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 Tips and Tricks for the Writerly Road

KidLit PROS share school visit secrets to move You to the head of class

9/7/2016

20 Comments

 
Part 2 of a two-part School Visit Series
One of the most rewarding parts of a Kid Lit writing career is visiting children in schools and libraries to get them excited about reading.  However, tackling such events can be daunting at first.
​
In this second of a two-part series about author visits, you'll meet educators and children’s authors who share their top tips to help you create THE perfect author event.  F
rom Skype-ing to book signing, these pros have you covered.
Kid Lit Pros Share School Visit Tips - catmichaelswrwiter.com
In case you missed it, here's Part 1: 
​
Follow These 6 Steps to Ace Your Next Kid Lit Author School Visit 
This is an updated version of my school visit series that first ran in 2014

lise chase

Author, Illustrator
Facebook
  • Customize accessories:
Lise commissioned a tote with screen-printed illustrations on both sides from her Wally and Warren book series. The bag looks professional and has lots of pockets to keep everything she needs at her fingertips when she steps into the classroom. 
  • ​Develop kid-friendly toys:
To make her books come alive, Lise found plush toy animals that match characters from The Adventures of Wally and Warren Series.  Her stuffies are huge kid magnets.
Kid Lit Pros Share School Visit Tips - catmichaelswrwiter.com
Lise Chase: Create customize materials; host coloring contests
  • Run grade-wide coloring contests with printables based on your book: 
​Vetted by teachers, Lise selects one lucky student to win a gift basket containing her books and plush character animals.

nancy kunhardt lodge

Artist, Author 
Website 
  • Search for author visits on YouTube to watch and learn from established writers, like Kate Dicamillo and Emily Gravett, as they interact with children.
  • Engage kids using technology.  Nancy passes around a tablet for kids to add comments or ask questions real-time.  She also posts student letters on social media.
Kid Lit Pros Share School Visit Tips - catmichaelswrwiter.com
Nancy Kunhardt Lodge: Encourage students to connect after the visit

Kentrell Martin

Author
Website 
  • Contact the media specialist or librarian because they are typically the ones that make the visits happen
  • Send pre-order forms with book information and prices to the school in advance (at least a week early).  In addition to seeking his books on site, Kentrell donates free books to schools, especially those serving low-income areas.
  • Engage kids with interactive activities that reflect your book theme and  characters.  Kentrell's character, Shelly, uses sign language to communicate with her brother, so Kentrell teaches kids to sign.
Kid Lit Pros Share School Visit Tips - catmichaelswrwiter.com
Kentrell Martin: Teaches sign language like his book characters use

carmela dutra

Photographer, Author, Illustrator
Website
  • Meet with teachers to customize your visit program and learn what works best for each class.
  • Use activities to encourage creativity, like coloring pages with a partly completed story to encourage students to use their imagination and creativity to complete the story.  Ask children to brainstorm ideas for your next book.
  • Take lots of pictures, but first check school policy for photographing children.  And check out tips from professional photographer Carmela for taking great photos of kids in schools HERE
Kid Lit Pros Share School Visit Tips - catmichaelswrwiter.com
Carmela Dutra: Meet with teachers to customize programs

​Tracey M. Cox

Author, Illustrator
Website
  • Be yourself:  Children can see straight through someone being fake.  Be honest and sincere with them and you will both walk away a winner
  • Have something to offer:  Be it with presentations or freebies, have something for everyone, like coloring pages, bookmarks, flyers with author pictures and information. Plus, be flexible with your presentation.  It doesn’t always go as planned. So have a back up even for your back up.
  • SMILE!
Kid Lit Pros Share School Visit Tips - catmichaelswrwiter.com
Tracey M. Cox: Be yourself and smile

​Rhonda Paglia

Former teacher, Author/Illustrator
Website
Tips for KidLit Author Visits - catmichaelswriter.comRhonda Paglia (L): engage kids, staff (R)
Hold a book signing: Meeting a REAL LIVE author is a big deal in the life of a kid!  You have an opportunity to create a  favorite school memory that children will cherish.

Have plenty of books on hand and schedule one-on-one time with your readers to sign and personalize your books. 

Find the Literacy Coach and engage the kids: The most important part of Rhonda's day was the excitement over her books, their characters, and the imaginary world in which the characters lived. She created custom printables and arrived dressed in costume on the school's pajama day.  She brought her characters to life with activities and engaged students as part of the adventure.  The school's literacy coach, Rhonda's contact person, helped Rhonda create the magic.

K. Lamb

Author
​Website 
  • Take questions. Kids come up with the best questions that can  keep you on your toes!  Use this valuable time to answer their questions and encourage them.
  • Be a mentor. Ask students what interests them. What are they reading? Are they working on any writing projects? You can make a difference!
  • Use Skype to reach virtual classrooms anywhere. 
    Kristen shows you how to use Skype in the classroom HERE
​
Picture
K. Lamb: Offer Skype visits, Q&As to encourage literacy

Jill cofksy

Educator, Professional Voice Actor
Website 
Put your books into the hands of as many classroom teachers, literacy teachers, and/or librarians as you can before your visit.  Get  school staff excited, so they can talk up your visit.  

Have printable teacher resources on your website, or send them to the school. 

If allowed, send book order forms in advance, so you can sign ahead of time and distribute autographed copies  during your visit.  Have additional forms to send home after your visit for others who realized how much they would love a copy of your book, too! 
Consider the age of your audience and plan interactive activities to keep students involved and excited. 
  • Choose students to act out parts of your story.
  • Hand out paper and pencils and (with the help of your illustrator) give them a step-by-step tutorial on how to draw your main character. 
  • ​Teach students that catchy, repetitive phrase from your story they can chant every time it appears in your book as you read it. They’ll keep chanting for weeks! 
Picture
Jill Cofsky: Ask teachers to read book aloud before you visit

Rosie Russell

Author/Illustrator, Former Educator
Website 
  • Avoid last-minute scrambling that can take a toll on nerves: determine the number of handouts and identify equipment you need ahead of time (table, flip chart, white board, etc.).
  • Leave extra sets of material and giveaways for kids who were absent.  Drop off another set, plus your business card, in the teachers’ lounge.
  • Wear comfortable clothes, shoes, and take water! 
Kid Lit Pros Share School Visit Tips - catmichaelswrwiter.com
Rosie Russell: Avoid last-minute scrambling with front-end planning

Rebecca Lyndsey

Author, Artist, Educator
​Website
  • Start small and focus on one grade or small group. 
  • Practice narrating your book before your visit.  Use different voices to bring your characters to life. Make sure your voice is strong and projects well.  
  • As you read aloud, make sure students can see your book and illustrations.  Consider projecting your book onto a big screen as you move to a larger group or assembly.
Kid Lit Pros Share School Visit Tips - catmichaelswrwiter.com
Rebecca Lyndsey: Start small; project big

Lots to consider, but YOU​ CAN DO IT!  Most important: enjoy your time with young readers.  You'll be engaging young minds and getting kids excited about reading.  And you will be amazing!

In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this author visit series where I share my success tips:
Follow These 6 Steps to Ace Your Next Kid Lit Author School Visit 

Your turn: 
What author visit strategies help you succeed?  Which tips will you add to your writerly tool kit?  As a teacher, parent or librarian, what do YOU want to see in a school visit?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section, so we can all learn and grow together.

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20 Comments

Follow these 6 steps to ace your next Kid Lit author school visit

9/1/2016

4 Comments

 
Part 1 of a two-part School Visit Series
​

Even with two decades behind chalkboards and podiums, I was nervous thinking about visiting elementary schools as a children’s book author.  But after meeting nearly 600 children in grades K-4 in two states and in three days, my confidence is restored.   

In this first of two posts about Kid Lit authors in the classroom, I share six steps to help you ace your visits.  Next week, my writing and teaching friends stop by to offer top tips for moving your school event to the head of the class.
6 Steps for Acing Author Classroom Visits - catmichaelswriter.com
This is an update to an original post 2014 September on authors in schools.

1.  FIND ‘EM
Network
It’s easier to do classroom visits if you have kids attending elementary or pre-school; more more challenging to get your foot in the door if you don’t.  And shy authors, take heart: it takes just one successful visit experience to spread the word about you to other schools and teachers. 
 
Personal connections open doors.  Ask everyone (family, friends, neighbors, work colleagues, clubs, church/synagogue, etc.) to share  school contacts, and get consent to use their name for introductions.  
 
If you can’t find contacts, do an Internet search to identify media specialists in a target school.  Media specialist is a term often used today for librarian, and you know how librarians love to promote literacy.
6 Steps for Acing Author Classroom Visits - catmichaelswriter.com
Shake your network to uncover school contacts
​Brainstorm
Outline a 15-30 minute program of age-appropriate presentations and interactive activities you could offer.  Build on your strengths as a writer or artist, and always be mindful of the development needs of your young audience. (After you make contact, teachers and librarians are eager to help you customize your presentation to align with their Common Core goals.)
 
Connect
E-mail e-mail query letters to your leads, referencing mutual contact.  Suggest visit scenarios from your program outline and include links to book previews and author sites on social media that showcase your accomplishments and professional background.  

Keep track of who you contact.  It's easy to forget.

To fee or not to fee
The debate continues: place monetary value on authors’ time OR offer cost-free programs to budget-strapped schools to  promote literacy.  

I don’t charge for my visits.  

Instead, I ask teachers and staff to follow me on social media and/or subscribe to my newsletter. 

Many Kid Lit authors realize a fine income by selling book on site during their visit. Check school policy about this practice, but whatever you do, make it easy for teachers and parents.
2.  BEFORE THE VISIT
Confirm expectations
Save angst by ensuring everyone understands who’s doing what, when and where before you step in the classroom.
  • Send a pre-visit contract or letter to confirm details (especially if you charge a fee) and flesh out your presentation proposal
    • Ask teachers/librarians for feedback to customize your visit
    • Clarify school policies:
      • Visitor check in (At one school, I couldn't figure out how to buzz in using its sophisticated door lock technology!)
      • Photography
      • On-site book sales
      • Giveaways
    • Confirm student ages and numbers:
      ​Small classroom talk or assembly-sized presentations?  Wiggly little ones or older kids with longer attention spans?
  • Offer a free copy of your book and ask teachers, librarians read the it aloud before your visit.  Older students can brainstorm a list of questions for your Q&A.
  • Many authors have a dedicated webpage with visit information.  You’ve got one, too, right?  Here's my author visit page.
6 Steps for Acing Author Classroom Visits - catmichaelswriter.comKids love color sheets, book marks, character cards
​Bling
Prepare plenty of fun, colorful freebies for each child, like bookmarks, rack cards or coloring pages.

Add your contact information on this material so parents and staff can find you once the day is done.  If it’s okay with school policy, I also draw names to give one a child in each grade a signed copy of my book.

3.  DURING THE VISIT
  • Arrive early
    Have written directions AND GPS coordinates (because you will be nervous, stuck in traffic and/or lose bars), and check in at the front office.  Most schools have you sign in, wear a badge, and assign someone to show you around.
  • Have extra copies of everything
    Bring EVERYTHING… books, business cards, pencils, bling, etc.  I triple back-up my pressie on a portable USB drive and cloud folder, plus I print 8x10 copies of my presentation in case of a tech glitch. I also keep a materials list of materials because travel trauma and adrenalin kick in, and I lose track of things.
  • Check the Tech
    Whether you use yours or the school's equipment, be sure those gadgets work. I always run a tech check and request an on-site tech person to help me. 
  • Seek the Library
    Librarians/Media Specialists love authors: be sure to meet them and donate a signed copy of your book to the library.
4.  KID CONTROL

It’s a given: kids don’t sit still, but you know that, right?  You'll win the over with your amazing presence and pressie.

  • Connect right away
​​Use personal experiences to make unique connections:
 
I love fourth grade because I was in fourth grade when I wrote my first story.
​

This tale is about a child who is in first grade….just like you!

  • Channel wiggles and giggles
Short bursts of activities keep kids hooked: the younger the child, the more bursts you need.

For instance, younger kids can interact with the story by moving appropriately to passages you read.

When reading about driving a car, I demonstrate by moving my hands around an imaginary wheel, and asking kids to stay seated and follow my moves until I tell them to stop.

When in doubt, ask an educator. I was apprehensive about a roleplaying activity, but after  asking for feedback, we settled on a ‘controlled’ role play.


​I played a main character from my book, and teachers selected children to come up and interact with me as that character.  It was a huge hit with the kids and a joy for me.
​
  • Manage behaviors
It’s great to see kids excited and having fun.  Most are angels, but a few will test you.  

After 20+ year’s experience working with children, I'm comfortable managing inappropriate behaviors as soon as they pop up.  My best tactic is the No-Nonsense Eyeball that sends a non-verbal message about the need to straighten up n*o*w.  

Another trick is to establish behavioral expectations by reinforcing kids who participate appropriately:

I love the way you’re sitting.

You're listening politely.  Will you be my helper?
​
Thanks for raising your hand.

What a brilliant answer!

If you're unsure about behaviors, teachers or librarians will step in.  (Yep, I still ask staff to stay in the room with me.) 
6 Steps for Acing Author Classroom Visits - catmichaelswriter.com
Don't show faces without parental permission
  • Take Lots of Photos
​​Nothing beats a powerful image of an author in the classroom.  But be careful posting photos of kids you meet.  I don’t show children's faces on my sites unless I have a written okay from parents.  Some parents even deny permission to photograph their child, but teachers will identify those students for you.   

Instead of faces, shoot the tops and backs of those sweet heads or a close up of hands writing or drawing.   Be prepared for at least one lil darlin’ to turn around and face you as you click your perfect shot -- LOL!  

Arrange for school staff to snap you while you’re working with students, and bring an easy-to-use smart phone or point-and-shoot camera for them to use.  To add interest, capture building façades and iconic visuals like art projects, libraries, or bulletin boards.
​
6 Steps for Acing Author Classroom Visits - catmichaelswriter.com
Share iconic school images that highlight your visit
5.  CLOSE
​
  • Say Thanks 
​Make time to thank students and staff.  Energy and enthusiasm is highest at the close, so this is the perfect time to let them know you welcome return visits.

  • Don’t Forget  Giveaways
I was so excited after one visit, I  neglected my leave-behinds until teachers kindly reminded me.

  • Add Your Call to Action
​An author visit is a chance to build relationships, and this is the time to encourage students and staff to join your tribe.  

Encourage kids, with the help of an adult, to send you drawings, story ideas, photos of them reading your book, etc., or ask their parents to subscribe to your newsletter.  They know how to stay in touch because your contact information is on your giveaways, right?
6.  FOLLOW UP
​​


​Almost done!

Demonstrating appreciation goes a long way to augment your professionalism and raise your visibility.
  • Send thank-you notes

Write a note to your contacts and school staff, and add any testimonials you receive to your author website or social media.
​
  • Consider a video highlight
I include a video of visit highlights using approved photos (See step 4).  You’ll find free software to make the vids, like native i-Movie for OS/Moviemaker for Windows, cloud-based Animoto, or any of a ton of mobile apps like, Ripl and Shadow Puppet. 

Once again, include your call to action and social media links in the vid's outro. 
Picture
What can you add to these strategies for school visit success?
​Congratulations!  

You finished your first round of visits.  Now sit back and relax. 

But don't rest too long.  It's already time to start planning your next  visit.  
 
Coming Next in this Blog Series 
PART 2: 10 Kid Lit Pros Share School Visit Secrets  
Next week, Kid Lit authors and elementary educators drop by to share school visit secrets that will move you to the head of the class.

But before you go, don't be shy.  What tips could you add to these steps?  And what's your take on charging a fee for author classroom visits? 

I love learning new things and am grateful to you for sharing ideas.

Thanks for visiting.  Don’t miss a post!
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4 Comments

    CAT MICHAELS

    The writing journey is a long one.  And with all that social media and technology in the mix, it's easy to feel  overloaded. To make it easier, I share angst-saving tips found along my way. I'm still learning, so please join me. Let's travel this writing journey and learn together.


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  • Welcome!
  • Cat's Books
    • Just Between Sam and Me
    • Sweet T and the Turtle Team
    • Finding Fuzzy: A You-Decide Tale of a Lost Friend
    • Sweet T and the North Wind
    • The Magical Aquarium
  • Cat's Corner: Blogging About Books, Writing, and More
  • Author 101: Tips & Tricks for a Writer's Journey
  • Meet Cat
  • Author Visits
  • FREE STUFF in the Kids' Zone
  • Book Review Guidelines
  • KidLit Book Reviews
  • Contact Cat