Programs
While I have several “tried and true” presentations, I am happy to adapt to the needs of your audience. Programs fit your timetable and are always interactive and high energy. Here are a few options.
Plants! Un-be-LEAF-able and Fun! (Adaptable for all grades)
Truth or a lie? This floating leaf is so gigantic, a human can sit on top of it (That one’s true!). Participants dig into the fascinating world of plants as they investigate ingenious methods plants use to survive. With an emphasis on STEM, this hands-on presentation has audience members appreciating plants long after the school day is over.
A downloadable educator’s guide for Fantastic Flora is available here:
Making a Difference
Find Your Extreme Passion–Whether it’s playing the piano, baking a delicate dessert, or playing a sport, this presentation encourages audience members to push past fear and follow their dreams. Highlighting 15 diverse, modern role-models who smashed through fear, adventure athletes and high-flying aviators and astronauts share a message of hope and perseverance. Participants also learn what it takes to write a book.
Women Heroes–Take a deep dive into our country’s history by discovering the incredible bravery and accomplishments of 14 diverse women who served in the U.S. Army—legally and illegally—from earliest times to today. Learn how, despite gender discrimination and unfair laws, women have been valuable contributors during every military engagement since the American Revolution.
Setting Up for STEM (Grades 2-5)
Take a bite out of math and science! In this engaging, enlightening presentation, audience participation takes center stage. Students help determine the properties of matter by joining a Moh’s Scale of Hardness line. They decipher the Fibonacci Sequence by engaging in an interactive story. Students have so much fun, they forget they’re learning!
Other Options (All ages)
- Writer’s Workshop—This intensive is appropriate for a smaller audience of up to 30 members, including adults only. After sharing my process, participants are encouraged to find their own muse as they work through a highly engaging series of activities and fun!
- Educator Training—Tailored to the needs of your school, this workshop gives educators specific, ready-to-go ideas for creating a high-energy, high-learning classroom. Free take-aways and activities provided.
*Fees for in-person and virtual events are negotiable. Programs run between 30 to 60 minutes. I’m happy to do more than one program per day and, if schools pair up, I can also do more than one school per day. For travel outside the Washington, DC metro area, there is an extra charge for expenses. (I work to make this as affordable as possible).
Please consider coordinating book sales before my event. This builds up enthusiasm and interest in the program. It also helps me keep my fees reasonable, and I’m happy to sign books once I’m there (or mail signed bookplates if virtual). Also, I always provide free materials and downloadables. I work to make any speaking engagement inspirational!
Ways to Pay for an Author Visit:
1. I do a certain number of virtual author visits for free. Please ask!
2. Apply for the Amber Brown Grant which is offered to schools each year.
3. Book with other schools to split costs and receive discounts.
4. For local schools, if you order a certain number of books, the fee is steeply discounted.
5. Ask special interest groups such as Parent/Teacher associations for funds.
6. Host a fund-raiser. Not only does this make money, it also builds enthusiasm for the event.