
Just Like You
Audience:
Kindergarten-Sixth grade
Setting:
Large or small groups- usually it's an all-school assembly
Time:
60 total minutes: 45 minute presentation + 15 minute Question & Answer session
Equipment needed:
Schools need to provide:
-a computer with the projection capability to display a Power Point presentation onto a screen for the audience to see. I will bring my presentations on a flash drive and load it onto the school's computer.
-a microphone
Description:
This presentation focuses on my writing process and how it parallels the way students write. Most schools use this presentation for an all-school assembly.
Through stories and a Power Point presentation, I discuss:
• How I get my ideas
• How I mold my ideas into stories
• How I approach writing, rewriting and editing
Children love to hear the personal stories behind my books, and to my delight, they laugh often and much as the stories unfold.
Throughout my speech, I emphasize how an author brings “heart” to a story. The author sees or hears something that gives them an idea for a story. Combining that idea with the author’s feelings, thoughts and experiences, a story blossoms into a rich, meaningful piece of writing that is as unique as the individual who wrote it.
“Sometimes I have great ideas. Sometimes I sit in my chair and can’t think of a thing to write. I’m just like you! Some days writing is easy, and some days it’s hard. I’m just like you! Some days people love my stories, and sometimes I have to go back and write it all over again. I’m just like you!”
– Excerpt from the speech, “Just Like You . . ,”