Author Visit and Talk at the School's Division Office

 

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Step by Step with Teacher Zee: Read. Write. Grow!

Two years ago, I had the pleasure of teaching a young student who is smart, perceptive and diligent. She drew me a portrait on our last day. This summer, we met again and, oh my... She has grown!

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Step by Step with Teacher Zee: Summer Writing Workshops

 

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Memoir: The Courage to Begin

 

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Writing Workshop Notes: Criteria : Focus and Detail and Organization

In my writing workshop this summer, I focused on teaching my students two criteria in writing the essay namely, Focus and Detail and Organization. My approach for this module is a Reading into Writing Approach where in my students and I are reading essays and articles with an awareness of the different text structures. We are learning five structures: process/step by step; cause and effect; problem-solution; chronological order; and compare and contrast. 

A knowledge of these text structures enable stduents to uderstand the text and the author's purpose a litte better. It is also a learning experience in analysis and critical thinking especially when questions and inquiry are integrated when reading the texts. Constant exposure and regular practice in identifying the text structures is a strategy in reading comprehension which flows into writing.

Our output this week is an outline + text structures in the form of graphic organizers. Combining my students' prior knowledge on the traditional framework of an essay, Introduction; Body; Closure/Generalization, with their new knowledge of text structures, they were able to focus on a specific topic, provide details for the topic and develop, expand or extend the body of the essay using  graphic organizers. Also, my students have access and experiences on the topics of their choice. Content is not a challenge but documention and referencing are needed skills as well.

As always, I first model the process and guide my students in wiritng their own. Here is what I modeled and demonstrated for my students during one of the sessions.

Topic: Jhope’s New Single MORE

I. Beginning/Introduction – 2 paragraphs – 300 words

• Jhope’s new single, More, dropped last July 1, 2022 causing a stir among casual fans and listeners, intriguing and exciting ARMYs along the way.

• Supporting sentences for this claim and observation

• Jhope is known to ARMYs as the ray of light in BTS. He is the sunshine of the group whom Suga endearingly calls vitamins at one interview.

• Jhope’s first mixtape, Hope World is a burst of colors that reflect his cheerful and positive personality.

• More is the complete opposite, as many fans and reactors on YT have expressed.

II. Middle / Body – 3 paragraphs – 500 - 800 words

• Compare and Contrast: Hope World and More

• Discuss Jhope’s message in More based on the lyrics of the song (step  by step)

• -> Slected lyrics from 1st stanza / chorus or break /2nd stanza

III. Ending/Closure/Generalization – 1 paragraph – 150 words

• The new single More is darker in tone and theme but its message is similar and familiar to Jhope’s art, style and aesthetic.

Creative Non-Fiction Writing for High School Students

 

Online Writing Workshop: Weaving Stories for Kids and Young Adults

Online Writing Workshop: Weaving Stories for Kids and Young Adults

Facilitator: Zarah C. Gagatiga 

Here are the details of the workshop and payment information. 

1. You will need a Gmail account to participate in the online class. Please get or sign-up to Gmail. 

2. The online class will be delivered via Google Classroom, thus the need to get a Gmail account. 

3. Online classes begin on July 20, 2020 until August 2, 2020. Synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning experiences will be provided. This means, we will have an online chat or video call once a week as a class and content in the four modules can be done as your time allows you to. 

4. There are four modules and content will be uploaded every Friday evening from 8-10pm. You can do the activities of each module within a week. Video calls and chat can be scheduled by group or individually on a Saturday. 

5. The four modules are as follows:

M1 - The Stories that Shaped My Childhood; Children's Literature; the Status of Philippine Children's Literature today; M2 - Writing for Kids and Teens: Formats and Elements; 

M3 - Writing Workshop; 

M4 - Preparing a Manuscript 

Workshop fee is Php 2,500.00

Writing Workshop at DataBites Los Baños, Laguna

Writing Workshop: Weaving Stories for Kids and Young Readers

Workshop facilitator: Zarah C. Gagatiga

Date and Time: Saturday, June 29, 2019

Session 1 for Kids and teens (grade 4 - grade 12)

9-11.30 AM

Session 2 for Grown ups (college and up)

1-5 PM

Venue: 

DataBites Cafe & Restaurant 10046 Mt. Data St. 

Los Baños Subdivision

Los Baños, Laguna 4030

Points for discussion:

 ⁃ Story Grammar: formats and elements

 ⁃ Children’s Literature Today

 ⁃ The stories that shape our childhood

 ⁃ Why write for kids

 ⁃ Writing workshop: writing, critiquing and revising

 ⁃ Note: if you have stories for workshop and critiquing bring 4-5 copies

Workshop fees

Kids and Teens session - Php 1,000.00 inclusive of snacks and handouts; plus a FREE Book!

College and up session - 

Php 2,500.00 inclusive of snacks and handouts; PLUS a FREE Book!

5-8 participants only

Payment of workshop fee is through bank deposit three days before the workshop date.

For questions and inquiries call or text: 09209672884 09282894627

Writing Tip #1: Keep the Writing Muscles in Good Condition

I often tell workshop participants that writing is not an easy task. Stories do not always come in full bloom. It takes skill and time to craft a story. One strategy to skills building is to carve a writing time into one’s routine on a regular basis. Keeping a journal is a good start.

A diary is different from a writing journal since the former is a personal documentation of one’s activities and experiences. The later is a tool designed to develop specific writing skills. Both are helpful in building writing skills over all, but the writing journal has a special purpose. Journals can be in print or in digital format. 

Once you have set a writing routine or schedule, and your journal ready for writing in, organize mini topics or prompts that functions as writing exercises. Writers write all the time and they keep their writing muscles in good condition.

To begin with, here are some writing prompts you can do.

1. Write a paragraph about a person you met recently.

2. What did you eat for lunch? Describe how the food tastes like.

3. Choose photo number 10 in your phone and remember when and where it was taken. Write about the experience in your journal.

4. Take a walk in the mall, at the park or sit in a cafe. Write what you hear, what you see and what feel at that moment.

5. Remember a dream you had and spontaneously write it on an empty page as the memory comes spilling out.

6. Think of two characters from a TV show you like or otherwise. How will they talk if they are in cafe or some place unfamiliar.

7. Imagine yourself as an object, a pencil, a dress or a car. How would you look or feel like?

8. Compare opposites: light and shadow, sunrise and sunset, coffee and tea, etc.

These writing prompts will keep you going. Do not think of the grammar. Not at this stage. There is another phase and time to improve that.

Writing Workshop: Weaving Stories for Kids and Teens

My writing worshop last Sunday, April 29, 2018 at Happy Grandma’s Cafe had been productive because participants left the workshop with story ideas. To achieve this, we looked at the status of Philippine Children’s Literature and the publishing industry. We set our own definitions on children’s literature based on Clarkson’s Ten Values of Children’s Literature. We discussed the storytelling model of David Leiber and how it can help us recall, craft and share our stories. Remembering favorite books read as children made us all see how diverse our choices and taste are in the reading materials we engaged in as kids growing up. And my, oh my! How our books “carbon” date us! Revisiting memories of childhood led us to discover the wealth of stories waiting to be shared and told. It was a wonderful afternoon of shared dreams and common goals!

One of the workhoppers, Ms. Alma Lumawag was brave enough to have her manuscript critiqued. And, sure enough, it helped her see areas of improvements on her manuscript. Getting feedback from peers is a helpful strategy for all writers.

Thank you, Happy Grandma’s Cafe for welcoming us! I hope to see you again soon!

For now, there are ideas to tame or prune. There are manuscripts to review. There are dreams to build. And there are stories to tell and weave!

You Write To Me, I'll Write To You: A Manuscript Critique

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The 4th Annual Story Writing Workshop of Lampara Books

Aside from the book launching and book buying events I had last MIBF (Manila International Book Fair), I also facilitated a story writing workshop sponsored by my publisher, Lampara Books.

Lampara has been conducting the workshop since 2011. This is 4th writing workshop for its patrons and avid readers. I have been participating as its facilitator for three straight years now. In my first year, I only had a 40 minute talk on writing stories for kids. In the second year, I was given an hour and a half to do a mini-workshop. This year, I had two hours of input session and a workshop. As always, it was a pleasure to meet new friends, young and old.


I was even interviewed by young writers from Palanan Elementary School. Dave and Camille are six graders who attended the workshop. They are campus journalists for the school paper.

Joining me in the workshop as facilitator was Eugene Evasco, Palanca Hall of Fame Awardee.

I opened the workshop with a brief introduction on the trends and themes prevalent in Philippine Children's Literature today; the National Children's Book Awards; why the NCBA should be taken seriously; the first Kids' Choice Award; and implications of all these to writers of children's stories. To immerse the participants in children's books, I had them read it. They reviewed the books following the 10 Values of Children's Literature by Ruth Clarkson. There was sharing of output in small group and big group discussions.

When Eugene Evasco came up the stage, he provided an array of different exercises for writing stories. Many of his exercises were pre-writing activities; language techniques; strategies for character and plot development.

It was an enriching afternoon! We had eighty participants and they filled the room with their interest and enthusiasm. Here's hoping we would have more writers to write for children.

MIBF Moment: Meeting Kids and Parents Who Care for Them

Weeks after the MIBF, I got this email from Mrs. Teresa Gumap-as.

This is what she told me in her letter:

I just want to let you know how your workshop turned one-on-one activity with my eldest son (Yanthy) influenced him. :) 

Teresa is a writer too. She is the author of the books, When My Bridegroom Comes, How to Have the Wedding of Your Dreams and BREASTFEEDING: A Journey Worth Taking. She home schools her two kids and blogs about motherhood in Mommy Bares All

She narrates Yanthy's experience during my workshop and the follow up activities they did at home together in her blog. Read it all here!

Thanks, Teresa! I hope to meet you again, sometime soon!

The Story Behind the Stories

Call for Applications: KABANATA Young Adult Writer's Workshop

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) formally launches the KABANATA Young Adult Writer’s Workshop with a call for fellowship applications. Slated to begin in October 2014 in Quezon City, KABANATA aims to provide a venue and support system to writers who share in PBBY’s commitment to the promotion of a culture of reading among Filipino youth by providing this growing population with books that recognize their culture, aspirations, and sense of maturity.

For a period of at least six months, fellows accepted to KABANATA will meet monthly for learning sessions with industry experts, and progress discussions with their co-fellows. Upon novel completion, PBBY will help fellows with publication by inviting publishers to bid on the finished works. With this, KABANATA hopes to produce chapter books and young adult novels that will set the bar for similar endeavors to aspire to, and be the growth spurt of what will hopefully become a thriving, diverse, and quality Filipino literature inventory for kids and teens.

Applicants are asked to submit, among other requirements, a novel-in-progress represented by three chapters and a chapter outline. Novels-in-progress should be aimed towards children within the age of 9 to 16. Those interested may visit pbby.org.ph or bit.ly/kabanata to see the application guidelines, fellowship requirements, and complete workshop details. For further inquiries, contact KABANATA via pbby.kabanata@gmail.com or (02) 352-6765 local 119.

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is a private, non-stock, non-profit organization committed to the development and promotion of children’s literature in the Philippines and is the lead agency in the annual celebration of National Children’s Book Day (NCBD), which falls on the third Tuesday of July. 

Coming Soon: KABANATA

Storytelling & Writing Workshop at DLSZ's Reading Camp

Once again, I was invited by librarian friends from De La Salle Zobel to do a storytelling and writing workshop with grade five students of the Enrique Zobel Elementary School and nine more neighbor schools in Calatagan, Batangas. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet eager learners who appear to be first timers in attending a writing workshop and a reading camp at that.

I started out with stories that afforded them engagement and participation. At first they were unsure if this was allowed. But after encouraging them to join me in the chanting and repetitive lines in the story, they were enjoying it. From there I jumped off to the idea that stories are everywhere. I followed this up by telling a story using Kamishibai, The Mother Cat. This is a true story that happened in New York in 1996. The kids' eyes were filled with wonder. The adults enjoyed the session too.

I then did a read aloud of my published story books. Of course, I did not forget to tell them that I was able to produce such books through team work and collaboration. I then moved to discuss how each of my story book came to be. So, it was like a story with in a story presentation.

This was followed by a writing workshop. I first showed the kids a photo of a tomato growing in the garden. I made them read the questions. I asked for volunteers to answer the questions. The kids, at this point, were no longer shy at all but they needed prodding to be able to articulate their thoughts. I got the impression that speaking out is something they are not used to. What I emphasize in all my writing workshops with kids is the concept that all major skills in communication arts come into play in creating a story. I hope that they learned this despite the little time given to us.

For an hour, they tried writing their own stories while some kids followed my picture prompts. Amazingly, five students finished their stories and they read these out loud for others to hear.

Working and interacting with kids now that I am a published writer is something I look forward to doing more often in the future!

The Young Author's Scheme: My First Book

Poetry Workshop for Teens

Here's a worksheet I use for my Poetry Writing Workshop for Teens. I use the HEAD-HEART-HAND Technique in helping workshop participants experience a poem.

Understanding Poetry from Zarah Gagatiga

Live blogging: Dr. Paraluman Giron, Filpina

This is not my first time to listen to Dr. Paraluman Giron of the DepEd, Director of Region 4-B. I have sat in one of her speeches way back in college at the PNU. She was dynamic, engaging and charming. Her content was relevant and tuned to the times. The last time I saw her was in one training workshop for public school teachers. Her message to them was truly inspirational.

She has not changed at all.

Today, she opens the creative writing workshop of PHILAAS (an association of scientist and science educators in the Philippines) and she is just a joy to watch. Her passion to reading and writing is very evident. Yan ang Pinay!