Author Visits

 

Tips for teachers, librarians, and organizers

 

An author visit can be a wonderful addition to the school year. Students love meeting authors in person. This guide will help make the author visit run smoothly.

 

 

 

It is a good idea to contact the author as soon as possible to ensure the best chance of securing the date you want. Fill out an Author Visit Request Form.

 

 

Once you have contacted the author and scheduled the visit, begin planning for the visit.

 

Some suggested considerations:

 

• Transportation – how is the author going to arrive? If the author is flying in, transportation should be arranged from the airport to the lodging where they will be staying.
• Lodging – where is the author going to stay? Most times an author will be visiting your school for a day and will need to have a place to stay the evening before. Please arrange for the nice accommodations that include high-speed internet and room service when possible. It really helps with preparations for a quality presentation.
• Photocopy Pre-Order Forms and Parent Letter for everyone (Masters provided. Hosting group photocopy and send home with each student.)
• Create anticipation for the Author Visit. Implement the following:



1. Meet Freddie the Frog (Freddie the Frog® teacher’s puppet) via the first book, Freddie the Frog and the Thump in the Night before the Author Visit. http://www.freddiethefrogbooks.com/products.html





2. Send home a Pre-Order form and Parent letter for the book signing. (Click here for PDF master copy.) Sharon and Freddie will be available to sign as many books as needed. (If there is a large order, books will be pre-signed and organized/delivered by classroom teacher.)



3. Bulletin Board Idea:
   

Freddie the Frog® and Hoppin' Good Books!



Have students choose a favorite book and make a cover of that book. Using green construction paper, students will cut out a frog head, hands, and legs. Fold the legs accordion style and add feet. Glue the head, hands, and legs to the books and hang on the bulletin board. Create lily pads to add to the bulletin board. Bulletin Board Idea found at: http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/monthly/june_resources.html




• Photocopy Coloring Pages for everyone ready for the Author Visit. WAIT to hand out FOLLOWING the Author Visit. This way everyone has something to take home the day of the Author Visit. Especially important for those who did not Pre-Order. (Hosting group photocopies enough for each student. Master provided: coloring page with parent letter on back.)

• Cell phone numbers for the author and the host. Make sure you have each other’s contact information. This will greatly assist if for some reason a flight is delayed or there is a mix-up.
• Hotel reservation is confirmed.
• Confirm with the author the:
1. Exact number of presentations
2. Number of students at each presentation
3. Equipment needs ready

Communicate to make sure that the author understands your expectations and that you understand their needs. This will help ensure a smooth visit.

 

 

 

Prepare a brief introduction of the author to share with your students. You are welcome to use the one provided or use your own. Introduce the author and then enjoy the presentation. (Click here for a PDF download of a Sharon Burch Introduction.)

 

Note: Make sure the author knows beforehand how long the presentation should last and if there are any special-needs students.

 

Equipment Needs

 

Unless visiting an individual classroom, Sharon uses PowerPoint as part of presentations and will need the following:

• Table
• Projector Screen
• LCD projector
• Microphone, lavalier preferred
  If the presentation will be in an auditorium to a large group of students, a microphone will need to be provided. Please test it before the visit to make sure it works.
• Sound system to connect to a computer headphone

 

Book Signing

 

The author will be available to sign as many books as needed.

 

Presentation Outline for Elementary Students

 

• Meet Freddie the Frog®
• Music time singing games and activities
• Story time (depending which stories the students already know)
• Coloring Pages for everyone and online games, (Master page provided. Hosting group photocopy enough for each student. Distribute afterwards.)
• Book signing for Pre-Ordered books with Sharon Burch and Freddie the Frog®
  (If there is a large order, books will be pre-signed and organized/delivered by classroom teacher.)

 

 

After a successful author visit, your students should be excited about books, music, and the opportunity to meet an author. Encourage them to do additional projects relating to writing, illustrating, music, and being creative. Keep the momentum going and the anticipation will build for what the next year’s author will bring.