For more information and to talk about possible school visit dates,
you can use this link: www.hownowbooking.com/contact/
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 curriculum needs. I am kid-friendly and energetic, offering numerous learning style opportunities for participants. Writing workshops (W) for individual classes vary from one hour to a half-day session and can be tailored to your class/school’s needs. For Portland, Oregon area schools I am available for writing workshops on an ongoing basis for classrooms or after-school programs. If possible, I prefer groups of fewer than 60 students so I can involve and interact with everyone.
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
YOU TOO CAN BE AN ARTIST (P)
As they learn about the life of Ralph Fasanella (I’m Gonna Paint: Ralph Fasanella, Artist of the People) students will be inspired to find their own unique artistic style. They will learn about social realist artists, past and present, and how art can be social commentary on the world around them. Participants will create their own social realist work of art. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades 2-7
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 enslaved 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. Length and content depends upon grade. 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. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades 3 - 5
PRISCILLA AND THE HOLLYHOCKS (P)
Explore the world of a young enslaved 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? Includes dressing up to act out the story, a Jeopardy game (categories: Priscilla's story, Slavery, Flowers, Cherokees) and making tissue paper hollyhock dolls. Length and content depends upon grade. 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. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades K - 5
THE CHEROKEE TRAIL OF TEARS (P OR W)
Why were almost 16,000 Cherokees forced to walk over 800 miles from their homeland in the southeastern United States to Indian Territory (Arkansas) in 1838? Why is this experience called the Trail of Tears? Anne will personalize this history lesson with information about Jane Bushyhead, the 14-year-old Cherokee girl who is the protagonist of Words Spoken True (2025 publication). Workshops give students the opportunity to create their own retelling of the Trail of Tears from different viewpoints. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades 5-12
RESIDENCY IN WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION (4-6 weeks, one hour per week)
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 4-6 weeks of presentations and directed writing on individual student projects. Schools can also include a field trip to a local historical society and/or the oldest town cemetery plus an Author’s Tea featuring students reading their individual works of historical fiction. Students will delve into a teacher-chosen specific period of history as they learn about plot, characterization, setting, creating titles and other author choices. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades 4-12
you can use this link: www.hownowbooking.com/contact/
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 curriculum needs. I am kid-friendly and energetic, offering numerous learning style opportunities for participants. Writing workshops (W) for individual classes vary from one hour to a half-day session and can be tailored to your class/school’s needs. For Portland, Oregon area schools I am available for writing workshops on an ongoing basis for classrooms or after-school programs. If possible, I prefer groups of fewer than 60 students so I can involve and interact with everyone.
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
YOU TOO CAN BE AN ARTIST (P)
As they learn about the life of Ralph Fasanella (I’m Gonna Paint: Ralph Fasanella, Artist of the People) students will be inspired to find their own unique artistic style. They will learn about social realist artists, past and present, and how art can be social commentary on the world around them. Participants will create their own social realist work of art. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades 2-7
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 enslaved 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. Length and content depends upon grade. 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. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades 3 - 5
PRISCILLA AND THE HOLLYHOCKS (P)
Explore the world of a young enslaved 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? Includes dressing up to act out the story, a Jeopardy game (categories: Priscilla's story, Slavery, Flowers, Cherokees) and making tissue paper hollyhock dolls. Length and content depends upon grade. 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. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades K - 5
THE CHEROKEE TRAIL OF TEARS (P OR W)
Why were almost 16,000 Cherokees forced to walk over 800 miles from their homeland in the southeastern United States to Indian Territory (Arkansas) in 1838? Why is this experience called the Trail of Tears? Anne will personalize this history lesson with information about Jane Bushyhead, the 14-year-old Cherokee girl who is the protagonist of Words Spoken True (2025 publication). Workshops give students the opportunity to create their own retelling of the Trail of Tears from different viewpoints. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades 5-12
RESIDENCY IN WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION (4-6 weeks, one hour per week)
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 4-6 weeks of presentations and directed writing on individual student projects. Schools can also include a field trip to a local historical society and/or the oldest town cemetery plus an Author’s Tea featuring students reading their individual works of historical fiction. Students will delve into a teacher-chosen specific period of history as they learn about plot, characterization, setting, creating titles and other author choices. Length and content depends upon grade. Grades 4-12