tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post4033929118455425991..comments2024-03-22T01:00:38.320-04:00Comments on I.N.K.: Lessons Learned - Author PresentationsLinda Salzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217322360480267856noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-78720579057030996382012-05-03T07:48:36.734-04:002012-05-03T07:48:36.734-04:00My fourth graders are so excited about your upcomi...My fourth graders are so excited about your upcoming classroom visit! Your creativity, insight and humor will surely be an inspiration to our young writers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-71009424486102102262012-04-27T14:36:56.750-04:002012-04-27T14:36:56.750-04:00Great post Anna! The dynamics of large assembly pr...Great post Anna! The dynamics of large assembly presentations are different from workshop presentations such as the ones you describe here. Workshops can be challenging for all the reasons you outline. I think half the battle (challenge?) is finding out what “doesn’t” work and then being prepared for it as you have done through your years of teaching art. Here are some examples: 1) If I have to turn out all the lights, I tell the kids when I’m about to do it. They will still make “oooo” noises, but at least the little ones aren’t surprised and scared. 2) In a one-hour workshop, I’ve never had a kid ask to go to the restroom or sharpen pencils, but if I anticipate that it might be a problem, I set the ground rules up front. It also helps to have another adult in the room to help special requests if they arise. (And actually, if you are not an employee of a school, a staff member is required to be with you at all times.) 3) At the start of the lesson, I appoint kids to be my supply-hander-outers and board-erasers. 4) In terms of kids “spilling the beans” about the content of my workshop, I swear them to secrecy at the start of the lesson. But if they do leak the information, I just go, “Oh well” and go on. I’m happy that they like what we’re engaged in!Alexishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02321139975466926221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-33858740766208004202012-04-27T12:45:03.937-04:002012-04-27T12:45:03.937-04:00three words of wisdom: tell gross storiesthree words of wisdom: tell gross storiesSteve Sheinkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04726927190491932639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-18581478354485609432012-04-27T09:55:13.024-04:002012-04-27T09:55:13.024-04:00I don't do presentations, but I LOVE Vicki'...I don't do presentations, but I LOVE Vicki's index card suggestion! In the lunchroom we love the first two weeks of school when the Kindergarteners and 1st Graders are wearing their name tags...sure wish they would carry index cards with them! Thanks for the chuckle Anna!kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02208070664088551779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-28452982365409541782012-04-27T09:26:05.867-04:002012-04-27T09:26:05.867-04:00Yet another thing. Invest in a good wireless laval...Yet another thing. Invest in a good wireless lavaliere microphone that can plug into all PA systems.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07214356318088069618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-37667117783021281232012-04-27T09:22:41.112-04:002012-04-27T09:22:41.112-04:00Great post, Anna.
I finally invested in my own pr...Great post, Anna. <br />I finally invested in my own projector, rather than relying on the school's equipment, which has greatly reduced my stress level. I can't relax until I know my technology is working! I LOVE Vicki's idea about names on index cards. I'm totes borrowing that idea from now on!<br />I think we NF writers have it sooo much easier than fiction writers, but maybe I'm a bit biased.Sarah Albeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07392571889158959424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-81560175190459320462012-04-27T08:46:04.781-04:002012-04-27T08:46:04.781-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anna M. Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01915256522607241235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-56996354478284997422012-04-27T08:46:03.736-04:002012-04-27T08:46:03.736-04:00Thanks so much, Vicki. That was exactly the great ...Thanks so much, Vicki. That was exactly the great info I was looking for. <br />Think I saved a listserv discussion (somewhere) on what equipment to purchase.<br />I was surprised after I reviewed several days worth of author presentations. Everyone's technique, delivery, and style was different but they all worked. Very cool!Anna M. Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01915256522607241235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-67979464142512317102012-04-27T07:22:19.711-04:002012-04-27T07:22:19.711-04:00Yet another thing. Invest in a good wireless laval...Yet another thing. Invest in a good wireless lavaliere microphone that can plug into all PA systems.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07214356318088069618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-1274458717592980242012-04-27T07:11:32.241-04:002012-04-27T07:11:32.241-04:00I'm LOL, Anna. Great observations! As a seas...I'm LOL, Anna. Great observations! As a seasoned presenter I make my show (make no mistake; it is a show) very interactive. All children hold a large index card with their first names in BIG BLACK letters. Instead of raising their hands they raise their cards so I can call them by name. This creates an intimacy right away, as if I really know them. I seat the first row on the floor in a horseshoe shape around me so they are as close to me as possible. That shape serves as a template to seat the others behind them. I ask them lots of questions and tell them to just say what they think without raising their hands so that they stay with the conversation. I use choral responses for a direct instruction segment(telling them first that it's going to be hard,(Are they up to it? You bet!) My biggest problem is that the kids get so excited they have trouble getting it together for my next thing. So I ring a bell to remind them. (Most of the time I don't need it, however.) I give them activities they all can do in their seats and do demonstrations with volunteers. I levitate ping-pong balls, make a teabag fly and blow up toilet paper. I produce intense engagement 100% of the time. by the time I'm finished the kids are on their knees moving towards me.Kids that need to act out quickly learn that no one is interested in them so they shape up. It's incredibly hard work, I love it, yet I worry that I'm running out of steam.<br /><br />One other strategy I learned from Peter Catalanatto: When you're talking to K-1 have the first graders sit in front of the kindergartners. That way they see how to behave from the older kids.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07214356318088069618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-48882408225498376392012-04-27T07:02:31.750-04:002012-04-27T07:02:31.750-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07214356318088069618noreply@blogger.com