Writers in Schools

• Want a Writers in Schools visit? Find out more about becoming a School Member
• Cut-off dates
• How to set up a Writers in Schools visit
• Writers by Area
• Host School Guidelines
• Useful Links for Children and Teachers
• The Learning Media and Book Council Partnership

Writing Heroes Get Kids Reading

Each year the New Zealand Book Council’s Writers in Schools programme sends top Kiwi writers into schools to inspire and encourage young readers. The programme is supported by funding from Creative New Zealand, Learning Media and the New Zealand Community Trust.

Since 1974, the programme has provided free school visits for Book Council members, delivering excellence to a generation of New Zealand students, from the biggest city colleges to the tiniest country schools, and even the odd home school.

This programme encourages the imagination and develops writing skills in children by employing leading New Zealand writers.

The Book Council offers member schools the opportunity to apply for one half-day sponsored writer visit a year. Visits are allocated each term on a first-come first-served basis. In addition to this, the Book Council arranges additional visits if these are paid for by the school.

There is a cut-off each term in 2008 for visit requests, which we ask schools to take note of:

Term 1 - 22 February 2008; Term 2 - 11 April 2008; Term 3 - 27 June 2008; Term 4 - 19 September 2008.

Schools must be Book Council members to receive a Writers in Schools visit. To arrange a visit, member schools contact the Book Council: we contact the writer and make all the arrangements. It is important that schools do not contact or pay the writer directly.

Extra Visits and Workshop Costs
All schools that belong to the New Zealand Book Council are eligible to request one free half-day visit a year.

Should you wish to host a writer for a longer period or have a targeted workshop, we can arrange this for you at an extra cost as listed below. Any extra costs will be invoiced to your school at the conclusion of the visit. We have recently decreased the costs of an extra half-day and full day to make the scheme more financially viable for schools.

Prices:

Extra half-day added to free half-day $80
Workshop fee $50
2nd subsequent half-day visit $220 ($60 less than previous)
Full day visit $285 ($55 less than previous)

If the writer is from out of town, additional travel and accommodation costs may be applicable.

Cut-off dates for visit arrangements

Please arrange your schools visits for the following terms by these dates:

Term One: 22 February 2008
Term Two: 4 April 2008
Term Three: 20 June 2008
Term Four: 12 September 2008

If you would like to arrange your visit well in advance of these dates, we would be more than happy to recieve your application at education@bookcouncil.org.nz

How to set up a Writers in Schools visit

You should organise a school staff coordinator who makes personal contact with your visiting writer well in advance.

1. Contact the New Zealand Book Council with a list of writers, preferably in your geographic area, and some suitable dates. You can check the writers available in your area by visiting the Writers in Schools: Writers by Area page of our website.
2. Once the Book Council has confirmed the visit you need to ring and confirm the date and timing with the writer.
3. Give the writer the name of the school and contact person they will deal with on the day of the visit. This contact person will need to meet your writer and guide them through the school during their visit. The writer will also need after-hours contact details.
4. Discuss with your writer exactly what you would like to achieve from the visit and if the writer is able to deliver this.
5. Check if the writer needs any special preparation or materials for their visit.
6. Inform school staff of the visit arrangements – prepare them by giving them the visit details you have agreed on with the writer.
7. Prepare and inform students of the visit.

Please direct all Writers in Schools enquiries to Sarah Hughes, Writers in Schools and Education Manager. Ph: (04) 499 1569, Fax: (04) 499 1424 or email: education@bookcouncil.org.nz

Feedback on Writers in Schools

Students write:

"With your books I can’t put them down. One night I was reading one of your books, mum came in and said ‘lights out’, I said ‘one more chapter please’, but mum said no, so I had to go to bed. I was at a good part too."

"He had a lot to say that made me think about my life. He is an inspiration to everyone and I hope he realises this. I am glad I heard him speak and I hope he comes back again. Maori need to stand out."

Even reluctant readers are motivated by meeting an author:

"Because of you coming to our school you have helped me become more interested in reading and I’d just like to say thanks. I really have found it hard to become interested in books but I really enjoyed your stories. To me they’re real New Zealand stories."

Teachers notice the impact of writer visits:

"In a country where rugby players are the heroes, it is magnificent to have people from the book world to appear live in our school. What a boost for children that love to read, write and draw."

"Excellent! This writer really appealed to our students, especially the reluctant readers and the males."

"This visit was the highlight of our book week which saw a surge in library issues that continued all year."

The Learning Media and Book Council Partnership

Learning Media Te Pou Taki Kòrero is best known as the educational publishing company that produces most of the books and resources that the Ministry of Education provides to schools.

The books, CDs, videos, CD-ROMs and website activities Learning Media Te Pou Taki Kòrero produces are the meeting ground for learners and writers. The natural extension of that idea is Te Pou Taki Kòrero’s sponsorship of the New Zealand Book Council’s Writers in Schools programme. A third of all those who participated in last year’s Writers in Schools programme have at some time been published by Learning Media.

We are grateful to the New Zealand Book Council staff for all the hard work they do to bring the Writers in Schools programme to 100,000 students every year. We acknowledge all the teachers who know that a hero can fire up imaginations and to that end they bring all sorts of heroes into their classrooms. We hope that these visits from writers and illustrators will inspire students to become Learning Media contributors.

Learning Media Te Pou Taki Kòrero is a proud sponsor of the Writers in Schools programme.

Gillian Candler, CEO, Learning Media Te Pou Taki Kòrero.