Posts Tagged ‘guest speaker’

Character Development

Over the last couple of weeks, the Year 4s have been lucky enough to participate in two writing workshops.

One with the very funny, very talented, author of books such as ‘Thai-reffic’ and ‘Super-Con-Nerd.’ The other was with writing guru Beth Cregan.

Both writers worked with the students to drill down into how you can create complex characters and create a backstory for them which will influence their actions and how they speak throughout your story.

This week in literacy, students are using what they have learnt to help them to create a backstory for a brand new character. Have a look below at what they have come up with:

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Year 4, what type of writing do you most enjoy doing and why?

An Author Comes To Visit!

Guest speakers…lunchtime festivals…author workshops…poem in pockets…
These are just a few of the engaging and inspiring events that our school had to offer during Literature Week. 

We were so fortunate to have author George Ivanoff speak to us about being an author. Did you know he has written 119 books in total, including take home books for Preps, non fiction books, educational books for teachers and of course ‘You Choose’ novels which the year 4s have been reading in Library.

He was inspired when he was younger by fan fiction such as Dr Who and computer games such as Space Invaders which influenced his early writing.

George told us about how he creates his books. He uses a story map to outline each chapter on a huge whiteboard. He figures out the ending first so he knows where the story is going.
No book is ever published after the first time it is written. Each book goes through approximately 10 drafts before even sending it to a editor.
The process of writing his ‘choose your own adventure’ books was a little more confusing…

George showing us his plan for a Choose your own adventure story

George also read an excerpt from one of his choose your own adventure books, ‘The Night of the Creepy Carnival.’

The students in Year 4 have written their own Choose Your Own Adventure stories. Check out their blogs to see how you survive!

Leave a comment with your favourite part of Literature Week and why.