How you can move to the head of the class: Tips for KidLit School Visit

UPDATE:
It's the end of August in North Carolina, and schools here and everywhere are gearing up for a new term.  As a children's book authors, it's also the season to gear up and reconnect with students, educators, media specialists and authors.  I edited and added new content  for this first of a five-part series (accessible now by clicking on the titles below) about authors in the classroom.  You'll find tips from my years in the classroom and advice from other writers and teachers for moving your author school visit to the head of the class.

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After two decades behind the chalkboard with kids or on the podium with adults, I was still nervous about venturing into elementary schools for a KidLit author visit. 

It was a tall order: get students excited about reading, wow teachers and librarians with dynamite learning experiences, and generate interest in my books without a hard sell.  No pressure!  However, after visiting  600 children in grades K-4 in three states and in three days, my confidence is back. 

I forgot how exciting it is to be in the classroom!  Being with the kids is the shot of magic elixir that reminds me why I write.  I am over the moon when they share their ending toFinding Fuzzy.  And I melt into a puddle when a shy first grader pulls out a notebook to show me her stories.  I wish I had more time to encourage them all.

In this first of four  posts about authors in the classroom,  I walk you through a five-stage process, from pre-visit to follow up, to offer ideas to add to your writerly tool kit.
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Tips for Kid Lit Author School Visits  
Part 1 of a 4-part series 
PART 2:  Kid Lit Pros Share Their Top School Visit Tips  
PART 3:  Five Tips for Photographing Kids in the Classroom
PART 4:  Giveaways on a Shoestring Budget

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1.  FIND ‘EM     
 Network
If you don’t have kids in your life orbit, the best way to get into schools is through personal connections.  Ask everyone (family, friends, neighbors, work colleagues, book club, etc.) to identify school contacts they know, and get consent to use their name in an introduction. 

Brainstorm
Outline a 30-60 minute interactive program and age-appropriate activities you’re comfortable about offering. Build on your strengths as a writer and presenter, but be mindful of the needs of your target audience.  

If you’re comfortable with technology, think about offering virtual visits through Skype of Google Hangouts.  Most schools have a dedicated librarian or technical specialist who can help with cyber visits.

Many authors develop an exhaustive list of educational curricula that link to their presentations.  I do base activities along students' developmental levels and teacher feedback; however, I’m not as detailed as these writers: 
Eiry Reese Thomas
Picture Book of the Month 

Connect
E-mail query letters to your leads, referencing mutual contact.  Suggest visit scenarios from your program outline and send links to book previews/reviews and website/blog/Facebook page to showcase your professional background.

To fee or not to fee
Decision time!  The debate is on about putting a monetary value on authors’ time versus offering cost-free programs to budget-strapped schools.  


I didn’t charge a fee for my visits, but I’ll likely request mileage or a modest honorarium to cover expenses for future visits.  

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2.  BEFORE THE VISIT 

Confirm expectations
Save angst down the road by establishing mutual expectations from the start. It’s fine to deviate, but it’s wise to have a starting point. 

• Send a pre-visit letter to confirm details
• Invite teachers/librarians to give you feedback to customize your visit
• Clarify school policies:  checking in;  photography; selling books in school;  giveaways
• Confirm student ages and numbers:   Small groups versus assembly-sized presentations?  Primary grades, with shorter attention spans and developing reading skills vs. upper-elementary kids, who sit still longer and write flowing paragraphs?
• Determine if children will read your book before you visit.  

• Many authors have a dedicated page on their website or blog that summarizes school visit offerings.​

         

Giveaways
Create, produce giveaways (bookmarks, rack cards, etc.) on a shoestring budget. 

Stay Tuned ...
More about budget-friendly giveaways in part 4 of this school visit series.

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School art designed around computer parts

Cat ears, stuffies help kids role play story endings

3.  DURING THE VISIT
Arrive early
Have directions in hand and on GPS (because you will be nervous and/or stuck in traffic), and check in at the front office to wait for someone to show you around.

Bring extra copies 
Bring EVERYTHING....books, business cards, giveaways, etc. (More about giveaways later in this series).  Have back-ups on a portable usb drive or Dropbox/Google Drive folder if you’re projecting visuals.  I print out 8x10 copies of my presentation to use in a pinch. A list of materials to bring helps me, too, because travel trauma and adrenalin usually kick in, and I lose track.

Check the tech
If you use own or the school’s AV equipment, make sure those gadgets are loaded and working. I always arrive early and ask for an on-site AV person to help with set up and test. 

Seek the library/media center
Librarians (nowadays called media specialists) are an author's best friend: be sure to meet him or her, and donate a signed copy of your book to the library.

Connect with kids
Get the group in your corner right away through a personal connections. 

Share a story about your writerly journey:

• i.e., I tell fourth graders that fourth grade is one of my favorite grades because I wrote my first story in fourth grade.
• I let first graders know that one of my characters is a first-grader, just as they are.
  

I wasn't sure about role playing with K-3 kids, but after consulting with teachers, we settled on a ‘controlled’ role play: I played Mama Cat, a character from my book, and teachers selected children to interact with me 1:1.  It was a huge hit with the students and a total  joy for me.

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Channel wiggles and giggles

• I use short bursts of activities to keep attention: the younger the child, the shorter the bursts.  Younger kids can interact with the story by moving appropriately to passages you select. For instance, if you read a passage about driving a car, you demonstrate how, and kids simulate while being seated.

Manage behaviors

• It’s great to see kids who are excited and having fun.  Most are angels, but a few may test you.  If that’s the case, teachers usually handle of the situation.  I developed the No-Nonsense Eyeball that sends a non-verbal message about the need to straighten up n*o*w. It usually works. -:D.

• I also set behavioral expectations by reinforcing children who participate appropriately: 

            I love the way you’re sitting and listening politely.  
           Thanks for raising your hand.
           Awesome answer.  

Snap Photos 

• Since already knowing about photography policies, you're confident about your shots. I arrange for school staff to snap me (using my iPhone) while I’m working with students --perfect for posting on my social media sites.  
• For variety, I add building façades and iconic visuals, like art projects, and bulletin boards.
• To avoid showing faces, I shoot the backs of those sweet heads or close ups of hands writing and drawing to avoid issues about kids’ photos on the Internet...a touchy subject.  Be prepared for at least one child to turn around and face you as you click!  

Third-grader writes her story ending for "Finding Fuzzy"

• Since already knowing about photography policies, you're confident about your shots. I arrange for school staff to snap me (using my iPhone) while I’m working with students --perfect for posting on my social media sites.
  
• For variety, I add building façades and iconic visuals, like art projects, and bulletin boards.
• To avoid showing faces, I shoot the backs of those sweet heads or close ups of hands writing and drawing to avoid issues about kids’ photos on the Internet...a touchy subject.  Be prepared for at least one child to turn around and face you as you click! 

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Stay tuned ... 
More about photography in part 3 of this series when author, illustrator, and professional photographer Carmela Dutra shares secrets for taking your school visit photography to the next level.

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Kindergarteners draw story endings

4.  CLOSE
 Say Thanks
Don't laugh.  You will be so excited that you may forget!  Before leaving, remember to thank students and staff.  Energy and enthusiasm is highest at the close, so this is also the perfect time to let them know you welcome a return visit. 

Include Your Call to Action 
An author visit isn’t a hard sell event, but it's a chance to build relationships and find readers. I ask students, with the help of an adult, to send me drawings, story ideas, and photos of them reading my books.  My giveaways include urls to sell sites and social media, so I direct follow up with me there.  I especially encourage adult subscribers to my newsletter.  (Note: In the USA, children under 13 years old cannot legally subscribe to an online newsletter.)

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5.  FOLLOW UP
Almost done!

Just like a job interview, demonstrating appreciation after the event goes a long way to augment your standing as a professional and keep your presence in the forefront.

After each visit, I send an e-note of thanks to my sponsors and school staff, including a link to a video I create from visit photos. I use free, user-friendly software, such as i-movie or the Animoto app to make the videos. 

The  video showcases photos taken during my visit as well as illustrations from my book illustrations and author links supporting my call to action. 

Congratulations!  You finished  your first round.  Now sit back and relax.  But don't rest too long.  It's already time to start planning your next school visits.  The next blog posts in this series may help, so stay tuned.

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Coming Next in this Blog Series 
PART 2: Kid Lit Authors Share Their Top School Visit Tips
PART 3: Five Tips for Photographing Kidsin the Classroom
PART 4:  

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How do these school visit learnings work for you? 
Join the conversation in the comment section below.

• What new classroom visit tips might you consider?  Already use?
• How do school visits increase your discoverability and book sales?

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