Interested in developing your students’ writing skills?
‘Write with Kat’ is an initiative that began just shy of seven years ago. It evolved due to a growing number of requests for Author visits ‘with a difference’ in the local Mackay region. Overwhelmed by the reaction to her first published children’s picture book; The cat with no tail – Kat quickly began devising a plan to structure her visits in a unique and captivating way that would be appealing to primary school students of all ages.
For more information on package pricing and availability, please register your interest in the form at the end of this page. Note: All materials in terms of; hand-outs, multi-media, and tangible resources are provided.
Day Care / Early Learning
“Read with Kat” (30-minute package – rotational class group). Text type in focus: either, “Razzle and the Music Band”, 2022 (Austin Macauley Publishing), or “The Cat with no Tail”, 2015 (Little Steps Publishing).
A brief and enjoyable introduction to the construct of the ‘picture book’. Participants will experience a book reading (of their choice), and be immersed in rich and meaningful discussion about the underlying social messages within the story, moral aspects of human connection to text, the importance of phonological awareness through ‘rhyme’, along with the diverse roles of the author, illustrator, and publisher. The session will conclude with a Q&A session so that students can explore formulated ideas about the text, and demonstrate understanding of key themes and characterisation through inquiry and targeted learning opportunities with Kat.
Pre-Prep (Kindergarten) / Prep (Terms 1 & 2)
“Find your Thunder” (45-minute package – rotational class group). Text type in focus: either, “Razzle and the Music Band”, 2022 (Austin Macauley Publishing), or “The Cat with no Tail”, 2015 (Little Steps Publishing).
Building on the “Read with Kat” concept, emerging learners in this age category will extend beyond the confines of the Q&A session, and be invited to discuss, and investigate the planned structure of the text type (in question), as well as make comparisons between the unique character roles featured and their moral intent. An early introduction to plot development and genre, participants in this program will gather meaning about the text’s overall purpose through gross-motor ball games, active role-play with peer-partners, and most importantly – celebrate their own unique strength and value through exploring the concept of self-love with Kat’s friend, ‘Thunder’.
Prep (Terms 3 & 4) – Grade 1
Option 1
“Razzle finds Rhythm” (1-hour package – 25 students or less). Text type in focus: “Razzle and the Music Band”, 2022 (Austin Macauley Publishing).
With a focus on phonological awareness (particularly through letter blending and sound formation through the exploration of written verse in rhyme), as well as an understanding of rhythm (through musical exercises that employ measured beat, plotted intonation and experimentation with a milieu of instruments), students learn how to anticipate sound using a symbol/pattern system that focusses on effective memory-building through iconography. Who doesn’t want to start a band with their class-mates, and make an awful lot of fun noise?! A hands-on musical-themed workshop with a myriad of opportunities to shine individually, and support your friends as part of an effective ‘team’.
Option 2
“Unravel the Tale” (1-hour package – 25 students or less). Text type in focus: “The Cat with no Tail”, 2015 (Little Steps Publishing).
This package focusses on the narrative structure of a creative short story, and uses the text type in focus to demonstrate instances of establishment, complication, emergence, personal growth, and revised equilibrium. By being able to anticipate the planned pathways of the intriguing author, students will understand the difference between a ‘flat’ storytelling experience, and a robust, multi-modal one. Laden with hidden writing tools (to be uncovered through teamwork and ‘circle of knowledge-style’ discussions), as well as tactful author secrets, students are encouraged to answer questions about the content being examined, and attempt revised outcomes of their own – thus solidifying skill-building around the planning of purposeful text creation.
Grades 2 & 3
“Cast the Net” (1.5-hour package – 25 students or less).
Without a set text type in focus, students will receive the same foundational introduction (as found in the “Unravel the Tale” package), and build on their understanding of plot development and character intent, in order to create the ‘bones’ of their own creative short story. Introducing concepts that extend beyond the vested interests of familiar protagonists and antagonists in popular visual and literal texts, students are provided scaffolded rubrics to guide them through the character creation process, with a particular focus on ‘backfill’, and ‘origin-affiliation’. A hands-on and creative opportunity for students to sketch out and ‘flesh-out’ their own cast members (that boast internal and external voices through the employment of concrete and abstract physical and non-physical qualities), the enjoyable window allows space for each student to develop character purpose and motivation by creating complex and pleasing interactions with other challenging and/or appeasing fictitious personalities.
Grades 4 & 5
“The Lightbulb and the Choice” (2-hour package – 25 students or less).
Beyond the character creation process, students are invited to consider a more commercial approach to popular text creation (both visual and literal), in order to gain re-viewable and/or re-readable desire from the intended viewer/reader. By configuring an appropriate genre for a developed target audience of choice, students are guided (through the implementation of scaffolded resources), to effectively explain and describe a well-constructed ‘mis en scene’ throughout crucial stages of the planned plot, as well as understand how character motivation and ‘back-story’ can be influential when generating commercial success from one original idea.
Grades 6-7
“Finding your way” (2-hour package – 25 students or less).
A transitional approach to bridging the curriculum across primary to secondary contexts – students gain further understanding into the expectations of the vital ‘ingredients’ required to create a short story that is both truly workable and valuable (from both an academic and personal enjoyment perspective). Whilst all great writers do indeed make their own rules, it is integral that students appreciate the language features and techniques that will embellish and strengthen their work for all of the right reasons. A balanced mix of theoretical learnings littered throughout moments of sheer ‘rogue’ creation, students will be able to further develop their literal strengths in a focussed environment (with many opportunities for one-on-one consultation with Kat), whilst also working to practice skills in areas that are less favourable an/or familiar.
Grades 8-12
mindfully adjusted to suit varying age-groups
Option 1
“Fantastic Fantasy, and all things Wonderful! How to play by ‘some’ of the rules, and ‘break’ others for an enjoyable and effective response” (two formats – a 2-hour express package, or 3-hour extended treatment package that focusses on finalising a manuscript for publication).
In this traditionally-configured workshop, students will work closely with the curriculum in order to demonstrate proficient literal skills as well as develop emerging higher-order thinking practices – the goal being to create a fantasy-themed short story using a milieu of visual stimuli as the successive text-types of influence. With a focus on structure, and a classical narrative organisation of planned events, students will be provided with an anticipated ‘catalogue’ of crafting requirements, as well as mindfully-allocated windows of ‘space’ for unique consideration and ‘magic’ to occur.
Option 2
“Bare Bones – Foundations of Short Story Writing for Teens” (two formats – a 2-hour express package, or 3-hour extended treatment package that focusses on finalising a manuscript for publication).
What to expect? Your students become shipwrecked on the deserted and mystical island known as ‘The Dry Sea of Bones’. They must face a number of unique challenges as the protagonist in their own short story experience in order to write themselves ‘off’ the island successfully. In an escape-room type experience, they must work autonomously or in peer partners against the clock, in order to solve literal problems using a myriad of unique props and stay alive using only the power of words…and their imagination of course!
What past participants are saying…
“Kat Ilich came to my prep class in 2019 to introduce the students to her book, ‘The cat with no tail’. From the start the students were engaged and enthusiastic about the book and its content. Kat cleverly incorporated kindness and rhyme into the book. What made it so fascinating was the realness of the story where students could relate to the uniqueness of all creatures and humans. It also taught the students to always be kind no matter what. Throughout the session Kat involved all students and enabled them to also think of ways to use their imagination in their early stages of reading and writing. I am excited to read future books created by Kat and be inspired by her ability to engage students into the love of reading and writing.”
“Kat has a way with words, whether they are written or spoken. Kat’s natural talent for story telling is a gift she shares with children and adults alike. I have been fortunate to have Kat speak at one of The Just Saying Project’s events where Kat shared her story and was an authentic and engaging speaker. Her ability to resonate with her audience gifts them a sense of connection and visibility. I have known Kat for many years and her passion and dedication to literacy is inspirational and is making a difference to many people in the Mackay region and abroad. “
“We were delighted to have local author Kat Ilich visit our kindergarten classes on several occasions. The workshops provided were thoughtfully designed to suit our target audience of kindy aged children. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to Kat read her book, “The cat with no tail” & getting to know the characters. Kat did a wonderful job of capturing her audience & provided a series of age-appropriate activities encouraging the children to look a little deeper into the story & its message, all whilst promoting a love for books & early reading. Her passion for literacy shone through, with her enthusiasm being passed on to our children. A very engaging & worthwhile experience for all involved.”
“Kat recently came into my Prep classroom and taught a lesson based on her amazing book. The children in my class absolutely loved it and were very engaged and involved the whole time. They loved that at the end they got to make a whole class band with instruments and sing a song! Kat was so great with the kids and made it very interesting for them.”
“We have thoroughly enjoyed Kat’s visits to our Kindergarten and Prep students over the years.
Kat was able to provide an entertaining, educational experience that suited our age groups and Kat’s interactive approach, kept everyone engaged. We can recommend Kat’s lessons and look forward to hearing about her next book.”