Visits
If your school, library, bookstore, or book club is interested in having me visit, I would love to make that happen! School and library visits can be just a simple visit to chat about Mola and Dilly or a more structured presentation or workshop. See details below.
School & Library Visits
As a former teacher, I really enjoy school (and library) visits as they offer me a way to connect with real, live readers and a chance for me to be in a teaching setting again. During these visits, I offer "dramatic" storytelling, Q&As, workshops, and presentations around my journey with Mola and Dilly. The time is flexible based on the needs of my host, but typically, it is a half or a full day.
Main Presentation (All Ages)
To begin my visit, I will set up a "Fish Lot" where participants can share their ideas about Giant Ocean Sunfish. Ideas will be recorded on sticky notes (I will write the notes for younger children) and the notes will be placed on the "Fish Lot" poster. We will discuss their thoughts and questions before I read my story aloud and we will return to the notes before the end of my visit.
S.T.E.A.M. Workshop (All Grades)
This make-and-take activity will incorporate the engineering design process focusing on one part of my story. Specific to the story, free lessons and resources will be included.
Are author visits to schools beneficial for students? YES! The National Literacy Trust published a report which indicates that author visits have a definite positive impact on children and young people’s reading skills, and their enjoyment and confidence in both reading and writing. The report found that pupils who had experienced an author visit that academic year were:
... twice as likely to read above the expected level for their age (31% vs 17%)
... more likely to enjoy reading (68% vs 47%) and enjoy writing (44% vs 32%)
... more likely to be highly confident in their reading (37% vs 25%) and writing (22% vs 17%)
In addition to providing positive impacts on students' reading and writing abilities, author visits can have more generalized benefits. A visit from a local author can inspire and empower students to follow their own dreams of becoming a writer. It can also humanize the process of successful writing and simply make the students feel special about an author taking the time to make an appearance.
Please contact me for more information and pricing details if you decide to proceed with a potential visit. If you have any questions or concerns about being able to fund a visit, check out How to Pay for an Author Visit, How to Afford an Author Visit, and 35 Ways to Fund Author Visits.