School and Library Visits

Welcome to my presentations page.

A brief bit about me: As a retired educator, nothing gives me more joy than interacting with students. For over 50 years as a speech/language pathologist, deaf educator, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania professor, my life focused on words. Speaking, reading, and writing lots and lots of words. All of my courses at IUP involved writing-books, manuals, parent pamphlets, developmental guidelines and my students created some real beauties. Not until retirement did I decide it was time for ME to write books.

For all I thought I knew about writing, publishing two middle grade adventure stories and my first children's picture book story truly brought me into the light. There is nothing quite as humbling and wonderful as holding that piece of prose IN YOUR HANDS!

My goal is to share that love and excitement with children. It would be my honor to work with your students. Look over the available sessions and please contact me at any time.

All sessions have a STEAM and ELA focus depending upon the theme of the chosen book.

Pre-K, Kindergarten, Grade 1

30 - 45 Minute Reading Visit and Activity

Option 1 - FREE when school purchases a book for each child*
Option 2 - $150 plus expenses w/parent book preorders option

The author presents an interactive story book reading. Each child completes a story cube art activity. Books are signed with a free bookmark provided.

Option 1 - books are purchased for each child in the class at an author discount.

Option 2 expenses include art materials and mileage reimbursement (.67/mile) * Paperback books can be purchased from the author for a discounted rate of $7 per book (list price $12.99). Hard cover can be purchased from: Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, PA ~ www.mysterybooklovers.com

Extended Grade 1 - 2

60 - 90 Minute Reading/Writing Workshop

$300

The author spends all of each session interacting with the students. The activities depend upon the targeted focus of the session:

Option 1 - How to become an author?

book read with Q & A
Write a short story- guided shared- writing activity with a finished mini book
CELEBRATION

Option 2 - PUBLISH a book!* Let's Write an Anthology!

guided book read
each child chooses what they want to write for the classroom anthology
- a 300 - 500 word story
- a poem
- a haiku

*Across the Pond Publications will provide copies to all participants. Extra copies will be available for a fee.

Older Elementary/Middle Grade

Author 'Sandbox' Workshops

90 minutes - $400*

Option 1 - Fundamentals of Book Writing and Publication

Author uses a variety of texts to facilitate students' understanding of the fundamentals of book writing and publication. Working in small centers, students evaluate/critique the elements of :

editing for story arc;
editing for grammar;
editing for mechanics;
selecting a book size and font for publication.

Sharing time with a Workshop certificate of completion and a signed author flyer.

Option 2 - Write + Right -> Publish = Yay!

This Sandbox Workshop focuses explicitly on writing a first draft of a 500 to 800-word mini-story. Students will move into breakout stations at 15-minute intervals. Author-monitored stations include:

brainstorm concept for story
write first rough draft of story
peer-edit first draft (character-location-arc)
rewrite second draft
peer-edit second draft (grammar and punctuation)
make a clean draft of your story and write a title
When all students complete their clean final draft, the author will collect the works and create a classroom Mini-Story Anthology.

* The school will supply writing materials.

Across the Pond Publications will produce the books with a copy provided to each student. Extra copies will be available for a fee.

Library Visit

All visits to public community libraries are FREE.

The author will donate 15% of all purchases to the community library.

The author will design a session that meets the needs of the local library.

What Our Participants Say

"Dr. Klein came to my school with her British co-author Tim Knight. I loved the chapter reading and all the questions they let us ask afterwards. Tim's accent was cool!"

Talia Groenvynck, 1st grade student