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If you have questions or would like to arrange a visit, please get in touch
Marlaya Charleston, published poet/author/illustrator/educator hails from New York City. She is thrilled to get away from the noise and traffic there to the traffic in Los Angeles! She loves music and jazz, art and poetry…she loves performing, writing, painting, dancing, teaching… and being playful.
Over the years, she studied fine art (she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York), she was a graphic designer, a stand-up comedian, an actress, a painter with many international collectors and she presented her one woman show. She writes and illustrates her whimsical poems and performs them for children pre-K – 6th grade and facilitates workshops and classes in poetry writing, drawing and performing. She also does interactive readings of her book Best Friends for the little ones (pre-k-1st grade).
She previously received a grant to teach poetry through the Los Angeles City Council 10th district.
“Marlaya Charleston, published poet/author/illustrator/educator hails from New York City. She is thrilled to get away from the noise and traffic there to the traffic in Los Angeles! She loves music and jazz, art and poetry, she loves performing, writing, painting, dancing, teaching and being playful.
Over the years, she studied fine art (she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York), she was a graphic designer, a stand-up comedian, an actress, a painter with many international collectors and she presented her one woman show. She writes and illustrates her whimsical poems and performs them for children pre-K – 6th grade and facilitates workshops and classes in poetry writing, drawing and performing. She also does interactive readings of her book Best Friends for the little ones (pre-k-1st grade).
She previously received a grant to teach poetry through the Los Angeles City Council 10th district.
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“It was a pleasure having you lead our poetry unit! Your passion for poetry was evident and you created a warm, welcoming environment that made students feel comfortable expressing themselves creatively. The students were engaged and clearly enjoyed the experience. Thank you”
“Marlaya brought enthusiasm and creativity to my classroom and truly brought her poems to life with my students. They were excited to hear her poems and were ready to create their own.”
“Ms. Marlaya was wonderful. She had the students engaged. They participated and enjoyed the session. They laughed, shared and learned a lot.“
Marlaya’s interactive program is terrific. Not only do the children (pre-k – 6th grade) get entertained by her whimsical book, her playful poetry and her artwork while participating in it, afterward, 1st – 6th graders get to produce their own pieces in the workshop that follows.
In her workshop, she guides and encourages students in writing, illustrating and performing their own poetry. Beyond the technical skills, her program builds confidence and self- acceptance as she provides a non-competitive, supportive atmosphere where the children feel safe expressing their words and pictures without judgement. They are excited to trust their creative instincts. Marlaya claims, “Everyone is unique and we all have something to say!’’ They wind up sharing their ideas with ease and have fun in the process! She loves being an affirming presence and establishing a happy space for her students’ creativity. Children learn that poetry can be fun, and they are inspired to read and write so much more. (all poetry and workshops are appropriately geared for the different grade levels).
Marlaya is a credentialed teacher with a strong background in generating and teaching the visual, literary, and theatrical arts.
This program is enjoyed in elementary and preschool classrooms, libraries, community workshops, children’s bookstores, literary events, festivals and more.
Encouraging a student to express poetry with her whole body.
Learning how a rhyme scheme help gives rhythm to a poem.
A student comes to the front to act out the "Bad Hair Day" poem.
Giving helpful feedback to a third grade student.
My animated reading for little ones.
A little girl and her mom asked for my book to be signed.
If you have questions or would like to arrange a visit, please get in touch