Writology

Simply outstanding

D Rabel — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:36:10 +0000

A gift for storytelling

Superlatives are overused these days, so I hesitate…and yet, there isn’t a more apt word to describe the experiences of this past week. I am grateful to the Vancouver International Writers’ Festival, BC Transmission Corporation, the Michael R. Shaw Foundation, North Coast Literacy Now, Ilona Beiks, Rukhsana Khan, CHSS staff and students, and many others in the community for their contributions to an unforgettable week.

Once or twice in a career a really outstanding opportunity comes along, and this is one.

Please check back for more photos, reflections, and student writing. Thank you for joining us here for the past two weeks.

Prince Rupert Library

D Rabel — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:23:24 +0000

Rukhsana’s final appointment in Prince Rupert is with a group of Grade 1s at the public library. She’ll treat them to her Big Red Lollipop story (just published, not yet distributed) and they’ll be eating out of her hand.

How many storytellers do you know who can keep a class of bouncy six year olds captivated for an hour?

Then for Rukhsana it’s off to Vancouver in the wind and rain, once again, and from thence the red-eye to Toronto.

Last workshop session

D Rabel — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:10:30 +0000

Now we’re down to the serious writers. In our last workshop session students have a chance to interact one-on-one with Mrs. Khan. She takes the time to critique each piece that students offer. It is a valuable time for those who participate.

One last class visit

D Rabel — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:28:45 +0000

The Literacy Prep block have their own special appointment with Mrs. Khan this morning. They listen attentively to Mrs. Khan’s stories, ask lots of questions, and are interested in what she has to say about dealing with bullies. There are some scary characters in this class!

Blown Away

D Rabel — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:48:16 +0000

This morning, student writers may drop in for an individual consultation with Rukhsana. After that, she will hold her final workshop session. I’ve heard Rukhsana comment several times that she is “blown away” by the quality of our students’ work. And I am amazed, too. But I shouldn’t be: Rukhsana has modelled excellence; she has captivated, inspired and encouraged us all week.

School staff host Rukhsana at a potluck luncheon, and then she is off to her final Prince Rupert engagement at the public library.

Rainforest Books and Rupert Writes

D Rabel — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:48:32 +0000

Adrienne's crab cakes

Crab cakes – food for the gods! Rukhsana and I savour every morsel at Cow Bay Cafe this evening, but it can’t last, because she has a date with the local writers’ group. I feel more than a little guilty taking her to her fourth appointment of the day. Rukhsana puts so much effort into every presentation, and this is her third week on the road.

Her eyes light up when she spies children in the audience, and she shares story after story, both published and unpublished. The writers supply refreshments and Gordon and Tammy put on the tea. Two hours pass quickly in the warm atmosphere of the bookshop.

Tomorrow is our last day, and it will be hard to say goodbye.

Rukhsana with bookstore staff

Appreciative audience

Pineridge School

D Rabel — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:34:50 +0000

Today is the day students at Pineridge have been waiting for. Laura’s intermediate students are full of questions about Wanting Mor, and Rukhsana makes a special visit to their classroom. They want to know when she will be publishing a sequel.

Rukhsana gives The Roses in My Carpets presentation to the large group assembled in the library. The students are familiar with the book and Rukhsana is able to weave together the many threads that provide the inspiration for this story. They love it.

Thursday Workshop

D Rabel — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:32:09 +0000

We’re starting to generate a lot of writing. In the workshop today, a number of students share their drafts of “A Time When I Was Really Afraid.” I will put some of these up as draft writing, spelling mistakes and all, and then the students will have an opportunity to show how they improve their work through editing and proofreading.

I’m finding it isn’t possible to get the student writing on the blog as quickly as I would like, so please continue to check back for additions, even after Rukhsana goes home.

I have a hunch there may be a few emails flying back and forth between Prince Rupert and Toronto in weeks to come.

What can happen when you're too busy

So much to share, so little time…

D Rabel — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:00:16 +0000

Rukhsana repeats yesterday’s presentation with two more classes of Grade 10s and 12s this morning. We’ll move the furniture and learn about a culture so different from our own.

There were exciting developments in the workshop yesterday, and today’s session promises more of the same.

In the afternoon, Rukhsana will visit Pineridge School where students have been anticipating this visit for weeks. Teacher-librarian Lois Elliot introduced Rukhsana’s books in the library and Laura Esposito prepared her class by reading them Wanting Mor – all of it – in the past few days.

In the evening, the local writers’ group will meet with Rukhsana at Rainforest Books. This event is open to the public. As Rukhsana says, “We’ll rock the place!”

Staff Meeting Fun

D Rabel — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:56:21 +0000

I’ve been away for a couple of days, so didn’t get to meet Mrs. Khan until today. She spoke at our staff meeting, taking us through a workshop she has used in the past with students. The purpose of the workshop is to enhance understanding of cultural difference for children and youth, but I suspect it works just as well with adults. You haven’t seen anything until you’ve watched teachers invent a song, dance, and tribal greeting that looks suspiciously like a sneeze into one’s sleeve. The highly entertaining hour culminated with Mrs. Khan describing a number of her books to staff, including her most recent work – still in editing phase.

Rukhsana Khan is a talented and centred individual whose manner is both gracious and disarming. We are lucky to have had her visit and work with our community of learners.

Sandra Jones

Principal

Charles Hays Secondary School

Highlanders

Lowlanders

Highlander dance

Lowlander dance