I love sharing reading, writing, and science with learners of all ages–in assemblies, writing workshops, STEM days, Title 1 and family science nights!
Current Presentations:
Purr-fect Research is so Dog-gone Fun!: Research is the most fun part of being a nonfiction writer. Students can learn to love it, too! In this presentation, I will share the excitement of research with students, by emphasizing playing with new ideas as they find them. I’ll introduce a research cycle strategy that kids can use to guide their own information searches and give plenty of cute, cuddly examples from work on Dog and Cat Science Unleashed!
Try This at Home: Discover the science hidden in everyday materials! Volunteers will help me with a set of science stunts that audience members can go right home and try themselves. I’ll explain the science behind the tricks. Along the way, I’ll share how I became a nonfiction writer and the endless possibilities of nonfiction writing careers.
Explain This!: Volunteers will help me present science puzzles to the audience. We’ll search texts for clues to their solution. Students will practice their science explanation skills during the assembly and in a take-back-to-the-classroom science mystery assignment.
Students will leave the assembly excited about science AND writing.
Addresses range-of-reading and writing (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.10 and CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.10 for grades K-8) standards as well as a variety of science standards. Contact me for science standards by grade.
Reading, Writing, and Science Workshops
Learn to write non-fiction like a pro! Explore a science concept in a hands-on activity or attention-grabbing demonstration. Investigate further through reading. Then learn new writing skills to help generate a description (grades k-2), explanation (grades 3-5), or support a claim with evidence (grades 6-8).
(Writing workshops are suitable for groups of up to 30 students with their teachers, and can be adjusted to meet a variety of science standards.)
Meets CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2 for grades K-5 and CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.1 for grades 6-8.
Once Upon a Science Book 