School Visits
Let’s get together
I love sharing my enthusiasm for books and reading to elementary school audiences and parents! I have options for classroom visits, assemblies, and literacy night events, both in-person and virtual.
Read on for a list of available presentations, then reach out via my contact form for pricing or to book a visit.
“You were amazing! Our 2nd grade teachers were so impressed with your presentation and activity. It was perfect and interesting and educational. You could make an entire business of doing author visits!”
“Your visits were wonderful and engaging, and I was deeply touched by your book. I teared up both times you read it, as I did the times I read it before. You have a gift. Thanks for sharing it with us!”
Story sparks
Where do stories come from? In this 30-minute classroom or virtual visit appropriate for grades 2-6, we’ll discuss story ideas, figurative language (metaphor and simile), and read My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon together. I’ll end by sharing a fun formula that will help each student generate a magical idea for a story of their own.
MEntal health assembly
This fun, interactive assembly introduces elementary students of all ages to “six simple secrets for better mental health.” We’ll read My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon and My Big Embarrassing Elephant together and identify the principles of emotional regulation that are found in the stories. Perfect for Green Ribbon Week or any school interested in social-emotional learning.
Cooking up a great ploT
In this 30-minute classroom or virtual visit appropriate for grades 3-9, I use a baking metaphor to introduce a five-step recipe for “cooking up” a great plot (conflict, introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion). We’ll read Rafa and the Wrong Legs (to be published in fall of 2024) together and identify each of the five ingredients in the story.
the Power of Picture Books
Who are picture books for? Everyone! This story-rich presentation delves deeply into the magic of picture books, sharing the tangible benefits babies, big kids, and even grown-ups experience when they read picture books. Perfect for a PTA Literacy Night or any mixed audience of adults and children.
Writing & Resistance
Shouldn’t writing be easier, if you’re doing it right? Absolutely not. In fact, “the more important an activity is to your soul's evolution, the more resistance you will feel to it,” says Stephen Pressfield in The War of Art. This 30-minute presentation shares tried-and-true tricks for overcoming the mental and emotional barriers that can keep writers and creatives from achieving their dreams.
Write Away: why journaling matters
Yes, your story matters. And I can prove it. In this 30-minute presentation, I discuss the importance of honoring your own vision, finding your own voice, and believing in the value of documenting the stories of your life. Great for family-history and memory-keeping audiences.
Pricing
20-minute Q&A: $100, whether in-person or virtual.
Classroom visit: $150, whether in-person or virtual.
Assembly: $250 for one / $400 for two on the same day. For Elementary schools, I recommend separating the student body into two assemblies, K–3rd and 4th–6th.
Half-Day Visit: $500 for up to 4 hours of classroom/library visits. $800 for a full day of visits.
* I offer discounted rates on all of the above for Jordan and Canyons School Districts.
Travel costs: $.65 per mile from Bluffdale, Utah. (No travel costs charged for schools in Salt Lake or Utah counties.)
