Recently someone who knows me quite well, was surprised when I mentioned about my workshops, outside of the schools I work with on a regular basis.
I have always been someone who feels happier with the 'word-of-mouth' kind of advertising, feeling that this is what will bring in connections who know what I am all about.
I abhor the aggressive self-promotion and influencer culture that abounds today.
But what do I know? I'm just a story educator with way too much experience and a genuine love for story magic and book joy.
So thus far, I rarely write about these workshops.
However, this time around, I moved beyond my 2 comfort cities of Chennai and Mumbai and went down south to Tirunelveli.
It is always a joy to take my mythology based story workshops beyond the schools I work with on a regular basis.
I enjoy meeting children I have never interacted with before and see their minds and hearts open and draw out the most delightful sharing, in response to story.
The power of the right story, used at an appropriate moment and applied in a manner that draws out enlightened responses, reiterates story magic.
Spent a wonderful day at Pushpalata British International School, Tirunelveli, this last Friday.
The morning was spent in a story workshop with Grades 5 and 6 as we explored through story, discussion, quiet reflection and response the idea of ‘What makes a hero?’ The children’s participation and responses make ‘Who’ the more suitable interrogative pronoun.
Children discussed the idea in groups the idea of the ‘hero’ in stories, movies and books that they were familiar with, before moving onto the ‘hero’ moments in their own lives.
Their initial reticence, quickly moved to enthusiasm and excitement, then down to some deeply personal reflection which they were free to keep confidential or if comfortable, invited to share.
This workshop is all about finding the hero within themselves.
As a story educator, I know my session has been effective, when I get mobbed for autographs to be signed on the papers on which they've worked on deeply personal responses.
The afternoon was spent with the parents of Grades 1-5, in an interactive workshop titled ‘Building a Reading Culture at Home’. Parents found the workshop eyeopening and were excited to take their new learning home, all in a bid to raise readers.
If you would like a workshop for your students, teachers or parents, reach out to me.
My student sessions are especially for older children. Grade 2-4, Grade 5-6 and secondary.