Presentations are geared toward the needs of the audience and include preschool, elementary and intermediate levels, through junior high school.   Preschool and kindergarten sessions are
centered around a read-aloud and
related activities.
 
Presentations:
 
Are You Wide-Awake? 
Living the life of a writer
(3rd grade and up)
                                                                                      
Using a PowerPoint presentation, I show students
how I live wide-awake to the world around me, recording my observations, thoughts, words,
anything that catches my attention, in my journal. 
I demonstrate how students can use there own
journal entries as seeds for stories, poems,
essays, for any kind of writing their heart desires.
This is an interactive presentation where children
can bring their own journals, writing in response to photographs and questions, and if they choose,
sharing them with the group.
 
Length of session: 40 - 50 minutes
 
From the Ordinary to the Amazing: Choosing just the right word
for your poem.   
(1st grade and up)
 
Poetry enables the reader to see the world
through new eyes.  How does the poet
accomplish this?  By taking the reader out
of the ordinary into the amazing through
the magic of words.  During this presentation,
students will be introduced to the use of
metaphor and simile as well as specific
techniques for choosing that “just-right” word.
 
Length of session: 40 - 50 minutes
 
Writing In A Room Full of Authors:
Using our favorite authors
to mentor our writing.       
(1st grade and up)
 
Everyone has a favorite author, an author
whose writing captures our hearts.  What does
that particular author do that entices us to
search the bookshelves for more of her writing?  
This presentation is designed to show students
and teachers how to use the language and
structure of different genres as guidelines or
models for their own writing.   Using texts
from poems, picture books, nonfiction and
memoir, I will demonstrate how to identify
specific words, sentences, punctuation, etc.
that make that particular piece of writing
work so well.  This activity can be tied into
the Six Traits.
 
Length of session: 40 -50 minutes
 
 
Going to Work In My Pajamas:
Writing a book from idea
to publication
(1st grade and up)
 
Using rough drafts, sketches, illustrations from
my own books as well as comments and
suggestions from my editor, I will show
students how a book progresses from
an idea to, well... a book!
 
Length of session: 40 - 50 minutes
 
 
Fees:   Please email me for my current fees.
 
annetteb4@comcast.net

Anne,
 
Thank you for the wonderful presentation!  Our teachers and students were so excited about it.  I have had so many students stop me in the halls to tell me about what they are writing now and how your presentation helped them.
 
So many of our teachers have commented on how your presentation taught the students to think like a writer.   Your presentation was both entertaining and educational.  We would love to have you back next year!
 
Kym McClimans
West Tooele Elementary


“I wanted to send you a very BIG THANK YOU from all of the lower school students here at USN. I have had so
many children tell me in the past week what a great
experience it was to hear you speak to them about the
writing process. They loved the slides and all your
personal stories. I am sure you have inspired many
budding authors.”

Maura Rankin
Library Director
University School of Nashville
Author visit at Gramercy Elementary, Ogden, Utah
Book signing at Gramercy with my two granddaughters,
Taylor and Addison
Author visit at Bunderson Elementary, Brigham City, Utah
This bulletin board was inspired by WHEN YOU VISIT GRANDMA AND GRANDPA
Of course, this came from my first book,
I LOVED YOU BEFORE YOU WERE BORN
This was inspired by my new book,
TOOTH FAIRY’S FIRST NIGHT
TOOTH FAIRY’S FIRST NIGHT
Every teacher had a big question mark on the classroom door and above it was the question: WHAT DO TEACHERS DO?  This is my new book, due out in September, 2006.  It’s for all of you who ever wondered what teachers really do when the bell rings and students go home!
Inspired by HOW DID YOU GROW SO BIG, SO SOON?
Me reading my book, What DO Teachers Do (After YOU Leave School)? at the LA Times Book Festival. Target brings many author/illustrators to these events promoting literacy for children. I felt honored to be there!! Thanks, Target!
Tooth Fairy pictures illustrated by Ms. Deelstra's and Miss Joy's kindergarten class at Wasatch Elementary, Ogden, Utah.
Letters from students about some of my books.