School Visits

Presentation Description

During my school presentations for grades K-3, I encourage children to look for and understand their own creativity by sharing the stories behind my stories, how these stories/ideas turn into books, and what it’s like to write for a living.

Specifically, I have four goals with each school presentation:

• To entertain students with a dramatic reading of my books so they will come to know and care about my characters and about the value of story
• To stir the writer/creator inside each student by sharing the stories behind my stories, thus empowering them to see the connection between their own lives and their own potential works of art
• To create a natural bridge to relevant, valuable and interesting learning (e.g.Hoogie in the Middle – a simile exercise; Leon’s Song – a mini science quiz on how frogs survive the winter)
• To give students a sense of what goes into the creation of a book (the illustrator, the publisher, the ideas) and what it’s like to write for a living 

Ahead of each school visit I create a school specific page on my website to help teachers and students prepare for my visit. 

Fees

Because I’m a member of The Writers’ Union, Ontario schools and libraries can apply for a subsidy of my fees through The Writers-in-the-Schools program which is funded by the Ontario Arts Council (OAC).

See my fees by visiting my page on The Writers’ Union site HERE.

Teacher Feedback on My Visits