SCHOOL VISITS

Writing Workshop: 1 hour

Groups of 15 - 20 kids seem to work well, though I'm flexible on the exact number. How students are selected to participate is up to you. Some schools ask kids who are interested in attending a workshop to write a paragraph telling why they should be chosen; other schools have interested kids put their names in a hat for a drawing. Some schools compete by class, and the entire winning class attends. However it is done, students should be eager to participate, as the success of the workshop depends on prior preparation and a willingness to write and share one's work.

I STINK!, I'M MIGHTY! , and I'M DIRTY! are the inspiration for this workshop on voice. I bring pictures of things that don't speak, or students can bring their own pictures. It could be a picture of a vehicle, a sneaker, an animal, a baby, a feather – it really doesn't matter as long as it is something that doesn't speak so that we can understand it. Students will try to discover the object's “voice” by taking stock of its characteristics and then writing a short monologue, which can be shared with the group. Follow up activities for the classroom include writing dialog.

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Introduction	Goals	Presentation and Preparation	Assemblies
Writing Workshop	Book Signings	Calendar of Appearances
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