As part of the Festival’s initiative to create an interesting and immersive literary environment for students, we have planned a series of specially designed free school outreach talks and workshops. These programmes are held at The Arts House, which is the official SWF venue, and teachers can use the booking form below to reserve places. Students will get to meet international authors such as John Boyne and Kate McCaffrey as well as Singaporean authors, Wena Poon and Daren Shiau.


SWF School Programmes (Free)
All events are held at The Arts House


Kate McCaffrey: Young Adult Fiction
Mon 26 Oct | 10am - 11am | Chamber

This session is suitable for students ages 10 and above. It is a one hour talk by Kate McCaffrey, author of two award-winning novels for young adults, Destroying Avalon and In Ecstasy, which explores the themes of cyber bullying and drug abuse. Students will get to meet and talk to one of Australia’s gifted writers.


John Boyne: Writing a Novel
Mon 26 Oct | 11.30am - 12.30pm | Chamber

This session is suitable for students ages 15 and above and strongly recommended for those interested in creative writing. It is a one hour talk by renowned writer, John Boyne, author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The House of Special Purpose. Students will learn the processes on how to get started on creative writing and completing a novel.


Malay Literature: Anwar Ridhwan and Baha Zain (in Malay)
Tue 27 Oct | 2.30pm - 4pm | Chamber

This session is suitable for teachers and students ages 15 and above and strongly recommended for those studying Malay literature. It is a one hour talk by two top Malaysian writers, Anwar Ridhwan and Baha Zain. Students and teachers will get to meet and talk with these three literary giants of Malay literature. An opportunity not to be missed!


Teaching Language through Poetry: A Focus on Skill Development
For Primary and Secondary School teachers
Conducted by Katie Ham
Tue 27 Oct | 3.30pm - 5.30pm | Living Room

If you are looking for new and refreshing ways to teach poetry or looking for ways to slove pedagogical problems, look no further! This 2-hour, hands on workshop will address issues such as:

* How can teachers both recognise and teach poetic devices with ease in the classroom?
* How can teachers embrace the use of local poetry to engage their students in lessons?
* How can teachers use poetry as a springboard to further creative writing or exposition tasks?

The skills covered are applicable to teaching the Language Arts / Literature programmes at both Primary and Secondary levels. The target audience is teachers who are unfamiliar with teaching poetry, and those who would like some new ideas in tackling poetry in the classroom.

Download SWF09 - School Programmes Registration Form.pdf