Recently I had the pleasure of attending a Suzy Kline author visit at the elementary school where I teach K-5 art. She is the bestselling author of the Herbie Jones and Horrible Harry chapter books.
Suzy opened with a greeting and then a disclaimer (paraphrased): If there's only one thing you remember from my presentation today, it is that I keep a notebook in my pocket wherever I go, and you should too!
Recently I had the pleasure of attending a Suzy Kline author visit at the elementary school where I teach K-5 art. She is the bestselling author of the Herbie Jones and Horrible Harry chapter books.
Suzy opened with a greeting and then a disclaimer (paraphrased): If there's only one thing you remember from my presentation today, it is that I keep a notebook in my pocket wherever I go, and you should too!
She shared how she jots down a sentence, phrase, or a few words in her notebook. Even one word can lead to a “seed” or idea for a new story. She shared stories from over 25 years as an elementary teacher and, with the help of a few props, showed how these “seeds” grew into whole characters in her books.
Suzy described her path as a writer and her long journey to being published. She displayed artifacts from laminated copies of childhood stories to her very first rejection letter from a publisher. With an impressive display of published books, Suzy illustrated how her persistence paid off. Suzy inspired the students to write, write, write and never give up!
With a little help from the faculty, including the principal, Suzy brought a scene from a Horrible Harry book alive with an impromptu dramatic performance. The students loved it!
Suzy did a phenomenal job of spreading her contagious enthusiasm for writing with the next generation of writers. At the end of the presentation, each student was given a small pocket notebook.
The least I could do was whip out my journal during my lunch break and jot a few things down. Thanks for the inspiration, Suzy!
Have any of you attended an author visit or illustrator presentation? What did you gain from it?
Tips that are good for kids and good for me. A good speaker (and writer) who motivates adults and children alike is such a gift. I hope we can follow her lead!
ReplyDeleteSounds fantastic! I got to sit in on a visit from Wendy Mass at a local middle school last year. She kept over 300 6th graders engaged, which is pretty much a miracle!
ReplyDeleteI've seen a few school visits -- the best was Brian Heinz. He does an amazing job in teaching elementary-aged kids about revision.
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