Workshop and course offerings
Picturebooks as Ludic Space, or VisualVerbal MeaningMaking
Introductory Workshop/Taster Course
This 3-6 six hour course covers the basics in coming to an understanding of the parts of a picturebook and picturebook pages, how these combine to produce a story reliant on reader participation, and just how sophisticated the art of making such seemingly simple stories is. The 6 hour version provides more opportunity to examine how these elements play out in a number of books.
Full meal version of VisualVerbal MeaningMaking
These additions are blocks of 3-9 week 2-3 hour extensions to the Taster Course. The Full Meal Version of the Course can be customized to specific types of books or to provide an overview of types such as alphabet books, art/artist books, concept books, fairy/folk tales, music/musician books, books presenting ideas of various kinds, books presenting historical events/figures, social justice themes, life learnings, books of poetry or illustrated versions of a poem, etc.
Making VisualVerbal Meaning: Picturebook Projects
Once you’ve learned how picturebooks work, you might like to try making one on your own or with a partner. Art instruction for these projects will be provided by an additional instructor. Depending on your timeline and how much you do on your own time these projects can run between 4-8 weeks.
Consulting and Research Services
For teachers
Have you taken a children’s literature course and learned about picturebooks? If yes, some of the following questions may still apply! If no, there are many delightful surprises in store about what picturebooks all have to offer you and your students, no matter how old they are. (Picturebooks were always the students’ favourite part of my university children’s lit courses).
· Have you been using picturebooks in your teaching but wondering if you are missing something?
· Want to do something different but lacking research time or not sure where to start?
· Have students who love pictures but find reading a challenge?
· Want to use (more) picturebooks in your teaching?
· Wondering what books to use in your class?
· Wondering how to integrate visual literacy into your teaching?
· Need ideas about literary options to complement curriculum or what stories could work to combine a number of subject areas?
· Want someone to just come and bring in interesting picturebooks for a reading circle?
· Wondering what children can teach you about picturebook stories?
For homeschooling parents, parents & grandparents, and reading groups:
Have you taken a children’s literature course and learned about picturebooks? If yes, some of the following questions may still apply! If no, there are many delightful surprises in store about what picturebooks all have to offer you and the children in your life.
· Have you been reading picturebooks but wondering if you are missing something?
· Have children/young people in your life who love pictures but find reading a challenge?
· Wish you had someone to give you a tour of some of the gems in the world of picturebooks?
· Want someone to just come and bring in interesting picturebooks for a reading circle?
· Wondering what children can teach you about picturebook stories?
Costs:
$50/hr
$150 per half day
$300 full day
Depending on the request there can also be a cost for preparation time (2-10 hours)
Fees can slide, depending on who is asking and why