For Teachers

Whether you are interested in a virtual or in person workshop, author visits are fun, exciting, and interactive! What is your school working on? What challenges are your students facing? How can I support you? Together, let’s plan a program that works for your school or classroom. Note: there is ALWAYS time for your students’ questions!

Here’s a sample of things I like to present:

• The Human Rube Goldberg Project! Together, we will talk about the cartoonist and comic genius, the inventor who invented nothing, Rube Goldberg, as well as chain reaction machines, and what that has to do with writing stories! We can also make a human contraption to return a book to the library! Great for all ages. STEM approved!
• How to Write about Your Hero! The ups and downs that happen when you decide to write about a person you admire. This presentation, inspired by ABZUGLUTELY: Battling, Bellowing Bella Abzug, illustrated by Andrea d’Aquino, will include information about the entire writing process, from drafting to revision, corroboration, using primary and secondary sources, finding your theme, and keeping an open mind throughout the process.
• A Fresh Take on Activism! Welcome to Campaign Headquarters: Let’s talk about leadership! And persuasion. And how we share ideas and discuss possibilities to create change in our community. This election season, bring Sarah (and Bella Abzug) to your school for a discussion about elections, problem solving, and Bella’s use of protest with a purpose. We will make our own campaign and strategy for getting things done that are important to you. Politics can be divisive, but it’s important to talk to kids about we can solve problems and talk things out to benefit of everyone in your community! Let’s see what we can do when we put our heads together.
• True Stories are GREAT stories! Spark your curiosity and creativity! Together we will explore the process of writing and discovery true stories, from research, to writing about history, and the thrill of discovery!
• Wish Granted! Together, let’s talk about the power of wishes, random acts of kindness, and all the different ways that we can make others happily ever after! Sarah will lead a fun session that includes wand making and the three things every fairy godmother needs: kindness, determination, and gusto. Wave your wands! Help build empathy and understanding in the class and community.
• The Beyond Lucky Guide for Future Writers: In this class or multi-class presentation, Sarah will talk about her life as a writer and give a candid look inside the creative process from inspiration to draft, to revisions, rejections, and finally publication.
• Character Excavation: A workshop all about building characters.
• The Family Constellation. What makes a family? Forget the family tree. Who are the people who bring light to your life? How can we say thank you?
• Story Soup: Get ready to write! Students will create their own stories based on prompts and ideas we come up with together!
• Revision Tips That Really Work: Sarah’s top five revision tips will get your students looking at their stories, failure, persistence, and curiosity in a whole new way! (They are especially good if you experience Writer’s Block!)

Contact Sarah for more information!

Want to know more about Read Local Illinois??? Here are just some of the authors and illustrators who want to meet YOU. (To schedule with any of these amazing people, contact them directly or schedule with a local indie, like our friend, Anderson’s Book Shop!)