Lively, curriculum-based workshops that immerse students in the artistry and power of telling their stories.
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Presentations include:
The Metaphor Tree. K - 5. Students learn what a metaphor is, identify them in a text read aloud -- by shouting "ding!" when they hear one -- then practice making their own. They make a small book (one page, cleverly folded) and write metaphors on labels to hang on a potted tree branch.
Taste the Dog. K-5. Writers sculpt, draw and even cook with words. In this workshop, kids turn on their senses and practice the forms of imagery (visual, auditory, etc.) During a short reading packed with images, they gesture -- stick out their tongues, tug on an ear, wiggle their noses -- to identify the type of images they hear. We "build" a dog together -- how it looks, smells, feels, even tastes -- and from there, kids learn how sensory details lead quickly to narrative. The dog smells like fish -- what happened? The dog looks sad -- why?
Powerful Character. For middle school and high school students especially, this introduction to creating rich, full characters resonates beyond the page. How does setting -- where we live -- influence who we are and the stories we tell? How does our personality lead to the plots, big and small, that swirl in our lives? What conflicts, inner and outer, shape us?
Are You Talking to Me? It doesn't get more fun than this! Middle school and high school students practice writing realistic dialogue that moves and compels. With a close reading of examples from their current novel study and dialogue greats such as Roddy Doyle, students learn and apply the tricks of the trade.
TESTIMONIALS
“Sara led an interactive and thought-provoking presentation. The grade 4 classes were challenged to think about writing by looking at the world around them rather than staring at a blank page. They were asked to come up with a metaphor for the moon and together the students wrote down their moon metaphors (my favourite: “the moon is a white marble on a black table cloth"). All the metaphors were added to a metaphor tree and left in the library on display at the end. The kids responded to her relaxed, friendly style and were very engaged with the metaphor concept. It was a delightful hour!”
- Judy Baxter, Library Manager, South Cowichan and Haida Gwaii Branches, Vancouver Island Regional Library
"Sara Cassidy was a featured author at the 2018 OLA Forest of Reading Celebration in Toronto, for her Silver Birch Express-nominated book, A Boy Named Queen. She spoke to a large audience of 8-10 year olds. Sara read from her book and engaged children by using audience participation to explore how an author creates mental images for the reader. Children were thrilled when Sara met with fans after her presentation to autograph books. She graciously answered students' questions. A few even had their photo taken with her!"
-Toni Duval OLA 2018 Silver Birch Non-Fiction Selection Committee Co-Chair
The Metaphor Tree. K - 5. Students learn what a metaphor is, identify them in a text read aloud -- by shouting "ding!" when they hear one -- then practice making their own. They make a small book (one page, cleverly folded) and write metaphors on labels to hang on a potted tree branch.
Taste the Dog. K-5. Writers sculpt, draw and even cook with words. In this workshop, kids turn on their senses and practice the forms of imagery (visual, auditory, etc.) During a short reading packed with images, they gesture -- stick out their tongues, tug on an ear, wiggle their noses -- to identify the type of images they hear. We "build" a dog together -- how it looks, smells, feels, even tastes -- and from there, kids learn how sensory details lead quickly to narrative. The dog smells like fish -- what happened? The dog looks sad -- why?
Powerful Character. For middle school and high school students especially, this introduction to creating rich, full characters resonates beyond the page. How does setting -- where we live -- influence who we are and the stories we tell? How does our personality lead to the plots, big and small, that swirl in our lives? What conflicts, inner and outer, shape us?
Are You Talking to Me? It doesn't get more fun than this! Middle school and high school students practice writing realistic dialogue that moves and compels. With a close reading of examples from their current novel study and dialogue greats such as Roddy Doyle, students learn and apply the tricks of the trade.
TESTIMONIALS
“Sara led an interactive and thought-provoking presentation. The grade 4 classes were challenged to think about writing by looking at the world around them rather than staring at a blank page. They were asked to come up with a metaphor for the moon and together the students wrote down their moon metaphors (my favourite: “the moon is a white marble on a black table cloth"). All the metaphors were added to a metaphor tree and left in the library on display at the end. The kids responded to her relaxed, friendly style and were very engaged with the metaphor concept. It was a delightful hour!”
- Judy Baxter, Library Manager, South Cowichan and Haida Gwaii Branches, Vancouver Island Regional Library
"Sara Cassidy was a featured author at the 2018 OLA Forest of Reading Celebration in Toronto, for her Silver Birch Express-nominated book, A Boy Named Queen. She spoke to a large audience of 8-10 year olds. Sara read from her book and engaged children by using audience participation to explore how an author creates mental images for the reader. Children were thrilled when Sara met with fans after her presentation to autograph books. She graciously answered students' questions. A few even had their photo taken with her!"
-Toni Duval OLA 2018 Silver Birch Non-Fiction Selection Committee Co-Chair
