I just had a free assembly at Edison with Doug Osmond. He focused on literacy, respect, and becoming a true hero through references to the Michael Vey books in particular, but was very energetic, and brought excitement to reading in general. And the price was right. For part of it, he had a quiz show with real buzzers and trivia questions from the Michael Vey books, Harry Potter, and Diary of the Wimpy Kid. It was engaging for the students (gr 3-5), and some of my teachers really loved it. This was my first attempt at bringing an assembly to school. The feedback I received before and afterward from my community was positive. If I had had to pay for it, however, I'm not sure I could or would have done it.
I had him come to Backman in March. If it were not free I could not have done it. Also, the author of the Janitor books came to my school last week. Every class that comes in now wants to check out his books. I have thought of sharing an author with different schools in the area. This way we could share the cost. I love it when authors come because it really encourages students to read.
I have not had any author visits at East. I have, however, done a webcast with Rick Riordan a few years ago. I broadcast it using my projector and screens in the library. Because the broadcast went through lunch, I just let it play and whatever students happened to be in here at the time could watch it.
We are having a year of author visits thanks to the PTA theme this year. So far we have had Brandon Mull, Kirsten Crowe, Tyler Whitesides. Our students have loved the assemblies and are doing a lot of reading. What a great opportunity for our kids and for promoting reading.
This is tricky at my school. A number of parents objected to our last "author" assembly since the books were available for sale. They felt this was forcing (as the assembly was part of the school day) students to attend a presentation which pushed them into spending money or wanting to spend money. I heard a rumor that this happened a few years ago as well, with a Tyler Whitesides visit. I made sure to mention frequently that the books were available to checkout in the library. I realize these parents may be a small voice, but boy were they loud. Anyone ever had complaints?
I have had the Buehners here in the library to sign books during book fairs. and we have had authors come visit as whole school or upper grade assemblies. Size and configuration of my space make groups larger than 2 classes more difficult.We had an author visit last year of a writer of "middle school" books. He was related to one of our 6th graders, and was willing to come for free. Teh 5th and 6th graders were invited, but there was some worry because of the underlying subject of mental illness and suicide in his books. The presentation was great, but the emotions of the teachers and principal beforehand were not. I appreciate the comments about the program with Doug Osmond. We just got an email about setting up an assembly with him, and it looks like a good one to pursue.
I am hoping that our administration will approve the Osmond/Vey assembly for a PBIS reward. We have to limit the number of assemblies we have. We had a "Community Night" with Steve James, last night. He doesn't promote books, but he writes songs for the health curriculum. Each grade sang one of his songs and he did some fun "mimic" songs for the parents. They really enjoyed him. He also spoke in Spanish to the parents, so he was a hit. The Mayors office used to pay for him to visit schools, but now it costs money. We were the last school to get it free, so I don't know how much it is from now on.
Years age, we had Shannon Hale when I was at West with LaDawn and she was delightful! I don't remember her charging us a fee since she is a West Alumna and King's English also sold her books. We had another author come and talk about writing and her books which, even though more elementary, had themes that students deal with. I have not done author visits at Glendale. I am glad to know about the Osmond/Vey informaton. I have been receiving their e-mails.
I love the the Buehner books. I have given"Fanny's Dream" for wedding shower gifts. We had author Jimmy Santaigo Baca here a few years ago. He talks about being in prison and learning to write. I think the students liked his presentation. I took the books of his we had in the library up say, "check these out." He was impressed. He said we were the first school to have any of his books. Luckily, I had heard somewhere about him and purchased the books. Whew!
Shadow Mountain used to have a publisist who would contact the librarians in our school district when a children's author was local and puclishing a book. Brandon Mull came here just after his first book Fablehaven was published and I had to beg teachers to send their clases to the library. He was so sick he couldn't talk, his sister had to describe the book and his writing process to us. Students loved the book of course and this year when he spoke to our school we had to meet in the full auditorium because even the second grade wanted to come, everyone was interested in his books and he did a great job. We usually get authors fo free through the book fair (but Jessica Day George is only signing books, she doesn't have time to talk to schools because she has young children) or bookstores when a new book is published or once PTA sponsered an suthor. I like Janice's idea to pool resources, I see those offers emailed but don't have the money to pay for a visit. There is supposed to be extra land trust money this year, maybe that's a possibility.
We just had Brandon Mull visit our school. I was approached by Kings English and asked if we would be intrested in participating with authors visits. They told me they usually work with the private schools but decided to branch out and I'm glad they did. Kings English asked that we send home order forms for the book for those interested about 30 kids bought a book and got them signed. It was an easy author visit for me.
I have had a few authors over the years and our students liked them. We are really cutting down on assemblies this year, so I don't know how hard to push for a visit. I'd really like to have the Michael Vey assembly with Doug Osmond, but I don't know if that will happen.
We had the Buehners visit all students at our school. I was still an English teacher at the time, so I collaborated with the art teacher to have students create picture books using what both writer and illustrator had shown us during their visit. We then visited Sharon Gallagher's 2nd grade class to read our stories. We learned so much about writing and the art that goes with it. Buehners were fantastic.
I just had a free assembly at Edison with Doug Osmond. He focused on literacy, respect, and becoming a true hero through references to the Michael Vey books in particular, but was very energetic, and brought excitement to reading in general. And the price was right. For part of it, he had a quiz show with real buzzers and trivia questions from the Michael Vey books, Harry Potter, and Diary of the Wimpy Kid. It was engaging for the students (gr 3-5), and some of my teachers really loved it. This was my first attempt at bringing an assembly to school. The feedback I received before and afterward from my community was positive. If I had had to pay for it, however, I'm not sure I could or would have done it.
ReplyDeleteI had him come to Backman in March. If it were not free I could not have done it. Also, the author of the Janitor books came to my school last week. Every class that comes in now wants to check out his books.
DeleteI have thought of sharing an author with different schools in the area. This way we could share the cost. I love it when authors come because it really encourages students to read.
I have not had any author visits at East. I have, however, done a webcast with Rick Riordan a few years ago. I broadcast it using my projector and screens in the library. Because the broadcast went through lunch, I just let it play and whatever students happened to be in here at the time could watch it.
ReplyDeleteWe are having a year of author visits thanks to the PTA theme this year. So far we have had Brandon Mull, Kirsten Crowe, Tyler Whitesides. Our students have loved the assemblies and are doing a lot of reading. What a great opportunity for our kids and for promoting reading.
ReplyDeleteThis is tricky at my school. A number of parents objected to our last "author" assembly since the books were available for sale. They felt this was forcing (as the assembly was part of the school day) students to attend a presentation which pushed them into spending money or wanting to spend money. I heard a rumor that this happened a few years ago as well, with a Tyler Whitesides visit. I made sure to mention frequently that the books were available to checkout in the library. I realize these parents may be a small voice, but boy were they loud.
ReplyDeleteAnyone ever had complaints?
I have had the Buehners here in the library to sign books during book fairs. and we have had authors come visit as whole school or upper grade assemblies. Size and configuration of my space make groups larger than 2 classes more difficult.We had an author visit last year of a writer of "middle school" books. He was related to one of our 6th graders, and was willing to come for free. Teh 5th and 6th graders were invited, but there was some worry because of the underlying subject of mental illness and suicide in his books. The presentation was great, but the emotions of the teachers and principal beforehand were not.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the comments about the program with Doug Osmond. We just got an email about setting up an assembly with him, and it looks like a good one to pursue.
I am hoping that our administration will approve the Osmond/Vey assembly for a PBIS reward. We have to limit the number of assemblies we have. We had a "Community Night" with Steve James, last night. He doesn't promote books, but he writes songs for the health curriculum. Each grade sang one of his songs and he did some fun "mimic" songs for the parents. They really enjoyed him. He also spoke in Spanish to the parents, so he was a hit. The Mayors office used to pay for him to visit schools, but now it costs money. We were the last school to get it free, so I don't know how much it is from now on.
ReplyDeleteYears age, we had Shannon Hale when I was at West with LaDawn and she was delightful! I don't remember her charging us a fee since she is a West Alumna and King's English also sold her books. We had another author come and talk about writing and her books which, even though more elementary, had themes that students deal with. I have not done author visits at Glendale. I am glad to know about the Osmond/Vey informaton. I have been receiving their e-mails.
ReplyDeleteI love the the Buehner books. I have given"Fanny's Dream" for wedding shower gifts. We had author Jimmy Santaigo Baca here a few years ago. He talks about being in prison and learning to write. I think the students liked his presentation. I took the books of his we had in the library up say, "check these out." He was impressed. He said we were the first school to have any of his books. Luckily, I had heard somewhere about him and purchased the books. Whew!
ReplyDeleteShadow Mountain used to have a publisist who would contact the librarians in our school district when a children's author was local and puclishing a book. Brandon Mull came here just after his first book Fablehaven was published and I had to beg teachers to send their clases to the library. He was so sick he couldn't talk, his sister had to describe the book and his writing process to us. Students loved the book of course and this year when he spoke to our school we had to meet in the full auditorium because even the second grade wanted to come, everyone was interested in his books and he did a great job. We usually get authors fo free through the book fair (but Jessica Day George is only signing books, she doesn't have time to talk to schools because she has young children) or bookstores when a new book is published or once PTA sponsered an suthor. I like Janice's idea to pool resources, I see those offers emailed but don't have the money to pay for a visit. There is supposed to be extra land trust money this year, maybe that's a possibility.
ReplyDeleteWe just had Brandon Mull visit our school. I was approached by Kings English and asked if we would be intrested in participating with authors visits. They told me they usually work with the private schools but decided to branch out and I'm glad they did. Kings English asked that we send home order forms for the book for those interested about 30 kids bought a book and got them signed. It was an easy author visit for me.
ReplyDeleteI have had a few authors over the years and our students liked them. We are really cutting down on assemblies this year, so I don't know how hard to push for a visit. I'd really like to have the Michael Vey assembly with Doug Osmond, but I don't know if that will happen.
ReplyDeleteWe had Osmond last year and the whole school attended. We should have limited it to 3-6. The quiz show was loads of fun.
ReplyDeleteWe had the Buehners visit all students at our school. I was still an English teacher at the time, so I collaborated with the art teacher to have students create picture books using what both writer and illustrator had shown us during their visit. We then visited Sharon Gallagher's 2nd grade class to read our stories. We learned so much about writing and the art that goes with it. Buehners were fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI have coordinated visits from Ruta Sepetys, Carol Lynch Williams, Julia Alvarez, and Shannon Hale. All were fantastic.
ReplyDelete