Chief Minister's Reading Challenge School Visits 2023

Thanks to Dionne and Nic at the ACT Government Education Directorate for organising my two recent school visits for the ACT Chief Minister's Reading Challenge, and for their hard work every year on this amazing initiative. It's an honour to be an ambassador for the Challenge (since 2016). 

Visiting schools is a wonderful opportunity to connect with children and talk to them about books and literacy. I'm ever inspired by their inherent understanding of story, visual literacy and creative potential. Is your school involved in the Challenge?

A fab write-up rom the Directorate:

Tania McCartney visited Majura Primary School and St Francis of Assisi Calwell, offering students an opportunity to learn from her expertise and experiences as an author and illustrator. 

During her visit, Tania provided students with an insightful overview of the numerous roles she performs as an author and illustrator. She walked them through the process of idea generation, explaining how she identifies compelling topics for her books. 

Tania emphasised the importance of crafting words carefully to create engaging narratives, and described the intricacies of designing illustrations both by hand and using computer software. This comprehensive exploration of her roles broadened the students' understanding of the creative processes involved in producing a book. 

Tania stressed the significance of conducting thorough research when writing about animals and places. She shared with the students that accurate information enhances the credibility and authenticity of their work. 

One of the highlights of Tania's visit was the presentation of a 30-second video featuring her character, Plume (see it here). The students were captivated by the visual storytelling and animation in the video.

Tania shared the meticulous process involved in creating the video, revealing the time and effort required to bring a character to life. The students gained insight into the technical and creative aspects of video production, deepening their appreciation for the artistry behind multimedia storytelling.