Creative ID: 660
Kerikeri, but willing to travel within Northland
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths):
Through my company, I produce multilingual read-along e-books with interactive learning activities. In addition to these commercially published e-books, I have worked with schools to collate student writing, artwork, and narration recordings into e-books featuring their own work, for sharing within their own school community. Students love reading books to which they have contributed – it’s a great way to engage even the most reluctant readers and writers in literacy in new and rewarding ways.
The e-books can be produced in bilingual/multilingual versions. I would love to work with more schools to help them create e-book resources using student contributions. This can be working with primary school teachers and children, or with secondary school students to produce e-books designed for younger readers at their local primary school.
My track record of experience and success – or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with:
My academic and professional background is in languages education. In 2020 my PhD thesis was awarded an Australian prize for contribution to languages education in Australia and New Zealand. One of the e-books I have published received 2nd place in a Canadian 2020 Interactive e-book of the year awards.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes:
I hold a Bachelor of Education – Primary and Secondary (Deakin University) and a Master’s and PhD in Applied Linguistics. I have worked for over two decades in teaching and teacher professional learning, presenting numerous workshops, conference presentations, and keynote speeches. I have worked with students from age 5 to 16, and with adult teachers of all ages and levels of experience.
I enjoy helping learners create texts centred around themes such as inclusivity and/or sustainability, but the key to a successful project is that the theme should come from the learners and school community – it should be a theme that holds significance and importance for them.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice:
My passion is for the education of children and young adults, but also for life-long learning. I am interested in languages and literacy, and in using digital learning in positive ways to engage young learners. Being part of the Creatives in Schools Programme is a way of sharing my knowledge and skills with my new home community.