11 x 11 EDUCATORS WORKSHOP: Writing Ourselves with Darren Chetty

In this two-part, interactive workshop, you’ll explore some of the structures and tools that enable pupils to bring themselves fully into their creative writing. You'll consider how a rich reading diet and anti-racist approaches to classroom discussion can support children to value their lived experiences as inspiration for their writing. 

Please note: attendance at both sessions is required. 

Workshop 1: 4pm - 5:30pm, Thursday 21st January 2021. What does anti-racism mean? 

You’ll together explore and reflect on what anti-racism means to you as practitioners and individuals. What are your experiences of and questions about it? What does an anti-racist classroom look and feel like? How does dialogue support anti-racism? This discussion will lay the foundations for effective child-centred, classroom practice.  

Workshop 2: 4pm - 5:30pm, Thursday 28th January 2021. Writing ourselves.

In this session, Darren will introduce you to ways to make space for children to draw upon both their lived experience and their learned knowledge in their creative writing. You’ll also have the opportunity to share practice and ideas with peers in order to expand your repertoire of approaches.

This workshop is open to Islington educators. To book, email Lydia at [email protected]  

Darren Chetty is a teacher, doctoral researcher and writer with research interests in education, philosophy, racism, children's literature and hip hop culture. He contributes to a column in Books for Keeps about the representation of BAME voices in children’s literature. Darren is currently working with Future Zone schools in Islington to support them to embed anti-racist approaches across their policies, pedagogy and curriculum.

This workshop is part of 11 by 11 Culture Bank, delivered in partnership with Islington Cultural Enrichment and School Improvement teams.