Inservice Events for Teachers
- “Quick and Easy Poetry-Writing Activities,” Southeast Minnesota Reading Council, Stewartville, MN 2014
- “Playing with Poetry,” Camp Read-a-Lot, Rochester, MN 2014
- “Big Things Come in Small Poems,” Southwest Minnesota Reading Council, New Ulm, MN 2014
- “Big Things Come in Small Poems,” Gayle A. Zeiter Children’s Literature Conference, UNLV, Las Vegas, NV 2014
- “Playing with Poetry” keynote, Children’s Literature Conference, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN 2013
- “Playing with Poetry,” Hubbs Children’s Literature Conference, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN 2013
- “CLA Notable Books in the Language Arts,” A Leaf Can Be…, NCTE National Conference, Boston, MA 2013
- “Playing with Poetry,” Minnesota Library Association annual conference, St. Cloud, MN 2013
- “CLA Notable Books in the Language Arts,” BookSpeak!, NCTE National Conference, Las Vegas, NV 2012
- “Poetry Blast,” ALA National Conference, Chicago, IL 2013
- “Playing with Poetry,” Catholic school librarians inservice, St. Paul, MN 2013
- Two poetry sessions, Region 1 librarian meeting, Edinburg, TX 2012
- “Poetry in the Classroom,” University of Richmond, VA, via Skype, 2012
- Minnesota author panel, MEMO annual conference, St. Cloud, MN 2012
- “Where Poems Come From” panel, NCTE annual conference, Las Vegas, NV 2012
- “Poetry for Paupers from Recitation to E-Books; Infusing Poetry into the Classroom” panel led by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, NCTE, Chicago, IL 2011
- “Copyright Questions Around Sharing Poetry” panel, Kidlit.con, Minneapolis, MN 2010
- “Poetry in the Classroom,” Northwoods Children’s Book Conference, Cable, WI 2010
- “Poetry Blast” session led by Marilyn Singer and Barbara Genco, ALA National Conference, Chicago, IL 2009
Other Conferences and Events for Educators
- School Library Journal Summit, Author Reception, St. Paul, MN 2014
- Poetry Olio, IRA National Conference, New Orleans, LA 2014
- Minnesota Book Awards Finalist Panel, Lake Agassiz Regional Library, Moorhead, MN 2013
- Featured author, Books for Children Luncheon, NCTE National Conference, Boston, MA 2013
- CLN Books for Breakfast, Plymouth, MN 2012, 2011, 2010
- Anderson Center Book Festival, Red Wing, MN 2011
- Featured author, Books for Children Luncheon, NCTE National Conference, Chicago, IL 2011
Involvement with Organizations
- Secretary, CLA/NCTE, 2015-2016
- Chair, CLA Master Class, “Reading poetry across the curriculum,” NCTE, Washington, DC, 2014
- Co-Chair, CLA Master Class, “Teaching children’s literature in the 21st century,” NCTE Boston, 2013
- Reading Is Fundamental event, Stillwater Federal Prison, Stillwater, MN 2012
Judging
- CYBILS, First Round Easy Readers & Chapter Books, 2013
- Sole Judge, Annual Hirshfield Poetry Awards, 2012
- CYBILS, Final Round Poetry, 2012
- Sole Judge, Loft Literary Center’s Shabo Award for Picture Book Writers, 2011
- CYBILS, First Round Poetry, 2011
- CYBILS, First Round Poetry, 2009
- CYBILS, First Round Poetry, 2008
Memberships
- International Literacy Association
- National Council of Teachers of English
- Children’s Literature Assembly
- Professional Editors Network
- Authors for Libraries
- Friends of the Kerlan (University of Minnesota Libraries)
- Little Free Libraries
- Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators