School Visits

Program Description:

I've presented in more than 1600 schools in 40 states, showing my creative process from inspiration to finished book. Using my books and humorous familial anecdotes, I demonstrate child-friendly strategies for finding ideas and developing them. I tailor each program to the appropriate grade level(s).

I show students how there are stories throughout their lives—how the simplest events and incidents can become interesting and imaginative stories.

I also draw in each program, showing tips and techniques that children are eager to try.

Following a visit, many teachers have written to tell me how inspired and empowered their students were to write and draw after leaving my program.

In my program for conferences and in-services, I show educators basic, student-friendly strategies to inspire even the most reluctant writer. I also give the teachers tips to make them more confident as writers and writing instructors. Since 2002, I've presented for SDE in both their national and regional conferences throughout the country. Please refer to my Professional Development section for more information.