Remember,+Remember!+WestGATE+Writers+2014



Helen Campbell is well known in Southland for her fabulous books for children. She loved working with a group of WestGATE writers as we colluded together to "Remember, Remember!"

**Day 1** **Mrs Campbell had some great lines to inspire us as writers and authors. Here’s a small selection:** J “Enjoy the little things in life for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things.” J “Remember, Remember! All writing sits on the bed or foundation of diary writing.” J “We build on what we know. Our life experience gives meaning to a text. This is our schema.” J “When we share our writing we are sharing our souls.” It’s vital that we show respect for the words that others have put on paper. “Commend, recommend, commend” was her motto. J People and letters, books and memories become our inspirations for writing. J The process of writing is …“the art of uncluttered clear language – a journey of perfecting clear, strong uncluttered language through one liners and simile, the metaphor which relates to everyday life, onomatopoeia and personification.” J “Language is the passport to your culture. Writing is diversely crafted and it illustrates the power of the voice in a culture.”

**Seed books** Mrs Campbell introduced us to seed books. They’re little notebooks, which you can carry with you wherever you go, open and at the ready, to record a necklace of words and ideas you see that tickles your fancy.

**The diary** Mrs Campbell gave each of us our own large diary with one date per A4 page. She explained how she uses this herself as a way of capturing in word and pictures very briefly the events of maybe 3 or 4 days each week. For each of the next 3 or 4 years she uses a different colour pen and compiles “snapshots of time, building her life.” If you are to be the only audience, you can mark the diary cover with “P” for “PRIVATE!” There’s no right or wrong, no limit to the topics to use or events suitable to record. Her only real rule was “¼ page- use art forms, codes, stickers.” She showed us the simple line drawing illustrations of Quentin Blake as an example to inspire our own diary illustrations. She reminded us again that diary writing is the bed on which all other writing sits. As homework, Mrs Campbell encouraged us to write a refection or entry in our diaries for 3 or 4 days in the next week.

**Day 2** How do you see the world? How do you see yourself? • We completed a “Web of Us”, including interpersonal (getting along with other people) and intrapersonal (how you feel inside) aspects. • We figured out we have 3 main styles of learning: visual, auditory, kinesthetic. • We looked in some detail at our “schema.” That’s our history, our personality, who we are.

**Box under the bed** Mrs Campbell gave us readings along the way, as we looked at snippets of writing by a variety of authors. We highlighted language features in their writing. We popped these resources into a folder for ready reference. Mrs Campbell recommended we keep a box under the bed to keep our writing treasures and resources close at hand for when inspiration strikes.

**Roald Dahl** What a fascinating schema Roald Dahl has! We enjoyed learning some history about how he came to write. As you read his stories, listen for clarity and his unique voice. You’ll find he gives detail – but minimal. **[]** **[]** **[]** **[]**

**Quentin Blake** The illustrations that Quentin Blake draws were an inspiration to us as we include drawings in our diaries. Illustrators are kinesthetic. Faces are a quick way to show emotion at the time. Quentin Blake is a great example of quickly drawing people, surroundings, places. He illustrates for Roald Dahl. **[]** **[]**

Importance of **Word Power** - raises the level - more punch - richer colour - paints pictures – artwork

Ideas to write about and illustrate - Pocket money - Holidays - The bravest thing - If you had to pick an age for your whole life knowing you would stay at that age, what age would you pick? - What job would you choose for yourself as an adult? Best job? Worst job? - If you had a lot of money and could use it any way you wanted, what would you do with it? - Who are your heroes? Why do you think they are so terrific?

**Day 3** **We began by reviewing what we’ve covered so far.** **J** **Schema-** your web, profile, history about yourself. We used a mind map to build our schema. It included memorable experiences, favourites, our social networks. We are individual. As people and as writers be unique! Five of us held an item and Mrs Campbell told us a story about each of them as grown ups. Takunda had been to university and completed his studies. Lethan was a master builder. Shawni was famous musician, now selling her music. Gemma was a potter who’d worked really hard at her craft. Kayden was a very successful farmer.
 * J How we learn - What we take out of the world **

Mrs Campbell encouraged us, “Don’t ever forget which is best. Be yourself, you are unique!" Visual, auditory, kinesthetic… we need all 3 to learn, to make sense of the world.

**Maddie: Visiting Author** Maddie hasn’t considered herself a writer previously. But that’s changed as she has written about her Grandad’s death. The writing began as a small piece, which she thought was good, so she added more on. “Grandad” is the result of this. It is such a moving piece of writing it evoked a response- it nearly made us cry! She’s hooked us in, sharing, painting the picture so well. Emotion, action, we could identify with the story.

**Writing has** - purpose - audience - emotion plays a part - readers identify with characters What does it do for the writer? J We looked at the ways some authors have shown - physical description - actions revealing personality and behaviour - how the character affects others - description of a character’s environment.

J We brought something of interest to share and then we read a selection of our writing. Read them below. **Here’s a small taste, a titbit, of our course writing.**

**The Dreaded Visit** by Kayden, aged 12 years The thought of this lady putting tools in my mouth was just not cutting the cheese for me. And the light they shine in my face! At least they have the decency to lend me a pair of snazzy shades. That’s right, I’m at the dentist. For me the dentist is like a monster-infested, haunted house. I’m surprised I got out alive!

**Technology Trauma** by Gemma, aged 12 years A loud everlasting rumble. As my shaking finger switched on the machine sweat dripped down my face, as I didn’t want to injure myself. Safety glasses blurring my face and carefully forced the block of wood through. Looking around I saw the outline of the room, people gazing at me like hawks stalking their prey. I had nowhere to hide if I messed up. Sitting on the paint splattered tables. I was going well until the miniature metal stick jarred and started trembling. I had nowhere to hide! Mrs McKenzie, our technology teacher said, “Turn it off!” With a stern look on her face she said to me “You bent the whole blade.” She said it softly but an alarmed expression was stuck on my face. “We can replace it,” she said. Whew! I waited anxiously for the bell to ring so I could leave and get away from that evil machine! Now I stand clear from all machines even though I’m going to have to face my fear of using that machine again and hopefully I don’t slice my finger again. Wish me luck!

**A Rugby Moment** by Takunda, aged 11 years The ball flew into my hands. Suddenly people in all directions darted at me. A break of sweat drizzled down my face. A flash of blue and red soared past me. My legs took me further and faster on each stride. Another person latched on me. Suddenly my body shook like a concrete mixer. Soon after that I was on my way to the line. In a wink of an eye I glided like a swan gracefully through the air. “Whirrrp.” The whistle blew as I plummeted to the ground like a comet. Energy surged through me like atoms. That was amazing.

**My Dad** by Sadie, aged 11 years Sometimes my Dad is so loud That the house shakes like we’re in an earthquake.

Sometimes my Dad gives us frights. We all scream like we’re in a scary and haunted house. Ghosts popping out of every corner.

My Dad is very, very strong. He is strong like titanium. The unbreakable, the magnificent!

My Dad is very lovable. He gives us ginormous hugs and when I was little he would sing me a lullaby. He sings like a tuneful bird in singing lessons.

My Dad is… Fast like a race car, Sweet as a lollipop, Generous like our family & Sometimes annoying like my 3 little brothers!

I love my Dad SO MUCH!

**What I feel** by Shawni, aged 12 years I’m not the only one in this world Who feels alone and stressed. But sometimes I think to myself I can definitely do my best. And now I can’t believe How far I’ve come. And yet my heart still beats Strongly like a drum.

**Survival Game** by Lethan, aged 10 years I grabbed my tablet and entered the world of minecraft. I spawned in my world waiting for the fun to begin. I used my block like hands to break down wood. I crafted as much as I could as I got a pickaxe and mined down as far as I could, preying to find diamond but I was out of luck. “Just cool,” I said to myself. “Can’t give up yet.” I kept going until I found this creepy green thing slouthing towards me. BOOMM! It blew up right in my face. I lost everything I had. It was really tough but I had to carry on. The anger rose up to 100%. I was back to square one. That evil demon! Can’t believe this game! It was tougher. Quite disappointed in this game. But maybe that was the fun of the game.

Boxes. That’s shifting in one word. People rushing everywhere, the sound of frantic voices echoing up and down the hallway. The floor of the old house is creaking under the weight of all the boxes. When you are moving it feels like everybody’s in a completely different planet to everyone else! Every night when I snuggle in bed a weird nervous excited sensation builds up in my stomach. All I want is for it to be over and done with! I wish Mum would stop coming in and packing my room herself. Whenever she does, she does it all wrong. Why cant’ she just leave me alone. When will this confusion end!
 * Shifting ** by Caitlin, aged 12 years

**Hockey** by Emily, 9 years old I have my hockey stick, my mouth guard and my shin pads. We hit the ball hard and get a goal. “SCORE!” the coach shouts. “It’s half time, let’s take a break and have a snack.” The game is back on, the other team scores a goal. Now we are even, time to win. I hit the ball. It misses the goal. The other team passes the ball. Then Alex gets the ball and shoots it into the goal. The other team scores 3 goals and we score 1 more. Oh no, we lost 3-4. Now everyone shakes hands and says, “Good game.” Mum and I get K.F.C. on the way home. I ate it fast because I was hungry! Time to put my pj’s on and jump into my soft, big bed.

Slish, Slosh Ssshhh Be quiet
 * Ocean ** by Genna

Big, small Short and tall

Fins, tails Eyes and gills

Zigzag swim Slowly crawl

Sea creatures I love them ALL.

**Australian Owl** by Bianca “Oi! Be careful Mum! It’s not a toy!” “Ok, Ok!” replied Mum. “What’s so special about this owl anyway?” she asked. “I thought you knew that! It’s special because it’s from Australia Zoo.” My owl was from the gift shop in Australia Zoo. It’s a lovely purple colour and is so cute! I love it to bits.

by Kayden, Caitlin, Gemma, Sadie, Shawni, Lethan, Takunda
 * __My Thoughts on Pocket Money and Parents__ **

I think that people should earn their pocket money by doing work. All parents should give their kids more than $2. Bathroom + shower = $5. I think that people should earn pocket money for hard working jobs, not the little things. I think kids and parents should negotiate about what’s going to happen. I think kids should definitely earn pocket money by doing jobs, but also I personally think they should do jobs without being asked to. J

by Kayden, Caitlin, Gemma, Sadie, Shawni, Lethan (acknowledging Laura Ranger)
 * __What I Would Take Out of the World__ **

Murders! Spiders! War! Fake nails – so disgustingly fake! Bars of soap because they always slip out of my hand! (Don’t tell me it hasn’t happened to you.) Guns, so there would be no more terrorists. Flies and wasps! I don’t even get their pointing life!! Sickness so everybody can live a healthy life. Sleep – so we stay awake forever and never get tired. Poverty. Death. Pain. War media type="file" key="WestGATE Writing Student Reflections.mov" width="360" height="360" align="center"

“Remember, Remember!” has been an inspiring opportunity for writers as we’ve met with author and tutor Helen Campbell. She’s exposed us to lots of authors, helping us into the schema, the world of remembering by expressing ourselves in illustrated writing. We’ve looked at diary writing, descriptive writing, leading into autobiography, showing emotion and considering audience.

**Great Books to Read** **__What is a Southlander?__** by Helen Campbell ISBN 0-473-06240-2

**__More About Southlanders__** by Helen Campbell ISBN 0-908629-55-9

**__Laura’s Poems__** by Laura Ranger ISBN 0 908877 63 3

**__Rose meets Mr Wintergarten__** by Bob Graham ISBN 0-7445-3148-9

**__Daniel the Dreamer__** by Nigel Gray ISBN 0 646 22157 4 ISBN 0 646 22158 2

**__The Huge Bag of Worries__** by Virginia Ironside ISBN 0 7500 2124 1

**__Rosa’s Diaries__** by Rita Benson ISBN 0 17 008190 7

**__An Anthology of Writing from Southland Children__**

**__Words to Whisper, Words to Shout, and other poems to read aloud__** by Michaela Morgan ISBN 1 84138 261 2 ISBN 1 84138 263 9

**__Boy__** by Roald Dahl ISBN 0-224-02985-1

**__Diary of a Young Girl__** by Anne Frank ISBN 978-0-141003200-9

**__Our Granny__** by Margaret Wild ISBN 1 86291 195 9

**__My Mum__** by Anthony Browne ISBN 978 0 552 56020 7

**Here are Mrs Campbell’s parting pearls of advice.** J Keep yourself sunny on the inside. J Choose who you show your writing to. You only want people who will build you up.