Workshops, Teaching & Literacy

” One of the finest examples of wordsmithing I’ve ever laid ears on.”
~ Shayne Koyczan, author of bestsellers ‘Stickboy’ and ‘To This Day’

 

BEYOND PERFORMING

WORKSHOP DEVELOPMENT

As Head of English for a York Region high school over the last decade, I’ve had the chance to successfully work with administrators, teachers, and students in a range of environments, and can suit workshops to meet individual needs, and/or that of curriculum. I have extensive experience providing workshops in creative writing, poetry, journal-ling, and non-fiction, and have worked with a wide variety of specialized populations (gifted, special education, at-risk, female-centric, rehabilitative).

UNIVERSITY LECTURING

I have experience lecturing in University level classes, have lectured at Queen’s University in the departments of English and Geography, and worked with professors on topics such as meta-cognition and the bridges between language and memory. My poetry has also been introduced in several University classes throughout the province.

LITERACY DEVELOPMENT

After five years as Literacy Co-Lead at Markville Secondary School, I was proud to see our students earn first place in the province wide OSSLT Literacy Test (Fraser Report). In 2010, I was honoured as a finalist for the York Region District School Board Teacher of the Year Award.

ARTS ORGANIZATION

As a founding Member of Toronto Poetry Slam, I have worked in collaboration with some of the country’s most innovative organizers, to foster opportunities for youth poetry. I am also the founder and curator of Be Heard, one of Canada’s largest (and longest running) youth spoken word festivals. I have taught Youth Master Classes in Spoken Word at the Kingston Writers Fest, the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, Vancouver Poetry House, and for over twenty years at Arts Camps for York Region District school boards.

Reach me at larabozabalian@gmail with questions and/or opportunities.