''A new planet! We've discovered a new planet!" shouted Jasper, as he caught the dazzling movement in his star-gazing tube.

The Stone - A Persian Legend

 

 
 

Contact Dianne

 

School Matters

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 WORKSHOPS 

 

Sessions are adapted to how they will be supported by other activities in the school. Groups need to be smaller when creative writing is involved. To book a visit email: dihofmeyr@btinternet.com

 

1.  Creative Writing

2.  The Bones of a Book

3.  Making a Picture Book

4.  Illustration for College Students

 

 

 Geoffrey Chaucer College, Southwark, London

1.Creative Writing Workshop

 

 

 

Fox Primary School School, Kensington, London.
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Drawing on a sense of place

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Exploring who we are and where we come from

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Ideas and research

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Viewpoint

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Character

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Dialogue

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Structure, tension and pace

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Developing rhythm in language

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Beginnings and endings

 

 

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2. The Bones of a Book

  
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Specific talks based on the books below

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Ideas for use in the classroom and teacher information available:  Fish Notes and Star Songs

 
FISH NOTES AND STAR SONGS

The story covers not just a physical journey but an inward one... coping with loss and identity and friendship. The presentation touches on subjects as diverse as star myths, rock art and whale song, using artefacts, images and music.

 

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THE WATERBEARER

A dip into medieval Africa with images and traditional African music. The presentation relates to the story of the dhow trade along the coast of East Africa in the 14th century and trade with civilizations in the heart of Africa.

                       

 

3.Making a Picture Book

 
The workshop can be adapted to young readers who want to make their own picture book, or to students of design, creative writing or library science.  The workshop covers:

 

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Ideas

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Rough drafts

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Lay-out and page turn

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How text and illustration work together

 

Reading at Kwanokatula Library, South Africa

 

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4.Out of the Margin on to the Page - Illustration for Older Students

 

    Picture books bridging the gap of marginalization. 

    Topics include: community, family and homelessness.

    Ethnic groups reflected as part of a homogenized society without sacrificing ethnicity.

     Illustrations include the award-winning work of Niki Daly from Not So Fast Songololo and Jamela’s Dress, and Jude Daly from The Gift of the Sun, and Nicolaas Maritz from Ashraf of Africa, amongst others.

 

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 NON-FICTION

 

Directions in Art - Printmaking                                                

Suitable for 13 to 16 year-olds preparing for GCSE Art.

Co-authored with Louisa Sherman. Published by Heinemann Library.

From gigantic potraits of Blur to ghostly images and glowing bra's and bindis...  these are just a few directions being taken by young and modern printmakers. 

What influences these cutting-edge artists?  What are they trying to achieve with their methods that draw on techniques as old as lino-cut and as modern as digitally altered photographs?  The book covers a diverse range of contemporary artists including Richard Hamilton, Julian Opie and Paula Rego. 

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