SCHOOL VISITS AND PRESENTATIONS
Kate offers school and library visits, virtual visits to schools & book clubs, and professional development workshops for teachers. Scroll down for a full list of presentations and workshops. If you are interested in scheduling a school or library program, please email for current rates and availability.
Kate is an exemplary performer -- she is knowledgable, informative, humorous, and engaging. As she presents, her face beams with her love of learning and her love of learners -- of all ages.
~Sharon Hayes, School Library Media Specialist, South Hero, VT
My 4th, 5th and 6th grade students have never been so thoroughly engaged.
~Karen Wright, Ogdensburg City School District
I loved how a student was able to dress in the authentic clothing of the time period in the book. Also, the students still haven't stopped talking about how nasty the hardtack was!
~Renee Tebo, John F.Kennedy Elementary School, Ogdensburg, NY
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PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
Trees, Leaves, and Gianna Z!
(Grades 4-8, 45-60 minutes)
In THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z (Walker Books, September 1, 2009), a seventh grade cross-country star has one more hurdle to jump before she goes to sectionals. It's a monster leaf collection project for science class, and it seems like nothing goes right as Gianna Z tries to collect and identify 25 leaves. In this hands-on, multimedia presentation, author Kate Messner reads from her book, shares the inspiration and research behind Gianna Z's story, and teaches kids to identify the trees in their own backyard.
Are We There Yet?
Chapter Books & Picture Books (30-40 minute presentation for Grades K-3)
A Novel’s Journey (45-60-minute presentation for Grades 4 and up)
Sometimes, when you’re a kid, writing assignments seem to go on forever, like a long, long car ride. This interactive workshop takes kids along on the journey a book makes on its way to publication. Kate shares the story of one of her books – brainstorming, writing a first draft, revising, getting feedback from friends, revising, finding a publisher, revising again, sending a new draft, revising again (are you noticing a trend?), copy editing, book and cover design, and finally publishing. Kate will share early drafts, photographs of her (sometimes crazy) writing process, and actual revision letters from her editors. Students will read some text excerpts and have a chance to practice their editing skills, too.
Revolution!
(Grades 4-8, 45-60 minutes)
Join Kate Messner, author of Spitfire, for a trip back in time to the American Revolution on Lake Champlain. Kate will read from her middle grade novel Spitfire, set during the Battle of Valcour Island in 1776, sign books, and present an interactive, multimedia slide show about the real 12-year-old who fought in the battle. Kids will be invited to ask questions, handle artifact replicas, taste the food, and try on the clothes of an 18th century sailor.
Encounters of 1609
(Grades 4-8, 45-60 minutes)
Native Americans had lived along the waterways of the Northeast for generations when French explorers and fur traders began arriving in the late 16th century. What must the two groups have thought of one another? In this interactive presentation, Kate shares images, artifacts, quotes from Samuel de Champlain’s journals, and excerpts from her historical novel Champlain and the Silent One, challenging students to consider point of view and the impact that different cultures can have on one another.
Historical Fiction: Small Group Writing Workshop
For groups of up to 20 students in grades 4 and up
(60-80 minutes)
In this writing intensive, Kate works with students to research their own short pieces of historical fiction. Students will begin with a scenario, take notes from a primary source document, and then conduct experimental research with 18th century toys, foods, and tools to write descriptive passages that are historically accurate and include rich sensory details. During the one-hour workshop, students will complete a graphic organizer to guide their writing. Stories may be written, revised, and polished as a follow-up activity after the author visit.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS
Historical Fiction as a Bridge to Content Area Literacy
How can historical fiction engage students in content area reading? Join Kate Messner, National Board Certified Teacher and author of two historical novels, for a showcase of books and a toolbox of strategies.
Walking the Walk: How Teacher-Writers Encourage Student Revision
As teachers, we encourage our students to revise their writing. How can our own writing strengthen our teaching of this important step in the writing process? Kate Messner, National Board Certified Teacher and author, will share her own revision process as well as strategies, activities, and technology tips to make students excited about revision.
Laughing All the Way to the Test: Using Humorous Books to Meet Learning Standards
Kate Messner, National Board Certified English teacher and author, takes a look at laughter in literature and how we can use kids' love of humor to meet standards in ELA and other subject areas. Kate will read from her middle grade novel THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z as well as other humorous texts that can be used for up-and-out-of-your-seat activities to help kids learn.
VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISITS - New for 2009!
Kate offers three kinds of virtual author visits, using Skype videoconferencing software.
For Book Clubs: Kate loves book clubs! If your book club is reading one of her novels, she'd love to join your discussion. THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z, which deals with Gianna's relationship with her mother and grandmother, is an especially great choice for mother-daughter book clubs. Available: late afternoon/early evening EST Time: 20 minutes Cost: FREE
For Schools & Libraries: Lunch with an Author - When your students have finished reading one of Kate's books, she would be happy to join them via Skype for a lunchtime question and answer session. Available: most weekdays at 11:15 EST Time: 20 minutes Cost: FREE
For Schools & Libraries: Virtual Author Presentations - Many of the in-person presentations listed above may be adapted as virtual visits. These are full-length presentations that include Powerpoint. Availability: email for available dates Time: 45 minutes Cost: $200
RESOURCES TO DOWNLOAD
THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z. - TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS & BOOK CLUBS
Study Guide
A Recipe for Nonna’s Funeral Cookies
Quiz: What Kind of Tree Are You?
HISTORICAL NOVELS - TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS & BOOK CLUBS
Spitfire Study Guide
Champlain and the Silent One Study Guide
To read any of these pages, you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download for free here. The Spitfire study guide is a 52-page document, while the Champlain and the Silent One study guide is 46 pages. For each chapter, you'll find two pages of resources for teachers and students, including historical notes, discussion questions, interdisciplinary connections, related web links, vocabulary words, multiple choice and constructed response questions modeled after state assessment tasks. (Teachers, please email me for an answer key to multiple choice questions.)