One of my favorite things to do is work with children and teachers. Each year, at international conventions, I'm meeting more and more educators who share with me how visiting authors have been valuable aids to the teaching process. A visit from a working author will reinforce the hard work of classroom teachers and entertain at the same time. I marvel at how children's eyes light up while I'm performing a poem. I watch them bob and sway to the rhythm of the words. Their incessant questions make me realize that I've helped to motivate them to become readers and writers themselves.
I perform three one hour sessions in a school day. The presentation involves performances of poetry and poetic prose combined with a discussion of the value of the art form in our lives. There are choral readings, chants, echoes, raps, clap alongs, small and large group performances, a Q & A session, and inspirational ideas shared. I also talk about the development of a book--from idea to publication, and the writing process. As an anthologist, I mix performances of my work with those whose poems I've edited and collected, from contemporaries to Shakespeare and Langston Hughes. For smaller groups, I can perform a poetry or prose writing workshop. Since really little people tend to have little attention spans, I can perform 15-20 minute workshops for early grades and calculate it within the three hours. I have worked with all ages of children, from pre-k to high school.
The fee for a school day is $1,000 (plus travel, room, and meals, when applicable).
Half-days are fine for districts in the New York Metropolitan area. For overnight visits, two schools close to each other can split the 3 hours and the $1,000 honorarium and expenses.
Yes. I perform staff development and keynotes for teachers groups. My topics for educators include:
You can go to my "Publishers" page for their phone numbers, or click on the images of the books on this site to order them from amazon.com. Links to the publishers websites also appear on the "Publisher's Page."
Yes.
1) Ask the PTO/PTA. Many Parent-Teacher Organizations are fully able to fund author visits. Often, no one has suggested it to them. Others may not be as able but may be willing to do bake sales or other simple fundraisers.
2) Many librarians have used funds from their bookfairs to bring in authors.
3) Ask if your local chapter of the IRA (International Reading Association) or NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) offers grants. Many are willing to help bring in an author if that speaker will address their group in the evening.
4) Sometimes the local arts council can offer a grant. Check this out with local museums.
5) Principals can network and build support through local community organizations such as the Rotary. Organizations that serve diverse populations, such as Jack and Jill and local civil rights commissions are often particularly interested in my work. Principals may also utilize their organizational contacts for donations of money and lodging. For example, a dozen professionals and business owners in a community each make an annual donation to a fund which the school uses to bring in an author. Since you can book most authors for below $2,000 each year, it doesn't take a large donation from each party to cover the expense. Donations of a few hundred dollars each would provide money each year that is significantly more than the cost of the author. Thus, the fund could eventually become a self sustaining endowment.
6) Title 1 funds can be spent on activities that enhance the education of Title 1 students. The same applies to Gifted and Talented allocations.
7) Large companies often partner with several local schools. They can offer their corporate lodging (which they must pay for out of their budget, whether used or not) to the visiting author. Small businesses (including motels and restaurants) have also been known to donate their services. Others have donated money. An article could be written up about my visit in the local paper in which all the donors are mentioned and thanked.
8) Most schools have Teacher In-Service Training Funds earmarked for staff development. My work with students is designed to enlighten and motivate the children and the teachers. I can also present an after-school program for teachers alone.
9) Many schools have a Principal's Fund, money intended for school assemblies. Principals have been known to kick in half the fee and get a matching contribution from school district or one of the sources mentioned above.
Many schools make author visits an auspicious occasion.
My heart is warmed when students and teachers prepare similar work.
There's nothing more invigorating the energy of the elementary classroom.
Here's me at a book signing at the Cup and Chaucer Bookstore on Bloomfield Avenue in Monctlair, NJ, a dandy little spot that can get hard to find books..
Young poets are so eager for feedback on their work.
Poetry excites young learners in a way no other kind of language can.
The kids love the idea that they are meeting and getting the autograph of the same person who's picture and name are on the book jacket.
There's nothing quite like a Boyds Mills Press author party.
Harvard theologian Cornell West (left) reminded me how much race matters in our society. Two time Pen/Faulkner Award winning author John Edgar Wideman (right) showed me how intensely descriptive writing can deconstruct issues of race, class, and gender in America.
