Storytelling Course Sandfield Close

The 10 week course at Sandfield Primary School began in March 2007 with 10 regular participants. Again the students were all ages and from different sections of the community. Several of our ladies also had children at the School. The course was thoroughly enjoyed by all the participants, and from Hema and my point of view was very different from the other two. The course is devised in such a way, that even though we do have a skeleton lesson plan from week to week, it does seem to take on a life of its own and we discuss with the participants as we are going along what elements they would like to concentrate on. It is from this format that we have had the requests to undertake an advanced course because our participants have enjoyed it so much. The highlight of this course has to be our day long workshop wth the professional storyteller Peter Chand. He was just brilliant. In the morning he whizzed round every single class telling a different story to the children, then after a well deserved lunch, Peter lead the workshop with our budding storytellers. The children loved him, we loved him. He is so interesting and dynamic... and what energy. The highlight of the day was when Peter had one of the classes up and Bangra dancing as part of the story! We left Sandfield happy and exhausted to the calls of the children.... 'When are you coming again Mr Chand?' That's what storytelling is all about.

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This course in particular produced some excellent creative writing, although as usual the participants didn't believe they were capable of it! Visual aids are normally used to encourage creativity and ideas. This particular piece of writing is by Neena, and was inspired by a piece of shiny card which Neena interpreted as the gift of time. Whilst reading this piece she handed the piece of card to other participants one by one to emphasize the point....

All the Time in the World

If this were all the time in the world then I would give it to you.

Give yourself the

Time to understad
Time to love
Time to care

If this were all the time in the world then I would give it to you.

Go on give yourself the

Time to make mends
Time to visit old and new friends.

If this were all the time in the world, then I would give it to you.

Go on! Take it, you deserve it!

Time to spoil yourself
Time to read that book on the shelf.

If this were all the time in the world, then I would give it to you.

Time to laugh with your friends
Time to stop, listen and treasure each moment.