NEW
STUDENT PUBLICATION PROGRAM—SEE
BELOW!
"Cats sleep
anywhere,
any table,
any chair.
Top of piano,
window-ledge,
in the middle,
on the edge..."
Eleanor Farjeon
(1881-1965),"Cats"
I speak anywhere.
Schools.
Libraries. Community events. Book festivals. Conferences. University classrooms.
Fund raisers.
Any gathering of people who love books.
I especially love to talk with elementary and middle school
kids about reading and writing and to parents interested in learning how to grow
their very own readers and writers at home!
BASIC
VISITING AUTHOR PROGRAM
Basic full-day school programs consist of 240 minutes (4 hours) of student contact time
plus lunch with the author for a small group of students. Choose from the
following menu:
30 / 45 / 60 minute
assemblies
30 / 45 / 60 minute classroom writing
workshops
15 / 20 / 30 minute classroom Q&A sessions
See below for descriptions of assemblies and writing
workshops.
DISTRICT YOUNG AUTHOR PROGRAM
Five
Schools / One District / One Week
District-wide programs are offered at a substantial discount
per school to any five schools within a district* that book author visits in a
one-week period.
Programs consist of three 45 minute assemblies and
lunch with the author for a group of young authors (up to 12).
Included is an
optional Family Literacy presentation on Saturday morning or afternoon at no
additional charge if a district should decide to hold a Young Author Fair to
celebrate reading, writing and books and/or display student-made books. If your
district is really working on literacy, this is a great program to get kids,
parents, teachers and administrators alike excited about student writing!
*
If your district is smaller than
five elementary schools, neighboring districts may work together or a school may
opt for a second day, which would include three 45 minute classroom writing
workshops + lunch with a second group of young authors.
STUDENT PUBLICATION PROGRAM
For a small additional fee, see your students' art and writing published in a
bound, bookstore quality trade paperback book.
Using my extensive professional
background as an editor, my passion for graphic arts, and new print-
on-demand
technologies, I do all the work required to produce a beautiful bound book of student
art and writing and provide six FREE copies for your library. While no
additional purchases are required, I do ask that students be sent home with
order forms so parents can have the opportunity of purchasing books. For the
Basic Program, books will contain representative student work from each
classroom in the school. For the District Program, books will contain
representative student work from each school participating.
Click
on the icon for sample pages of a book of student art
and writing produced through my imprint, Class Act Creative,
for an elementary school in Ventura, California.
The resolution has been reduced for web viewing.
Fund Raiser
Option:
The school PTA/PTO may earn
back the Student Publication Program fee and offset some or all of the fees for
the Basic Visiting Author Program or the District Young Author Program by
ordering books of student work at a discounted bulk rate and reselling it to
students, parents and staff at retail price. Please inquire for details.
ASSEMBLIES:
I Like Black & White: From Pictures to Words & Back Again
(primary)
This program, perfect for primary grades, focuses on a process for writing
concept books that even a kindergartner can follow. Includes a fun group writing
exercise with a follow-up activity for the classroom.
Writing Trait Spotlight: Ideas and Organization.
The Secret Life of Walter Kitty: Dream Big!
(primary and intermediate)
In this interactive program,
observation and imagination get equal billing in the creative process. Students
will be inspired to write and illustrate a picture book of their own based on
their imagination and personal observation.
Writing
Trait Spotlight: Ideas and Voice.
How To Write A Picture Book
(intermediate)
This program provides an overview of
the kinds of picture books older students might write and illustrate: concept books, “true” picture books, and picture storybooks. Excellent opportunity for
differentiated instruction in follow-up writing projects. Includes either a
dramatic reading or a Readers’ Theatre production. Lots of audience
participation!
Writing Trait Spotlight:
Ideas, Voice and Organization.
WRITING WORKSHOPS:
Follow-up classroom workshops use one of the books introduced in the assemblies
as a springboard for writing a collaborative poem, to which each child
contributes. Students then have an opportunity to expand on their contribution
either in words or drawings. Ideas, organization, voice, and word choice may
all be addressed.
FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS
After a full-day program, many
schools choose to book an additional evening event for families. I've put
together a slide show that appeals both to children and parents, detailing the traditions in my family that made me a
reader and writer for life. Parents are encouraged to create their own family
traditions around reading and writing. Included is take-home information
(available in English and Spanish) with hands-on ideas parents can use to help
their children become more proficient readers and writers.
TEACHER PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS
These programs encourage
teachers and teachers-in-training to think about the many kinds of
standards-based lessons they might pull from a single picture book for use in
the classroom. One-hour presentation, two-hour workshop or four-hour workshop.
Includes audience participation and hands-on learning.
AUTHOR-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAMS
For intensive work on student
writing, nothing beats having an author in the classroom on a recurring basis.
Residencies may be constructed on a consecutive-day model or a weekly or monthly
model. They are flexible in duration and geared to each school's needs,
culminating in classroom projects that may include visual art, music and/or
drama as well as creative writing. An example is the Project Arts RESPECT
program created for the Rio School District in Oxnard, California. This program
offers art and writing workshops to every 4th grade classroom in the district,
where students are creating work that will be used to produce a book the
district plans to sell to raise funds for further arts programming.
For more information about any of my programs, including references and a fee schedule, please
e-mail Barbara with "Program Query" in the
Subject Line. I look forward to speaking at your school or event.
HERE'S WHAT
EDUCATORS HAVE TO SAY:
"Barbara Jean Hicks delivers a dynamic presentation...giving the audience a
peek into the influences on an author who writes from her heart and her life
experience."
Holly Kunkle,
Library Media/Technician
Flory Academy of Sciences and
Technology, Moorpark CA
"My
children were thrilled with your presentation. Thanks for getting them all
excited about writing!"
Suzanne
Arrache, 1st grade Teacher
Virginia Ave. Elementary School,
Bakersfield CA
"Your program was a hit—thank
you!"
Merle Green, Children's Liaison, Darrington Library
Darrington Elementary School, Darrington WA
"Engaging... The students' excitement for writing shone through even after the
event."
Amy Hayes, 1st Grade Teacher
Briarwood Elementary School, Renton WA
"Your stories captivated our imagination, young and old."
Malee Her, Kindergarten Teacher
Harvest
Elementary School, Delano CA
"Thanks for the wonderful program. The children and grownups both loved
it."
Ian Rosen, Children's Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library
Westchester-Loyola Village Branch,
Los Angeles CA
"Your read-alouds were amazing, and my students learned so much about picture
books. The highlight of the semester for my Children's
Literature classes."
Claudia Reder, Lecturer, English and
Literature
Cal State University at Channel Islands,
Camarillo CA
"It
was wonderful to have a real author at our school! All of us have used you in
our writing lessons this week."
Patti Holland, 1st grade Teacher
Red Oak Elementary School, Oak Park
CA
All text and images on this website © Barbara Jean
Hicks 2005-2009 unless otherwise identified. Text and images may be used for
educational and other non-commercial purposes if copyright and website information are
clearly stated. Commercial use of all text and images is strictly prohibited.
