Over the years Jacqui Gray has been moved to address the emotional wellbeing of children and teenagers and her desire and intention is to help integrate mental health and education through her unique and innovative workshops. The work she does in schools encourages the children to use their imagination in order to change their mood and how they feel about themselves. She teaches the teachers and Emotional support workers the techniques and how to use them, following up with ideas as to how they can continue the work and implement it into the school day, either through PSHE or for working individually with children who are presenting emotional issues and/or challenging behaviour.

Through the workshops, children are given a voice and this is an invaluable way of raising self-esteem and self worth.  Through choice, opinion, feelings and emotions, children can develop and learn that they are important and valued and Jacqui feels this is so important.

She has developed a children’s book called “My Magical Garden.” and “The Mindful Garden Package,” and more recently “My Magical Tree” which is a tool to promote focus and concentration. They are being used in school and by parents to help minimise stress and anxiety during the school day.

Jacqui Gray is a UK based Authors. She conducts fun interactive workshops in Schools, Libraries and Book Clubs where the children are encouraged to use their imagination and create a magical garden in their mind. After a brief introduction to the book, Jacqui reads My Magical Garden" to the children.

At the end of each page she engages the children through a short-guided visualization to activate their imaginations, this could be a powerful tool for teachers wishing to generate children's ideas for creative story writing. When children are engaged in imagination or guided imagery they actually create an experience in their mind, these experiences could form the setting and context for Drama lessons or other speaking and listening activities.

Through a warm and playful approach Jacqui encourages the children to actively participate and share their experiences and their choices.
The emphasis is very much on helping the children to experience reading less as an educational tool and more of a pleasurable, emotional activity, which they will want to repeat on a regular basis. Reluctant readers particularly benefit from the book as the emphasis is on experiencing the story/journey. It can extend the lower ability students particularly reluctant readers or writers to generate creative ideas and it challenges the more able learners to use the senses and be able to transfer this to their creative writing.

"My Magical Garden" is a magical experience for all children. It can show them a different world and can take them somewhere they've never been before.

As Walt Disney said, "Here is the world of imagination, hopes, and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment, the age of chivalry, magic and make-believe are reborn - and fairy tales come true. Fantasyland is dedicated to the young-in-heart, to those who that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true."

KEY INFORMATION

• Audience - 4 to 11 year olds
• Equipment - We present our book with the use of a power point so that all of the children get to see the pages. We require a projector and screen/interactive whiteboard.
• Each presentation lasts approximately 45 minutes. We can be flexible with the length of the presentation.
• Usually we have an audience of around 60 children at a time but again we can be flexible.
• We are happy to do several presentations during the day, followed by an opportunity for book signing.

“We did this last year and it was probably one of the most worthwhile things we did. The children (even the most challenging) responded brilliantly and it was just magical; like the garden itself!”
Virginia Tizzano, St Mary’s Junior School

“Highly recommend booking Jacqui in for a visit! Her book is fabulous and we use it with the children regularly in school”
Seema Jassal, Hilldene Primary School

Here are some interviews I have had with teachers following workshops in their schools and two brief reviews:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm_ZjjA09Ao&list=UUkPobZJmtY4jS-HI3JJqF3g&index=15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXfq52yjoiI&index=9&list=UUkPobZJmtY4jS-HI3JJqF3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LglgFsfPTpA&index=8&list=UUkPobZJmtY4jS-HI3JJqF3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RJFNdGZN0k&index=7&list=UUkPobZJmtY4jS-HI3JJqF3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPRaosA-0KI&index=6&list=UUkPobZJmtY4jS-HI3JJqF3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsvpFFofzys&list=UUkPobZJmtY4jS-HI3JJqF3g&index=3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6iL_7RShAE&index=2&list=UUkPobZJmtY4jS-HI3JJqF3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVlAqdzzW04&index=1&list=UUkPobZJmtY4jS-HI3JJqF3g