Erin Dealey’s school assembly presentation includes interactive theater games, Q & A, and/or a mini-play featuring 10 pre-selected students (& sometimes teachers…) from the audience. No rehearsal necessary! The simple-to-learn theater activities based on themes and characters from books like Little Bo Peep Can’t Get To Sleep, or Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox are fun for all ages.
School visits are flexible and may be tailored to your needs. Erin also explains how “The Sloppy Copy is Your Friend,” and “You Might Be an Author Some Day!” (featuring excerpts from Erin’s 6th grade journal). Upper grades option: How your teacher and my editor are alike (the writing process, sloppy copies). Erin also shares first pages from current, age appropriate novels, and discusses how various authors hook the reader.
Assembly Length: flexible; approximately 45-55 minutes. * 3 assemblies max per day.
Lesson Plan Packet with age appropriate activities provided in advance.
Kinder visit(s): Erin and the kinders sing her Reading Song, talk about each of the nursery rhyme characters in her books, and go through their original rhymes and songs before Erin reads her stories.
Note: Even wiggly Kinders do just fine at the large assembly but some schools prefer a separate K- classroom visit.
Fun FREE Activities, coloring pages, Readers Theater scripts and more HERE.
Workshops: Erin is also happy to teach one or more writing or theater workshops during her visit. Sample workshops:
- Writing Fractured Fairy Tales (Grades 2-3) meet the characters, creating dialog, LITTLE BO PEEP CAN’T GET TO SLEEP + other examples, brainstorming ideas, and WRITING a Beginning. Middle, and End.
- Using Debates to teach Close Reading, Author’s Purpose, and Persuasive writing. A simple debate format can teach your students to go beyond the words and form an opinion, using evidence from the text to support their claims. (Grades 2-12.)
- Anyone Can Write a Poem (Grades 3-12 or teacher in-service* developed as part of the Area 3 Writers’ Project/UCDavis): Simple, fun poetry techniques guaranteed to produce immediate results!
- Literacy games and activities that encourage voice, fluency, and fun! (all grades)
- Dialog—(grades 4+) Writing dialog even when you don’t know what to say!
- Descriptive Paragraphs: Teaches format and the “Show—Don’t Tell” technique authors use. (“painting pictures” with descriptive words)
Teacher workshops include:
- Using Debates to teach Close Reading, Author’s Purpose, and Persuasive writing. A simple debate format can teach your students to go beyond the words and form an opinion, using evidence from the text to support their claims. (Grades 2-12.)
- “Anyone Can Write a Poem…or Teach someone How”
- “All the World’s a Stage—Even Your Classroom!–theater games, improvs, and activities—a different approach to the Writing Process.” *developed as part of the Area 3 Writers’ Project/UCDavis.
- “How to Get What You Write for Your Students Published!”
Erin is a credentialed, experienced Language Arts/English teacher and is happy to tailor workshops to the needs of your school or organization.
Suggested Honorarium: Flexible. I know about school “budgets.” Payment method preferred: check from PTO /PTA; No Purchase Orders or District budget/ VSA.
- (+ $50/travel outside the Sacramento area/ or foothills)
- $300.00 One assembly (or one class visit) + book signing
- $ 850.00 Full School Day (see choices above)
- $200.00 Parent Night (if scheduled with Full Day visit)
- $300.00 Parent Night only
Visits outside northern California:
- $850.00 Full School Day (see choices above)
- $200.00 Parent Night (if scheduled with Full Day visit)
- 2 or more bookings/days suggested + travel, lodging, per diem
- Schools can cut costs by sharing travel expenses. A contract will be sent to confirm after schools coordinate the dates of Erin’s visits.
Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet With Erin
