Professional Workshop Series brought to you in collaboration with CHIJ Sec (Toa Payoh) | Special AGM Workshop

Teaching Language Through Poetry
By Katie Ham

This workshop focuses on how teachers can teach comprehension, vocabulary and grammar in the language classroom using poetry; the skills presented are applicable to teaching the Language Arts / Literature programmes at both primary and secondary levels. The workshop also explores how teachers can use poetry as a springboard to further creative writing by transforming poems into different genres. Techniques and strategies for using poetry to teach the English Language will be the focus. A collection of resources and a guide on their possible use will be made available to participants. Limited to 30 Participants. Registration closes on 14th July 2009.

Katie Ham is currently a Teacher Consultant at Singapore Chinese Girls' School. She attended Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and holds Bachelor degrees in both Arts and Education (Honours). She is an English specialist but also teaches Spanish, in which she is fluent. Katie began her career at Wesley College, a co-educational Independent school in Melbourne, where she taught English and Spanish, and was the Head of Modern Foreign Languages. She also led on teaching and learning of the International Baccalaureate in both subjects. At the end of 2004, Katie moved to London to teach at Drayton Manor High School, an inner-London mixed Comprehensive school. During this time she held the posts of Key Stage 3 Coordinator and Head of English, as well as Lead English Teacher for the borough of Ealing. Katie has travelled extensively, having lived in both Mexico and the UK. During her travels, Katie has explored much of Europe, South America and a little of the African continent, and hopes to continue adventuring throughout Asia.