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MY BACKGROUND:
I have been teaching Children’s Literature at Eastern Kentucky University but I taught primary school for 22 years. My students’ love for the Appalachian theme I taught prompted me to write the children’s book, A is for Appalachia! The Alphabet Book of Appalachian Heritage. Harmony House Publishers originally published A is for Appalachia! and it ran for the 2004 Kentucky Bluegrass Award. University Press of Kentucky reprinted A is for Appalachia in November, 2009.
SCHOOL VISITS: I stay all day, work with all ages, and I am happy to stay after school to lead teacher workshops, work with parents or participate in evening activities My presentation can be entirely about Appalachia OR it can also include the Writing Process using our Appalachian Heritage. I share examples of my own prewriting, rewrites, and editing with the students in an attempt to demonstrate that all writers go through a process to achieve a finished product. I can provide an On-Demand writing prompt for intermediate and middle grades and a writing activity for second and third grades. I take the students on a trip back in time where we meet the people who settled our Appalachian Mountains. We talk about the language; we immerse ourselves in the music and dance of the people, the oral traditions, the customs, the celebration of life, the necessity of hard work, the importance of community, and what it was like to be a child. I tell them a ghost story and part of a Jack tale, we do the flat foot dance, have a spelling bee, participate in a candy breakin’, sing a hymn in the old manner of line singing, and discuss the wonderful customs of celebrating Christmas when I am there in December. If at all possible, I appreciate the opportunity to visit with every child in the school. I prefer to visit with a single grade or about 4 or 5 classrooms at a time, usually in the library. However, I will meet with as many students as needed to make the schedule work for your school. If I am required to meet with students in a large multipurpose room, I ask that you provide a microphone to help my voice travel. I need at least 45 minutes per session for grades 1 –3, about 90 minutes per session for grades 4-8, and about 35 minutes for kindergarten. If we are working on the writing process. Schedule a short lunch break for me; I’m at your school to work with your students.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED: I require a projector, a screen, access to electrical outlets, and a display table. If you don't have a projector, I can bring one.
BOOK SALES: My book is sold at a 10% discount when I visit schools: 16.00 including tax. I ask that the school send home the flier I provide announcing my visit to the school so that students will be able to purchase books if they choose. I personalize each book and I like to autograph it in the child’s presence if time allows; if not, I will stay after school to autograph the books and leave them to be handed out to the students the next school day.
AUTHOR HONORARIUM: My fee is $300 per day for a school visit. If you copy the flier I provide and send it home with all of your students, the fee is $250. If you would like to include the ILLUSTRATOR, PAT BANKS, with my school visit, we visit schools together for $600 or $500 if you send home our flier prior to our visit to your school.
Overnight stays: I ask that the school pay for my room. Mileage: If I have to drive a long distance, I ask for assistance with the cost of fuel.
Thank you for your interest in all things Appalachian, Linda
Contact me at LHAGERPACK@yahoo.com 119 FOREST HILL DR. RICHMOND, KY 40475 859-623-0649 Home 859-200-4000 Cell (best way to reach me) | |
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