October 2014
Dear Colleagues
In this issue I would like to acknowledge the work of Aucklander Rob Southam, a former
teacher known throughout New Zealand as an advocate for children’s literacy and books. She
has won the 2014 Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award.
The award acknowledges Ms. Southam’s lifetime contribution to promoting children’s literacy
initially as a classroom teacher, and for the past twenty years as sales manager at leading
children’s book publisher Scholastic New Zealand.
‘In this role, Rob is widely regarded as a tireless campaigner for bringing children and books
together, and specifically encouraging boys to read,’ says Storylines Trust chair, Dr Libby
Limbrick. ‘Her influence in schools around the country, through workshops, seminars, contact
with principals and parents, presentations at national and international conferences and her
work with Duffy Books in Homes, has been extraordinary and far-reaching."
The Storylines award, honoring author and literary historian Betty Gilderdale, was begun in
1990 to acknowledge distinguished service to promoting children’s literacy and books.
Well done Rob. You deserve it.
World Literacy day
In our last newsletter we asked for evidence of your fun event for World Literacy Day. I am
happy to announce that the $50 book voucher was won by Central New Brighton School.
Congratulations.
These happy children are choosing a new book during a school book swap held in the
Principals office.
An Interlude With Greg O’Connell – review by Pene Balk-Jarvis
Poet Greg O’Connell took the stage and immediately drew the attending teachers into his web
of words. Just as teachers’ so often ask, encourage and cajole their students into participating,
so Greg did with us. We joined him in the performance of poems with exaggerated gestures
and character filled voices. We let his words wash over us. Greg inspired us to think about
playing with words and encouraging the children we work with to do the same. As I drove home
words buzzed in my head – rhymes, similes, onomatopoeia - all vying to be voiced, to be
shared, to be performed, to be used in the classroom.
Book review by Sheila Sinclair from the Children’s Bookshop.
Over the Hills and Far Away, A treasury of nursery rhymes from around the world,
illustrated by 77 celebrated artists.
This wonderful treasury features rhymes and artists from all over the English speaking world.
Collected by Elizabeth Hammill, the internationally renowned co-founder of Seven Stories,
National Centre for Children’s Books in Britain, to which all royalties from the sales of this book
will be donated. There are 151 rhymes, from countries all over the English speaking world,
including Great Britain, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, South Africa and the
Caribbean. It is a comprehensive collection containing all the best-loved nursery rhymes, but
also some new discoveries, and vibrant rhymes from First Nation and Maori cultures. Each
double page spread is illustrated by a different artist, who has donated his or her work to the
Seven Stories archive. With 76 featured artists, this is a star-studded roll call of international
award winners and world-class bestselling illustrators, as well as young emerging talent from all
over the world.
And yes, I have added it to my collection, it is irrisistable.
The Children’s Bookshop Ltd
Shop 5, 227 Blenheim Rd
CHRISTCHURCH 8441
Ph. 03 366 5274 Fax 03 366 4506
Sheila@childrensbookshop.co.nz
Illustrators workshop – review by Sue Bridges.
We yet again struck lucky with the weather as we held our Talented Young Illustrators’
Workshop Day on August 11th. This time our 60 students from 30 Canterbury schools were
treated to shared insights and secrets about using illustrations to enhance text. They attended
three rotational workshops in inspirational step-back-in-time settings with wonderful presenters –
Gavin Bishop (in the Lodge hall), David Elliot (in the railway station) and Stuart Hale (in the old
church).
Gavin shared his use of storyboards, the way in which text often sits in a plain background with
pictures working around it, and that a picture book is printed on a big piece of paper – in
multiples of 8, up to 32 pages.
David helped everyone to discover the importance of materials – he advised using a 2B or 3B
pencil and soft cartridge paper. Drawing softest to darkest lines (numbered 1 – 4) was the next
step. He then suggested that we pretend to be moulding clay- using the softest lines (number 1)
to draw initial shapes (eg bodies) using circles/blobs and sticks, and then adding to them (heads,
legs etc). After that, the next darkest line would be used to make changes, using layers of lines
to correct mistakes etc. He told us that our drawings would ask questions of us that would lead
to further detail. Like writing, the first draft of a drawing will not be the last!
The juxtaposition of children armed with iPads in a traditional church, complete with stained-glass
windows, might seem surprising at first. Stuart captivated everyone with his easy-to-follow
suggestions of strategies to take iPad cameras way beyond ‘point and click’. He demonstrated,
showed examples, and soon everyone was using grids and rules of thirds; pretending to be
mice/giraffes in order to get interesting perspectives. After lunch, the walk around Ferrymead’s
historic village and the tram ride was enhanced by children rising to Stuart’s challenge of looking for
hidden alphabet letters lurking in the environment around them – in branches, railway lines,
buildings, gardens etc.
The Ferrymead Heritage Park location has proved to be an inspiring one for participants, presenters
and organisers. We are very grateful to the Ferrymead staff, including the Education team, for
accommodating us so well and cheerfully.
2015 NZLA Conference- Advance notice
WOW Words on Wellington is being held 30th Sept- 2 Oct 2015.
Venue- Westpac Stadium
Registration is open- $550 for earlybirds (before 9 March) which includes a ticket to Wearable Arts
on the Thursday night.
The Canterbury Committee have secured some beds at James Cook Hotel, at $205 a twin room.
Please let me know if you want to join us. First in first served. Names to me asap after you have
registered for the conference. Committee members will get first preference, so you may like to think
about this for next year. The more committee members we have the less work for everyone, and we
love sharing the load.
For more information about conference and to register go to www.nzla.org.nz.
NZRA conference- Tauranga
These holidays, we were lucky enough to be awarded the Marie Clay Trust scholarships to attend
the 2014 NZLA conference in Tauranga, ‘Surfing the Literacy Wave’. We spent a full, very
informative few days listening to a wide variety of speakers and attending exciting, interactive
workshops.
Many of the speakers referred to Modern Learning Environments and ways to incorporate
technology in the classroom.
The opening plenary speaker was Australian children’s author Mem Fox who was highly
entertaining and reinforced that all important message of Read, Read, Read!
Other noteworthy speakers included Brendan Spillane, Ewan McIntosh and Jill Lewis-Spector.
Brendan Spillane gave an inspirational session on life-work balance and the importance of seeing
the school as a ‘campfire’. His workshop covered the importance of difficult conversations in the
workplace.
Ewan McIntosh spoke about his company Notosh and the importance of kind, specific feedback in
the classroom.
Jill Lewis-Spector, the President Elect of the International Reading Association, made the
enlightening observation that New Zealand is one of the few countries that incorporates values in its
curriculum.
Between us we attended a wide range of workshops which covered everything from the new Ready
to Read books, to dyslexia, to maths in picture books, to using iPads in the classroom. We came
away inspired and enthused!!
Our sincere thanks to the NZLA for the opportunity to attend.
Karen Amyes & Sophie Lennon
Heathcote Valley School
2014 Events
Term 4
Best and Worst Books
Wednesday 19th November
Upper Riccarton Library 7-9pm
Join us for juice, wine and xmas cake. (Silver coin donation)
Canterbury Literacy Association Committee
President: Carolyn Bolland: carolyn.rtr@avondale.school.nz
President Elect: Vacant.
Secretary: Rosemary Rankin : rosemaryrankin@westspreydon.school.nz
Treasurer: Lesa McKenzie: mcks.5@xtra.co.nz
Committee: Jacqui Malham, Joy Hawke, Karen Amyes, Sue Bridges, Raewyn
Maher, Scott Wolfe, Penny Balk Jarvis, Alice Irvine
Committee members needed for 2015.