tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post4279377535102991956..comments2023-09-27T02:48:37.863-05:00Comments on <b>BookMoot</b>: School VisitsCamillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422449200792287901noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-88530047586909735882008-07-31T08:23:00.000-05:002008-07-31T08:23:00.000-05:00This is a truly useful, funny, fresh post. THANK Y...This is a truly useful, funny, fresh post. THANK YOU!!!Laurelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02281939220961347737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-26441999016417122492008-02-15T15:56:00.000-06:002008-02-15T15:56:00.000-06:00Camille,This is great advice. Thanks for posting.Camille,<BR/><BR/>This is great advice. Thanks for posting.Varian Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721093323759617762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-85853795519670539162008-02-13T08:51:00.000-06:002008-02-13T08:51:00.000-06:00No Don,You are not being paranoid. You were being ...No Don,<BR/>You are not being paranoid. You were being kind but you are absolutely right to deflect hugs.<BR/><BR/>One thing I've used and also seen authors do is step back and offer to high 5 kids. The only problem with that is then EVERYONE wants to slap your hand and there are always kids who want to break your hand as they smack it. I also shake hands sometimes if it is a small group.<BR/><BR/>It is entirely appropriate to thank a child for offering but then tell them you can't hug them. I usually add, "But,I salute you..." and give them the Vulcan Live Long and Prosper salute. That's just me, I'm a trekker. Sometimes I bow to them or give them a "thumbs up."<BR/><BR/>That way you don't risk you hands and you don't have to spend the next break briskly scrubbing with antibacterial soap--although just being in a room with kids makes that a good idea anyway.<BR/><BR/>What the kids are really after, whether it is a hug or a high five or even eye contact, is the individual attention from you, especially if they have enjoyed and connected with your presentation which, it sounds like, they really did.Camillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10422449200792287901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-13819797034200994692008-02-12T22:53:00.000-06:002008-02-12T22:53:00.000-06:00At my school visit last week, I had a very differe...At my school visit last week, I had a very different and somewhat uncomfortable experience. After I finished presenting to about 200 first, second and third graders, one little girl approached me for a hug. Not wanting to brush her away in front of everyone, I hugged her. But then I was swarmed by about 20 girls, arms out, wanting hugs. I was extremely uncomfortable with this, but, not sure what to do, I did in fact hug each and every one of them. The teacher asked me if I had this happen before, and no, it was a first time. Perfectly innocent, but these days, you have to be extra careful. Was I being too paranoid?Don Tate IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07616878926865387399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-50722900387698341662008-02-07T10:41:00.000-06:002008-02-07T10:41:00.000-06:00This is a great post, Camille! I just linked to it...This is a great post, Camille! I just linked to it from my blog. I have another question: how do authors get invited to DO more school visits? Do you have any suggestions about that? Thanks so much for all the great info here!Laini Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14064837312936707024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-75452210457252435242008-01-31T12:03:00.000-06:002008-01-31T12:03:00.000-06:00Mama Bookmoot does not recall Mr. Van Allsburg vis...Mama Bookmoot does not recall Mr. Van Allsburg visiting entling no. 1's school. I think you might be recalling Peter Catalanotto, another wonderful author, illustrator.Camillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10422449200792287901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-74819600222640717422008-01-30T23:15:00.000-06:002008-01-30T23:15:00.000-06:00bc- I wish everyone had an opportunity to talk in ...bc- <BR/>I wish everyone had an opportunity to talk in front of a class of kids. I think it would provide real insight into the challenges and pressures that go along with teaching.Camillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10422449200792287901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-50839232427448491542008-01-30T20:58:00.000-06:002008-01-30T20:58:00.000-06:00I congratulate you on being able to do this. Visi...I congratulate you on being able to do this. Visiting classes in schools is incredibly hard to do. I look out at the class and my heart freezes up. I am just not good in front of 30 kids in a classroom showing them books with the teacher looking at me. I find it far more difficult than adults.Book Calendarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12549140171632794868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-4759800038645276892008-01-30T13:56:00.000-06:002008-01-30T13:56:00.000-06:00Entling No. 1 remembers almost all of her author v...Entling No. 1 remembers almost all of her author visits in elementary school. Your mention of students drawing along with the presenter reminded me of the visit of "Commander Mark" (Kistler) when I was in first grade. We all got to draw in 3D along with him while he demonstrated on his transparent white board, which was SO cool. To this day, I can draw a waving American flag and 3D box only because of his presentation.<BR/><BR/>Mama Bookmoot probably remembers better than me - didn't we also get a visit from Chris Van Allsburg? I have a vague memory of standing in line to pick up my autographed copy of The Polar Express.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-54083879629590540902008-01-29T17:20:00.000-06:002008-01-29T17:20:00.000-06:00Sara and Phil--I am happy if this is useful. The i...Sara and Phil--<BR/>I am happy if this is useful. The important thing is to take charge. Kids need the assurance that someone is 'driving the bus.' Phil definitely "drives the bus."<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Kathy--<BR/>Your comment made me ponder...you are correct, with the exception of Michael Dooling, I don't think I ever had someone at my school who I had not seen or had a recommendation for. <BR/><BR/>Dooling's website had some very authentic and sincere reviews and ... well... being the history lover that I am, I was sold on his three corner hat.<BR/>Although, now that I think of it, I contacted him because Dan Gutman told me about him. See? Word of mouth. <BR/><BR/>Last year at TLA, I ended up in a conversation with a stranger, while standing in a signing line, about Phil Bildner's high energy presentations. I note he is back in Texas again. Word of mouth.Camillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10422449200792287901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-12907292758938084522008-01-29T17:10:00.000-06:002008-01-29T17:10:00.000-06:00Kris, that is an interesting question. I would th...Kris, that is an interesting question. I would think a librarian would be very interested to have someone "local" available to talk with the kids. <BR/><BR/>Have you got a good idea of what your presentation would be like? If so, you might do a "flyer" listing the kinds of things that you will be sharing, such as story telling, the writing process, creative writing, etc. It wouldn't hurt to show an alignment with with state curriculum requirements. <BR/><BR/>Make it look good professional and try mailing it to the librarian and / or PTA folks. Sometimes it is the PTA that helps pay for these events. <BR/><BR/>I also get a chance to meet authors at the state library convention. Is there a story teller group that gets a booth there that you could throw in with or does your publisher have booth and would they let you appear there with information about your author presentations? <BR/><BR/>Sometimes librarians want the reassurance that someone else has seen your "act." You might consider teaming with the public library this summer. My county library offers programs in the afternoon throughout the summer in conjunction with the summer reading program. If you are willing to volunteer your services it would be good experience and give you a reference. <BR/><BR/>Our local SCBWI also has a list of authors who are interested in doing school visits. I referred a parent from a local charter school to their website not long ago. They couldn't afford travel costs for an author visit and were looking for someone local. <BR/><BR/>I wish you the best of luck.Camillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10422449200792287901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-11906390913899999202008-01-29T11:49:00.000-06:002008-01-29T11:49:00.000-06:00Oh, this was good, good, GOOD. I don't think I've ...Oh, this was good, good, GOOD. I don't think I've read anything better (or more practical) about school visits. I'm printing it out right now.<BR/><BR/>Seriously, don't you think you could do a workshop on this? I know I'd book you into a conference if I could!Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12225998457253574928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-6650382940689530682008-01-28T13:24:00.000-06:002008-01-28T13:24:00.000-06:00GREAT post! I am hosting an author this week and ...GREAT post! I am hosting an author this week and while he is not well know, he is FABULOUS - he is known as the "reading Guitar Man" and he sings songs about reading with the kids and then he does a little storytelling. I was just telling him at lunch that I never have an author unless I have either seent hem in person OR I have a trusted media specialist/librarian friend that has something good to say.<BR/><BR/>And I second the comment you have about Jack Gantos - he was a teacher at Emerson College when I was there in the early 90's, I never could get into his children's lit class, and told him this when I saw him speak at a conference a few years ago!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03844867871179578637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-6692748945993950292008-01-27T18:17:00.000-06:002008-01-27T18:17:00.000-06:00Printing this out and bookmarking it. Wonderful in...Printing this out and bookmarking it. Wonderful information. As an author (though not so young) who has spent time behind a lonely table hidden in the back of a bookstore, school visits are something I'd like to pursue. Unfortunately, I haven't had much luck with our local schools. I've talked to librarians, receptionists, teachers, and administrators and nobody quite knows what to do with me. "What exactly do you want to do?" they ask. Apparently author visits are few and far between on this island. If you have any opinions/advice on how best to make the initial contact/arrangements for authors, I'd be thrilled to read it! Besides name recognition, what sells you on an author?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-1027645299841173502008-01-27T09:59:00.000-06:002008-01-27T09:59:00.000-06:00Outstanding, Camille!Outstanding, Camille!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-12771901381740882742008-01-26T22:41:00.000-06:002008-01-26T22:41:00.000-06:00Gail,Wow, how interesting that you did take a stor...Gail,<BR/>Wow, how interesting that you did take a storytelling workshop and it helped your presentation. <BR/><BR/>Authors talk about the revision process because it is directly applicable to part of the writing curriculum and teachers like that. <BR/><BR/>The sight of a manuscript with post-it notes and markings is very impressive but it would also be interesting to highlight a specific change and explain why it was reworked to improve the story. I'm not a writer so I don't know if that is actually possible but it would be thought provoking to be able to talk specifics, especially if it can be done with humor. Crummel talks about her editor, "the little red pen."<BR/><BR/>One thing that Gantos does that is so helpful, is he gives concrete examples of how kids can take weird stuff that they record in their journals and turn it into a story. Since they've just heard some truly wacky stories, it makes sense. <BR/><BR/>It is hard to remember a lecture but we all remember a story.Camillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10422449200792287901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7245036.post-57322046465382365452008-01-26T19:53:00.000-06:002008-01-26T19:53:00.000-06:00It was great reading this today because just this ...It was great reading this today because just this past week I was offered a day of work in a school during the first week of March. My first day in a school after a very, very long dry spell.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you regarding "Do Not Instruct." However, when I first started talking in schools in the 90s I was always being asked by teachers to talk about revising or to bring in all my drafts. I also agree with you about not going into how a manuscript becomes a book. Yet so many writers talk about that.<BR/><BR/>Your "Tell Me A Story" suggestion is a good one. My school presentations improved (for me, anyway)after I took a storytelling workshop at a writers' conference. Treating the presentation as a story instead of a "talk" is much easier for the presenter, and I hope more engaging for the audience. I think we all understand the concept of story. Lecture, not so much.Gail Gauthierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01673131515563387968noreply@blogger.com