SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES
Classroom presentations (P) vary from 30 minutes to one hour, depending on the student age-level (K-12th grade) and school's needs. I prefer groups of no more than 60 at a time so I can involve and interact with all participants but can do larger group assemblies, as well. I am kid-friendly and energetic, use audiovisuals and bring Show and Tell items, including samples of my childhood writing. Writing workshops (W) vary from one hour to a half-day session, are for one classroom at a time, and can be tailored to your class/school needs. For local-area schools I am available to come for writing workshops on an ongoing basis for classrooms or after-school programs.
YOU TOO CAN BE A WRITER! (P)
This inspiring program encourages all students to be readers and writers: the genesis of ideas; brainstorming a story; first drafts; why revision matters; making a dummy or paste-up; final drafts; one author's writing process. Includes a student writing exercise, Q and A, and teacher handout on writing resources for young writers. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades K - 5
RESEARCH DETECTIVES (W or P)
How is a writer like a detective? What clues do long-ago people leave that tell us about their lives? Students learn about primary and secondary sources, artifacts, archives. Using the story of Priscilla and the Hollyhocks, students follow the author's investigation of a young slave girl's historical trail. What tools are available to research detectives and how can students use those tools in their own writing? In workshops, students will choose an era of history and brainstorm a story about their own historical character. Teacher handouts include a research exercise and fiction writing assignment based on a primary source; definitions page; author's writing process; resource list for young writers. Grades 5 - 8
JUST IMAGINE! (W)
Where do ideas come from? This workshop in creativity gives concrete, literature-based examples of where ideas come from with interactive, hands-on activities. Students create their own written work about a "memory object" in an exercise that teachers can build on. Handouts for teachers to use at their leisure. This workshop can be tailored to connect to the current class curriculum. Grades 3 - 5
PRISCILLA AND THE HOLLYHOCKS (P)
Explore the world of a young slave girl in the early 1800s. Discover "the story behind the story:" how did the author find out about real-life Priscilla? What clues did Priscilla and Basil Silkwood leave about their lives? May include dressing up to act out the story, a Jeopardy game (categories: Priscilla's story, Slavery, Flowers, Cherokees) and making tissue paper hollyhock dolls. Grades 2 - 5
SHY MAMA'S HALLOWEEN (P)
Through the story of one Russian immigrant family, students will understand what immigrants past and present face as they adjust to their new homes. They will explore the courage it takes for someone to move to a new country, brainstorm ways they can befriend new students and immigrants, discover how Halloween is a uniquely American holiday, learn how this picture book evolved from idea to publication, and get an overview of the publishing process.
Grades K - 5
IMMIGRATION (P or W)
What’s it like for children to move from one country to another? Students will learn important definitions about immigration while looking at Shy Mama’s Halloween and consider how they might feel were they to emigrate. They will also create their own immigrant character in a writing exercise that teachers can continue later and/or expand upon. Grades 2-5
THE CHEROKEE TRAIL OF TEARS (P or W)
Why were almost 16,000 Cherokee Indians forced to walk over 800 miles from their homeland in the southeastern United States to Indian Territory in 1838? Why is this experience called The Trail of Tears? Anne will personalize this history lesson with information on Jane Bushyhead, the 14 year old Cherokee girl who is the protagonist of my Young Adult novel-in-progress. Workshops will involve students in creating their own retelling of the Trail of Tears from different viewpoints. Grades 5 - 12
RESIDENCY IN WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION (4-6 weeks)
Would you like your class to learn research skills and critical thinking as they immerse themselves in a social studies/writing project? This residency includes a field trip to a local historical society and/or oldest town cemetery, 4-6 weeks of presentations and directed writing concluding with an Author's Tea featuring students reading their individual works of historical fiction. Students will delve into a specific period of history (teacher choice) as they learn about characterization, plot, setting, choosing titles and other author choices. (One hour/week.) Grades 4 - 12
References on any of these programs available on request.
Classroom presentations (P) vary from 30 minutes to one hour, depending on the student age-level (K-12th grade) and school's needs. I prefer groups of no more than 60 at a time so I can involve and interact with all participants but can do larger group assemblies, as well. I am kid-friendly and energetic, use audiovisuals and bring Show and Tell items, including samples of my childhood writing. Writing workshops (W) vary from one hour to a half-day session, are for one classroom at a time, and can be tailored to your class/school needs. For local-area schools I am available to come for writing workshops on an ongoing basis for classrooms or after-school programs.
YOU TOO CAN BE A WRITER! (P)
This inspiring program encourages all students to be readers and writers: the genesis of ideas; brainstorming a story; first drafts; why revision matters; making a dummy or paste-up; final drafts; one author's writing process. Includes a student writing exercise, Q and A, and teacher handout on writing resources for young writers. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades K - 5
RESEARCH DETECTIVES (W or P)
How is a writer like a detective? What clues do long-ago people leave that tell us about their lives? Students learn about primary and secondary sources, artifacts, archives. Using the story of Priscilla and the Hollyhocks, students follow the author's investigation of a young slave girl's historical trail. What tools are available to research detectives and how can students use those tools in their own writing? In workshops, students will choose an era of history and brainstorm a story about their own historical character. Teacher handouts include a research exercise and fiction writing assignment based on a primary source; definitions page; author's writing process; resource list for young writers. Grades 5 - 8
JUST IMAGINE! (W)
Where do ideas come from? This workshop in creativity gives concrete, literature-based examples of where ideas come from with interactive, hands-on activities. Students create their own written work about a "memory object" in an exercise that teachers can build on. Handouts for teachers to use at their leisure. This workshop can be tailored to connect to the current class curriculum. Grades 3 - 5
PRISCILLA AND THE HOLLYHOCKS (P)
Explore the world of a young slave girl in the early 1800s. Discover "the story behind the story:" how did the author find out about real-life Priscilla? What clues did Priscilla and Basil Silkwood leave about their lives? May include dressing up to act out the story, a Jeopardy game (categories: Priscilla's story, Slavery, Flowers, Cherokees) and making tissue paper hollyhock dolls. Grades 2 - 5
SHY MAMA'S HALLOWEEN (P)
Through the story of one Russian immigrant family, students will understand what immigrants past and present face as they adjust to their new homes. They will explore the courage it takes for someone to move to a new country, brainstorm ways they can befriend new students and immigrants, discover how Halloween is a uniquely American holiday, learn how this picture book evolved from idea to publication, and get an overview of the publishing process.
Grades K - 5
IMMIGRATION (P or W)
What’s it like for children to move from one country to another? Students will learn important definitions about immigration while looking at Shy Mama’s Halloween and consider how they might feel were they to emigrate. They will also create their own immigrant character in a writing exercise that teachers can continue later and/or expand upon. Grades 2-5
THE CHEROKEE TRAIL OF TEARS (P or W)
Why were almost 16,000 Cherokee Indians forced to walk over 800 miles from their homeland in the southeastern United States to Indian Territory in 1838? Why is this experience called The Trail of Tears? Anne will personalize this history lesson with information on Jane Bushyhead, the 14 year old Cherokee girl who is the protagonist of my Young Adult novel-in-progress. Workshops will involve students in creating their own retelling of the Trail of Tears from different viewpoints. Grades 5 - 12
RESIDENCY IN WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION (4-6 weeks)
Would you like your class to learn research skills and critical thinking as they immerse themselves in a social studies/writing project? This residency includes a field trip to a local historical society and/or oldest town cemetery, 4-6 weeks of presentations and directed writing concluding with an Author's Tea featuring students reading their individual works of historical fiction. Students will delve into a specific period of history (teacher choice) as they learn about characterization, plot, setting, choosing titles and other author choices. (One hour/week.) Grades 4 - 12
References on any of these programs available on request.