Young writers and readers at St Gregory’s Catholic Primary in Margate have been inspired by visiting author Karen Greaves.
Creative expression and a love of books are important parts of learning at the school and pupils enthusiastically welcomed their literary guest.
A whole school assembly explored Karen’s story What If? and pupils gained an important insight into how she creates characters and weaves a storyline.
Her writing skills were further explored in a series of workshops, with each class eagerly enjoying the chance to interact with the author including reading, question time and creative tasks.
Karen, who used to work at the school, said she was delighted to return to St Gregory’s where she has also held ‘visiting author’ experiences for the children.
Her online profile highlights how after being a tour guide in ‘magical, storybook settings including Rome, Venice, Paphos and Carthage’ she returned to the UK to work in schools as a classroom practitioner and a literacy intervention teacher weaving storytelling into the fabric of her teaching.
Rosie Hart, the school’s reading lead, said: “What a fantastic opportunity for our children to ask Karen about her journey to become an author.
“They learned how she decides what to write her books about and how to get a book published – our children feel inspired and enthusiastic about becoming authors themselves.”
Karen, whose other popular titles include Grandma Georgia’s Amazing Handbag, Who’s Got Our Ghosts, and Please Sir – The Gremlin Ate My Homework, is a great believer that reading for pleasure empowers children and guides them in finding the voice inside themselves.
Assistant Head Teacher Athanasia Papa-Adams said the children thoroughly enjoyed meeting the author and finding out what is involved in constructing her stories.
She said: “Our children really enjoy creative writing and Karen’s time with them was so important – together they celebrated the power of storytelling and a love of reading.”
The author’s past writing career has also included well-received playscripts commissioned by the BBC, Channel 4 and Granada TV. Her interactive website is www.Kdgreaves.com
