Dim's Write Stuff

The words on the banner above state that I possess a desire to make reading and writing more inspired for children. They are not spoken lightly. As part of the Coomera Rivers SS Book Week in May festivities, I have the privileged honour of being their guest author. Throughout the week I've been presenting writing workshops and reading sessions to over 500 primary aged kids and their teachers. Nothing gives me more of a buzz than a room full of enthusiastic faces and arms thrust so far into the air (to proffer answers and anecdotes) I'd swear their fingers were full of helium. Together we explored the purpose, importance and structure of story telling. They discussed what makes a good read. They shared their reading secrets and writing aspirations with me. They set free their creative selves with exuberant abandon. And they committed to every writerly task asked of them. They enthused over the marvellous Book Fair displays in their i Centre with...

How to Get Kids to Write: That was the question or rather the focus of my break out session presentation which formed part of the School Library Association of Queensland's (SLAQ Gold Coast ) Reading Roadshow. Held at Aquinas College  on the Gold Coast, and facilitated by the ineffable  Marj Osborne   this timely event encompassing the 2012 National Year of Reading and new National Curriculum  allowed an audience of teachers and teacher librarians to gain an overview of a variety of literacy based ideas. Dimity with Narelle Oliver and Marj Osborne I was fortunate to be able to work alongside esteemed and hugely talented children's author and illustrator, Narelle Oliver . She gave us a detailed look at how Picture Books contribute to the Literature Strand for Primary Levels (years 4 - 7) within the Australian Curriculum. I found it fascinating that the various Focus Points of each year level could be so succinctly and beautifully identified within the...