the education experts.Rose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-6739580892697187832014-03-22T17:31:46.599+11:002014-03-22T17:31:46.599+11:00Thanks Narelle. Tully is happy because he has been...Thanks Narelle. Tully is happy because he has been published - online that is ;-) Rose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-2178550884968283302014-03-22T17:30:00.204+11:002014-03-22T17:30:00.204+11:00It is Nola. In years past I have done reading grou...It is Nola. In years past I have done reading groups with Tully's classes as well - Here's a little tip I have learnt and must pass on to you; this works especially well with smaller children - Take a Prop. Take something physical that the book is about. Most of the time you will find you have instant attention to the story. For example, I have so many books about Australian animals, so I would take a stuffed toy (or many stuffed toys if I had them), and we would go around and do reading, whoever had the toy was the one reading the story, or I would ask them something about the book, or get them to tell me a fact they knew about the animal. You can even give them the prop and ask them to tell you their own story about it. It provides another fun component to the story. <br />It's a great thing that you are doing. Children love to be read to and unfortunately some just don't get that attention at home. Rose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-22369941454067546662014-03-22T17:19:26.821+11:002014-03-22T17:19:26.821+11:00LOL - the rat made me laugh too, Paula. When he wa...LOL - the rat made me laugh too, Paula. When he wanted to put that in I must have given him a look because I remember him telling me that it needed to be in there because it was 'cool'. I do not think so! It must be a 'boy' thing. :-) Rose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-5151295459013918972014-03-22T17:17:48.215+11:002014-03-22T17:17:48.215+11:00If you have a look at the photos of the kid's ...If you have a look at the photos of the kid's books, you will see one on the left about stamps - that's mine when I was in primary school. I kept it all these years because I was so proud of it. You must keep the books your daughter is most proud of. You never know what encouragement it could be later on in her life. :-) Rose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-49808907151450376132014-03-22T17:15:02.730+11:002014-03-22T17:15:02.730+11:00How cool is it that the school will print your gra...How cool is it that the school will print your granddaughter's books! And children love to look at each other's creative work, so I am sure that the books would be a popular addition to the library's list. Rose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-56117677129250232092014-03-22T11:06:07.908+11:002014-03-22T11:06:07.908+11:00Oh I hope Tully was good and got or will get that ...Oh I hope Tully was good and got or will get that quad bike! We had a few teachers that encouraged writing. One told mum I wrote great stories when he could read them. My writing was always bad. I think it has been lost in many ways. Ausjennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07644698706787568679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-15252855822632092852014-03-22T09:41:42.577+11:002014-03-22T09:41:42.577+11:00Our grandchildren have great opportunities, more s...Our grandchildren have great opportunities, more so than we oldies ever had, to write. Isn't it great to collect and keep their scribble, art work and stories. Our four eldest grandchildren were all excited to share in the children's part of the 'Festival of Golden Words' here in Beaconsfield last week. Thanks Rose for taking us through the classroom to the children and some reflections on our pen and paper works of art our parents kept.<br />Ray Hawkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17720158812896505028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-17989971385467697362014-03-21T19:17:15.205+11:002014-03-21T19:17:15.205+11:00Great post, Rose. I love what you do in Tully'...Great post, Rose. I love what you do in Tully's classrooms. What a privilege. :) <br /><br />I have all the old school journals my kids wrote every Monday morning in primary school. We love to read them for that priceless snapshot of childhood they've outgrown, but still retain in their own words. <br /><br />Many thanks to their teachers for including journal writing and creative writing in those tender years. Dorothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13622521834128746217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-3736159895482672452014-03-21T16:22:43.147+11:002014-03-21T16:22:43.147+11:00Great post, Rose, and I just loved Tully's rep...Great post, Rose, and I just loved Tully's report! Yes, the school curriculum is much more stringent these days, but on the other hand, at least children are now being taught point of view, something I'd never heard of (or noticed) until I started writing myself. Love seeing kids being creative :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04449342827457837314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-64103879653763388272014-03-21T16:01:28.256+11:002014-03-21T16:01:28.256+11:00Rose, lovely post! Thanks for sharing Tully's ...Rose, lovely post! Thanks for sharing Tully's story and it's great that you're involved in his school :) Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-68229184897040053662014-03-21T15:19:20.821+11:002014-03-21T15:19:20.821+11:00That's great Rose and good on you Tully. I ju...That's great Rose and good on you Tully. I just started as a volunteer with the Pyjama Foundation this week (involves reading and doing learning activities with a foster child for an hour a week). A few years ago they got funding to put together a book with the children's stories, so I'm hoping there'll be some opportunities to do more of that. I've already dobbed myself in as a writer. So important to encourage kids to be creative.Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-77626981660021531672014-03-21T14:43:57.966+11:002014-03-21T14:43:57.966+11:00Writing from people that age is great. Very unrest...Writing from people that age is great. Very unrestrained and full of bold ideas. Good report from Tully. Glad to hear there was only one dead rat seen at Mt Britton :)Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-8046401071545354642014-03-21T13:34:38.204+11:002014-03-21T13:34:38.204+11:00What a cute piece of writing! I too encourage my k...What a cute piece of writing! I too encourage my kids with writing. My six year old has been doing phonics and just learning to read for a while so the other day we started free-writing. Now I can't stop her! It's inspirational to see her passion...and of course I love to go to my room and find her offerings on the bed, the latest a picture book stapled together.Catherine Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03947906623825971761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-63610591975651077692014-03-21T13:20:46.652+11:002014-03-21T13:20:46.652+11:00So agree Rose. I have a grand daughter who has a w...So agree Rose. I have a grand daughter who has a wonderful talent for writing, and is already having her stories added to books that her school is having printed. It's so good to see the school encouraging young writers, and anything we can do to help is great. Carol Preston https://www.blogger.com/profile/00306981583283008014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-5298289739473066052014-03-21T11:45:12.531+11:002014-03-21T11:45:12.531+11:00It is really important. And sometimes children do ...It is really important. And sometimes children do not want to put down their computer games to do it. That is why I sat with Tully and we did this together. He dictated and I typed. And he found that he enjoyed it immensely - even though it was a report and didn't incorporate any drawing. <br />Also I have found that when I go into classrooms sometimes it is the worst behaved children that embrace the writing task the most. I wonder if this is because it is an outlet for their own personal creativity. These days our Queensland classes are so stringently planned that it takes away some of that individuality. It's a shame - but we can do things to help and encourage at home. :-) Rose Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916783669139743112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-88884526101079378102014-03-21T08:34:48.624+11:002014-03-21T08:34:48.624+11:00Thanks, Rose. Also thanks, Tully, for your excelle...Thanks, Rose. Also thanks, Tully, for your excellent story! I grew up in Queensland but hadn't heard of Mt Britton, so now I know all about it! I like to email my two granddaughters aged ten and eight when I can, as at least that encourages them to write something back to me. But your blog was a good reminder to encourage them even more with their writing.Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.com