Presented by Erin Fitzpatrick-BjornK-8 District Media CoordinatorGresham-Barlow School Districtfitzpatrick@gresham.k12.or.us

Be a School Library Visit Ninja

Author Visits

• Why do them?– Author’s perspective– Teacher’s perspective– Student’s perspective

Author Visits

• Some ways to connect with schools.

• Is there any money?

Author Visit Checklist

The keys to planning a successful author visit

• Before the visit: logistics

• Before the visit: engaging students• The day of the visit• Book sales

• After the visit

During the Visit - for authors• Introduce yourself to the teacher(s) when they come in and be your most outgoing

self with the adults, even if you’re faking it.• Ask an adult if there’s a school signal for quiet and use it (or teach them your own

signal) - don’t talk over students• Ask them some “raise your hands” questions, or, if it’s appropriate and you’re very

brave, you might have them stand up for something• Bring props if you can and a plan for whether they get to touch them - maybe ask

just a few students to come up and “model” the props.• Read some of your book, but not more than 5-7 minutes. Ask them to think about

something particular as you read. If it’s a picture book, ask the school to use a document camera (most schools have them).

• Encourage call and echo or something similar if it fits your book.• Plan time in your presentation for questions.• If your publisher has swag to offer, use it for bribery.• Have a plan about autographs (one option: make up a simple bookmark w/ your

signature that the school can print and hand out).

The Ideal Author Websitefrom a Librarian’s POV

• Direct contact info

• Description of your presentation(s)

• COST

• Video related to the book(s) and/or author

• Curriculum connections

The Standards• Common Core English Language Arts Standards K-12 in

Reading, Writing, Speaking/Listening, Language (conventions and vocabulary) - Focus on the reading anchors

http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/CCRA/R

http://www.edutopia.org/common-core-state-standards-resources http://jillcorcoran.blogspot.com/2012/11/common-core-state-standards-kidlit.html

• Next Generation Science Standards

http://www.nextgenscience.org/

• Oregon Social Science Standardshttp://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/subjects/socialscience/standards/adoptedsocialsciencesstandards8-2011.pdf

Writing Lesson Plans

• What will skill or ability the learner be able to demonstrate with the activity?

• What standard(s) does it address?

• I am willing to do free 15 minute phone consults on lesson plans if you email me the lesson (or longer consults if you buy me an adult beverage).

Value Adds

• Do you have any extra offerings, such as a teacher or family workshop or a classroom Skype visit you might add?

Contact information

• Check out my library website http://library-resources.www.gresham.k12.or.us/

• Contact me via email @ fitzpatrick@gresham.k12.or.us

• Find me on Twitter @aweekoraweekend• Read our blog aweekoraweekend.com• Look at my photography

kiddingaroundphotography.com