This full day student workshop with Siboney Duff provides tips and tricks on extended writing to help students excel in the HSC. It is for year 11 and 12 students studying a range of subjects, including English, History (Modern and Ancient), Society and Culture, Art, Business Studies, and any other subject that requires students to write extended pieces.

The dynamic workshop will involve lots of writing and small group work, designed to give students the information, strategies and skills to improve their extended writing experience and refine their extended writing skills.

Teachers, please register your student groups below.

Workshop Details

Suitable for: Year 11 & 12 students

Available in both Lismore and Murwillumbah.

Lismore

When: Thursday 26 August  2021, 9.30am – 2.30pm
Where: Lismore Library, ground floor meeting room, 110 Magellan Street, Lismore
Cost: FREE, registrations essential

Murwillumbah

When: Friday 27 August 9.30 – 2.30
Where: Murwillumbah Community Centre, Nullum St, Murwillumbah
Cost: FREE, registrations essential

About Siboney Duff:

Siboney has worked as a freelance writer, editor, and manuscript assessor for over fifteen years. She has a deep love of the Extension 2 English course and has taught and mentored Extension 2 English students for several years. A qualified English teacher, Siboney has a Master of Philosophy in Creative Writing (UQ) and is about to embark on her PhD in Creative Writing. Siboney has also been a HSC marker of both Extension 1 and Extension 2 English.

This full-day workshop is designed to show SECONDARY teachers how to engage both reluctant and excited students, and explain why embedding creativity as a core principle in the classroom is vital to support student wellbeing in unsettling times. With an introductory presentation by workshop host Zacharey Jane on the connection between creative writing and wellbeing, fresh ideas for tempting reluctant writers; as well as guest presentations by author Sarah Armstrong and a guest creative writing lecturer from Southern Cross University.

Suitable for: Secondary School Teachers of Stage 4 – 6

Completing the Teacher Professional Learning workshop will contribute 6 hours of PD addressing Standards 2.1.2, 2.5.2, 3.1.2, 3.3.2, 5.2.2 of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

When: Monday 11 October 9am – 3pm
Where: NORPA, Fountain Room, 1 Bounty St, Lismore
Cost: FREE, registrations essential

In partnership with

About the Presenters

Zacharey Jane

Zacharey Jane is the author of two works of fiction, including a children’s picture book, and numerous short stories and articles. She has a deep love of engaging young writers to empower them to write, devising and teaching ‘How to write a book’ classes for Years K-6. She has taught creative writing to students and in the wider community for several years, as both teacher and author. A qualified English teacher, Zacharey has added to her pedagogy with studies in Narrative Therapy (Level 1 and 2), Mental Health First Aid and conducted research into Fiction Therapy. Zacharey is a regular participant at the Byron Writers Festival and manages their touring program, Writers on the Road.

Zanni Louise (Primary)

Zanni Louise is passionate about writing quality books for children of all ages and inspiring people to write their own stories. Based in the Byron Bay hinterland, Zanni has published twelve books, including the popular ERROL picture book series, STARDUST SCHOOL OF DANCE chapter books and TIGGY AND THE MAGIC PAINTBRUSH. Her new series HUMANKIND is out in 2020.

Sarah Armstrong (Secondary)

Sarah Armstrong has written three adult novels, including Salt Rain which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. She’s just completed her first novel for kids and is working on a fourth adult novel. Sarah is an experienced writing teacher, mentor and manuscript assessor. She teaches creative writing at university, in schools, for writers festivals and on retreats. In a previous life she was a journalist at the ABC where she won a Walkley Award. She’s passionate about giving writers the practical tools to find and tell stories.

Health and Safety Notice

• Workshops are dependent on COVID-19 restrictions.
• Do not attend if you are experiencing cold & flu-like symptoms.
• Social distancing measures will be in place at the workshops.
• For the health & safety of all, signage & sanitising stations are set up throughout the venue.
• We ask that you adhere to all COVID guidelines while attending the workshop.

This 1-day workshop is designed specifically for teachers looking to expand their knowledge, understanding, skills, and confidence when it comes to teaching creative writing. The session is full of practical tips, useful classroom strategies, and assessment suggestions for creative writing tasks (and their rubrics).

Suitable for: Teachers of Stage 2 – 6

Completing the Creating Fearless Writers course will contribute 6 hours of PD addressing Standards 2.1.2, 2.5.2, 3.1.2, 3.3.2, 5.2.2 of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

Workshop Details

When: Friday 4 June, 9am – 3pm
Where: Cavanbah Room, Byron Community Centre, 69 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Cost: FREE, registrations essential

Note: We are also running a separate free workshop in Lismore on July 15 and 16: Tall Tales & True: Inspiring Creativity in Students. Click here for details.

About Siboney Duff

Siboney has worked as a freelance writer, editor, and manuscript assessor for over fifteen years. She has a deep love of the Extension 2 English course and has taught and mentored Extension 2 English students for several years. A qualified English teacher, Siboney has a Master of Philosophy in Creative Writing (UQ) and is about to embark on her PhD in Creative Writing. Siboney has also been a HSC marker of both Extension 1 and Extension 2 English.

Refining, Reflecting, Submitting:

With just a few months left before HSC Extension 2 English Major Works are due for submission, now is the perfect time to consolidate your progress to date, refine your ideas and approach, edit for literary excellence, and draft brilliant reflection statements. It’s also a critical time for ensuring your Literature Reviews are brilliant (and useful) and your Critique of the Creative Process not only scores well but sets you up for an exemplary Reflection Statement.

This full-day workshop is designed to provide students with the tools necessary to refine and polish their Ext 2 English Major Works in preparation for final submission in August.

Students will learn how to assess their creative works-in-progress for thematic sophistication, textual integrity, and narrative drive, as well as considering their final Reflection Statement and ensuring it meets – and then exceeds – the marking criteria. They will explore the editorial process and learn how to undertake an editing protocol, with consideration for authorial intent, overall structure (relative to form), and the use of literary devices. They will also assess their Literature Reviews and learn how to use what they’ve discovered (or are discovering) in their Major Works, as well as discuss how their final internal assessment (the Critique of the Creative Process) will inform their Reflection Statement.

This dynamic workshop will involve lots of writing and small group work, and is designed to give students the information, strategies, and motivation to keep working. With five months left before Major Works are due for submission, now is the perfect time to review progress, edit for excellence, and draft reflections.

Workshop Details

When: Friday 21 May, 9.30am – 2.30pm
Where: Cavanbah Room, Byron Community Centre, 69 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Cost: FREE, registrations essential

About Siboney Duff:

Siboney has worked as a freelance writer, editor, and manuscript assessor for over fifteen years. She has a deep love of the Extension 2 English course and has taught and mentored Extension 2 English students for several years. A qualified English teacher, Siboney has a Master of Philosophy in Creative Writing (UQ) and is about to embark on her PhD in Creative Writing. Siboney has also been a HSC marker of both Extension 1 and Extension 2 English.