Sarah Brennan

Helping Teachers Help Parents:

Turning Little Game Boys (and Girls) into Bookworms!

We're all aware of the competition that books and reading face from today’s technological alternatives, and the alarming decline in reading as a leisure pastime for kids, particularly boys. At the same time, we hear daily of the hazards to children of overuse of electronic equipment such as computers, TV and game boys, from inactivity leading to obesity to the loss of imagination, concentration, creativity and social skills in our future adults. And we all know that reading books is THE passport to a lifelong passion for learning. But how can we help concerned and busy parents to transform their young game boys (and girls) into bookworms? This seminar will guide both teachers who are parents and teachers who advise parents in a colourful Powerpoint presentation through:

· the many astounding benefits of reading

· the importance of modelling and reading aloud

· structuring home life to encourage reading

· structuring outside activities to encourage reading

· sneaking in reading under the radar

· making technology a parent’s reading ally

· a brainstorming session

· sharing of further ideas

All participants will leave the session with a list of recommended websites and further reading, as well as a summary of the presentation.

Sarah Brennan, author, publisher and parent:

Sarah Brennan is the Hong Kong-based author and publisher of the best-selling Chinese Calendar Tales and the hugely popular Dirty Story series for children, and is a regular performer and lecturer on the Asian school, festival and reading circuit. Sarah loves working with children of all ages and abilities, and her particular mission is to encourage children to love books, reading and writing. To this end, she conducts poetry, writing and publishing workshops for children in primary schools with the emphasis on humour and fun, as well as seminars for parents and teachers on techniques for encouraging reluctant readers. Sarah is the mother of two girls aged 10 and 13 who are both avid readers and writers.