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Pat Arbuckle Chronicle Staff An innovative program designed to promote children's literature has been introduced by the Waterloo Separate School Board and local preschoolers stand to reap the benefits. Innovative program designed to create f' better understanding of children’s books Six area high school and university students, selected for their language and artistic abilities. will be spending the summer as writers and illustrators of children's books as part of the Young Canadian Writers' Workshop, located at St. Anne's school in Kitchener. -rGiiiTniCG" the program has been provided by the federal government through its sqmnlfr cate.". Works pro- Echool board. The idea for the workshop came as the result of a brainstorming session between Gary Leduc, an English consultant with the Waterloo board, and Frank Mereague, co-ordinator of English with the North York Board of Education on the value of children's literature a subject in which both share a special interest. What emerged from this exchange is this 10-week immersion into children's litera- "We thought it would make a valuable addition to the board's present offerings, provide work for students and improve their understanding of the value of chil- According to Gary Leduc. studies have shown that a child’s early exposure to books and reading dramatically affects his/her language development. With this in mind, the Waterloo Separate School Board is planning to introduce the Parents as Partners program this fail. "Most parents are aware of the need for the ehild's physical needs. What will be emphasized is the importance of nurturing the mind," said Leduc, an English consultant with the Waterloo Jidin"ce to parents about importance of reading 91)- tra0attt MEN I Joes sun N TM - fun ' fitness BOYIOMLESS CUP OF CUFEE FREE (Ch-10m mom mm Si? M) duty t W1 Bahama! 75! mm t? ' W $t MI 130 "00pm SYUDENT MIG?” Ada-um $125 'urconiunction with the separate LEARN ro SKATEIIJOoven AW $250 Extra-two" 8200 41mm mtsm nova) Attttttt- $325 CTCllliE?lrWEiiiiiCiEI22 WEDNESDAY Oven lo PRWAYE PARTY BOOKINGS WHO! FOR SKCIALS 9:1)- tt.aoam SEE ABOt& JIMMI ADUUSQSBCNH) AW 53 Po " H mm - Fun and "tness BOIIOMLESS CUP or COFFEE FREE dren's literature" explained Leduc, co-or dinator of the workshop. The idea is not entirely new - many teachers within the board have en- couraged their students to write stories for children as part of the regular English program, said Leduc. This is the first time, however, that the board has sought government funding for a summer work- shop. During the program's initial stages, the six student writers and four illustrators will undergo intensive training to provide them with the necessary background to write children's literature. Most of their time during this training period will be spent reading high quality ehildren's books. Leduc explained, combined with visits to local day care centres and a kindergarten class. Guest speakers will provide insight into child development and reading interests using their own works and well-known writers and illustrators will offer tips on the mechanics of writing - how to develop an idea into a finished piece, for example. . Those scheduled to participate in the program include illustrator Mark Thur- man, Toronto ehildren's author Emily Hearn and Kitchener-Waterloo Record reporter Frank Etherlngton who has written a number of children's books. Then, in the program's final stage, the students will have an opportunity to apply board. Modelled after a similar program in North York, Parents as Partners will provide advice to parents of preschoolers on the importance of reading to their children and the kinds of books that should be introduced. Parents will then be encouraged to borrow from the board's collection of ehildren's books which will include those stories produce by students involved in the summer workshop. $2 50 "it I 'dXt-tt:30prrt man an . noon "NV TOTS SKAYE TOTS I PARENYS Admission $1 M) MOMS a DADS I FREE COfFEE All) FREE RENAL WITH PAD Ada-won mo- 4dRitmt “AIME - We mane " ages OIL "will HI} til)” we. imp» mm 32 25 M0 sum: EVERY SATURDAY CWIEWMV WSYIAN MUSIC - We meme Ill ages Adm-won $3 25 E ml MAriteE _ We welcome " Ions Adm-um $2 25 FMV ' (no lo 6 pooch $250M lawnsrioeoole $2 50 tor ouch lam-Iv humid) OPEN SKATE he 8 ma) Min-am K325 own stories. what they have learned in creating their "The students (writers and illustrators) will combine their efforts Just as it occurs in the field," explained Leduc: Stories produced during the summer workshop will be evaluated by Wendy Cochrane. an editor with Holt Reinhart and Winston. Copies of the students works will also form an integral part of the board's Parents as Partners reading program for preschoolers. . Besides having their work critically assessed by those working in the children’s literature field. Leduc expects the stu- dents will gain a greater understanding of the writing process, learn to work co- operatively and ultimately develop an understanding of the importance of chil- dren's literature in childhood develop- ment. "The program will be providing high school students with an opportunity to do meaningful work in an area they are interested in - writing - and to write for real audiences with real purposes in mind. Students taklng part in the Young Canadian ertan‘ Workshop at St. Anne's school ln Knetttener, Including loll to right, Laura Bolngmnor, Dave Hudglm and project loader Mark Bachmann, will be apondlng a lot of lime in the next law weak: reading children's books. The students will iiiaiii GirtiUaiGGrTaiiGUmiiiiuihitirm children's storm. The tatctteodrswaterioo Bilingual School Erb s: w at SW Road "The Alternative In Bilingual Education" SENIOR KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE EIGHT GRADES ONE TO GRADE EIGHT Some places available m sum? grades SENIOR KINDERGARTEN ”FULL DAY _ HALF DAY 4% years on September! 1984 JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN - HALF DAY 3 years on September I I984 . High academn- standards enunuragv mastery of all suhecus m both French and English Emphams m placed on developing the full mutual of each ctuld "ttetlextually. socially. and emouonally Curriculum Includes drama. mumc, and computer literacy They will go away with a revitalized view of children's literature that they will hopefully carry on into their own life." he explained, A Moat of the students. chosen to partici- pate in the program. consider the summer workshop to be an ideal way to gain experience in the writing/illustrating field. Admitting that he is unsure of his career goals. Dave Hudgins, a Grade 13 Bluevale student, said that he is eonfident the writer's workshop will provide valuable training for any future job. "Any job you go into requires good English skills and you can always use the experience from writing and illustrating," he explained. Tonka Granic of Waterloo, one of four illustrators hired for the project. hopes to use the workshop as a springboard to a future job as a medical illustrator. “I wanted to get experience in the field as an illustrator. I thought it would be an enjoyable and a good learning experi- ence," she explained. "tagtmegi$.gthoto