Author Visits

Single virtual sessions are usually $250, but I’m offering a huge discount on my spring 2024 poetry sessions. I’d love to bring poetry to life for your students!

Details

• One (1) one-hour session.
• One group of students in a single location using one computer.
• $150 (or $125 if you prepay by check or Paypal–that’s a 50% discount!)
• Zoom hosted by me
• Dates available:
  • March 25, 27, 29
  • Many Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in April
  • May 1, 3, 6

Session Options

Playing with Poems

In this introduction to poetry, I’ll play a rhyming game with students. I’ll share a variety of poems (including ones written by kids) and we’ll talk about what poetry is and why it’s amazing. We’ll do some movement and interactive reading, and I’ll focus on getting kids excited about reading and writing poetry! Great for anytime, but this session is extra super at the start of a poetry unit or poetry practice.

[Best for K‑3]

Let’s Write a Poem

In this interactive writing session, we’ll focus on getting poems down on paper. (Kids will need writing materials.) After sharing a few of my poems as an introduction, I’ll lead students through writing 1–3 short poems of their own. I’ll write alongside them and share my process. There will be plenty of opportunities for optional sharing of their poems.

[Best for grades 3–7, but I can do a younger version where we write group poems]

The Poetry Life

I’ll share my writing journey and how I came to be a poet. I’ll read some of my poems and we’ll talk about the process of writing poems. I’ll show them revisions of a single poem of mine, too. Then we’ll write a group poem together. This session is great if you want to emphasize meeting a “real, live poet.” It will have a deeper impact if you’ve read some of my books with your students.

[Best for grades 3–5]

Let’s Drop Some Poems

Poetry slams are dramatic and issue-centered—that’s not really my style :>) So let’s call this a Poetry Drop. As in, drop your inhibitions and share your poem. As in, drop your voice into the silence. As in, maybe we’ll have some drop-the-mic moments! Your poets and I will take turns reading our work aloud. I’ll follow along on a document of their poems, which you’ll send a day or two before. After each poem is read (and applauded), I’ll offer the poet positive feedback on what they’ve done really well. This is a fun way to celebrate the completion of a poetry unit and affirm students as writers and poets.

[Best for grades 3–7]

Get in touch if you’re interested!