AUTHOR VISITS
I love having the opportunity to offer children an experience where they learn something about themselves - like “I love writing!” or “My ideas have value!” or even, “Reading is fun!” The following options are culled from my extensive classroom experience creating and implementing arts integrated projects. I would love to inspire your students!
Here are some options!
Create A Tall Tale!
Connects to Language Arts and Social Studies Core Content!
Inspired by Calliope Kate and the Voice of the River
After a reading and discussion of Calliope Kate and the Voice of the River, along with a few historical American tall tale characters, students will observe how the tradition of tall tales connects to geography and culture. Using a creative worksheet, students will create their own tall tale character, including their geographic home, their job, their special abilities, their relationship with the ordinary people around them. Grades 1 and 2 will make a drawing of the character in their native setting for display and to introduce verbally to the class. Grades 3 and 4 will write their own Tall Tale.
OPTIONAL THREE SESSION WORKSHOP: Students make shadow puppets to perform their stories!
60 to 75 minute single classes varied for GRADES 1 - 4
Story & Rhythm Workshop
Inspired by The Snowman Waltz
This 30 minute presentation includes reading the book, then bringing to life the peaceful conflict resolution theme through the snowmen’s 1 - 2 - 3 waltz rhythm, contrasted with the penguins’ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 march! Music components tempo and dynamics are also addressed through movement and sound as the class is divided into waltzing snowmen and marching penguins who learn, then share, their steps.
An arts integrated, multi-sensory experience, incorporating literacy goals, rhythm making, and movement, engaging learners of all kinds. Connects to Music Education goals to understand: rhythm, tempo, and dynamics.
30 minute single class visit for for GRADES Pre-K, Kindergarten, and First. For large groups or schools, preferable to schedule multiple 30 minute sessions.
Tell YOUR Story! - Creative Writing Workshops
Story Building, Sentence by Sentence
Karen works with a single class, leading students grades one through four through an effective process for story building with emphasis on sequence, sentence, plot, and staying on topic. Students choose a real life experience - anything from making cookies with Grandma to a trip to the beach. Using as many sticky notes as needed, they write one sentence on each note, building the story in easily rearrangeable sequence, to create a story scroll. Off-topic notes can be saved for another story, and event sequence is easily corrected.
Writing is inspired not only by the opportunity to share individual life experiences, but also as intrigued by the length of each scroll! 75 minute single class visit Grades 1 to 4
Perk Up the Plot
Build an exciting story by giving your main character plenty of problems! This template based story building workshop leads students to create a single main character with a goal they desperately want. Via the template, the character tries and fails several times before succeeding in achieving their goal. The classroom developed process helps students generate ideas and add complexity and depth to their writing.
75 minute single class visit grades 2 to 4
Storytime/Q&A with mini-workshop
This presentation includes a reading of one book, followed by individual drawing of a favorite scene to share, and time for Q&A. 30 minutes
• Some of the featured Czech style marionettes visit for Calliope Kate and the Voice of the River!
NEW ORLEANS AND JEFFERSON PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS: I would love to visit classes grades 2 - 5 to lead tall tale writing workshops connected to both Social Studies and Language Arts learning goals! These are FREE visits. Some book orders appreciated.
Schools outside of this area:
• Title I schools are eligible for free visits.
• Classes who order 30 or more copies of my books are eligible for free visits, with proof of purchase. Copies must be ordered prior to the scheduled event.
• Teachers who are using my books in the classroom are eligible for free 20-minute Storytime/Q&A sessions
FEES OUTSIDE OF NEW ORLEANS AREA
Full day: $600, includes 4 workshops up to 75 minutes each. Full day visits include “lunch with the author” for a smaller group, like a book club, and a book signing if desired.
Half day: $400, includes 2 workshops up to 75 minutes each.
Single workshop: $250, up to 75 minutes.
Storytime/Q&A with mini-workshop: $100, up to 30 minutes, or free with purchase of 10 or more books.