Carmela Dutra's Blog - Posts Tagged "kidlit"
November is #PictureBookMonth
November is Picture Book Month and I want to help share pictures books!
Since this month only comes around once a year, and given the fact that I am an author and illustrator of picture books myself this hits home with me. I want to have a full share in this month, so I will dedicated this entire month to blogging about picture books!
What is Picture Book Month you ask? It is an international literacy initiative that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November. It was founded by Dianne de Las Casas (author & storyteller) www.diannedelascasas.com. She, along with Co-Founders, Katie Davis (author/illustrator) katiedavis.com, Elizabeth O. Dulemba (author/illustrator) www.dulemba.com, Tara Lazar (author) taralazar.wordpress.com, and Wendy Martin (author/illustrator) wendymartinillustration.com, put together their worldwide connections to make this happen.
We want the best for kids, be it as parent’s grandparent, aunts, or uncles we want them to reach their full potential. It’s like that slogan the army had, “Be all you can be!” That’s all we want for them, is to be the best them they can be. Picture Books can help us to achieve this goal!
Remember too, a goal without action is just a dream.
What You Can Do to Celebrate Picture Book Month?
Here are just a few things you can do!
* Register to become a Picture Book Month Ambassador, I did! Then place the Ambassador badge on your website, with a link to PictureBookMonth.com.
*Read Picture Books, and be sure to share what you have read with your followers and friends!
* Tweet the cause and use the hashtag #picturebookmonth
* Ask a picture book author/illustrator to visit your school or library.
* Follow Picture Book Month (@PictureBkMonth) and founder Dianne de Las Casas on Twitter (@AuthorDianneDLC) for updates on Picture Book Month every day in November. You can find Picture Book Month on Facebook too.
Join the celebration and party with a picture book!
If you would like to schedule your own Author, and or Illustrator visit for your school, classroom, or library today fill out the contact form here! As a way to give back to schools my visits are always!*
http://lorenzothebear.com/bears-den/a...
*Depending on distance a modest travel fee may be requested
Narrative Writing and Tests: 2 part Blog Series
Tests, test, and more tests!! It seems to be as quickly as students complete one set of testing another round begins. I’m sure everyone who is reading this will agree with me when I say ‘we didn’t have this many tests when I was in school.’
Sadly things have changed over the years. Things we never thought would be cut from schools have long since passes. Funding has been cut, and more quizzes have sprung up in their place. There seems to be a test for everything now a days. Why just the other day I was talking with my nephew and was telling me about his report card. I was floored when he said he was given a written test for PE. A written test in PE? Really? That surprised me!
We could spend all day arguing the politics of tests, the pros and cons, and our personal beliefs on such subjects. However, that is not what this blog is about. This is not to state my personal opinion on tests and whether or not schools should have the amount they do in one school year. In fact, it will be years before my son even takes his first test in school. By that point, I’m sure I will have an abundant supply of opinions on the matter (haha).
This is actually a two part blog series that will be focusing on ways to help students taking tests specifically in writing. The first part of this blog will be from my experience in working with students in this area. The second part of this blog will be next week, where we will hear from other authors on this topic.
Over the past several weeks during my classroom visits, all of the teachers wanted to focus on the same activities in class. Writing a narrative story incorporating the use of dialogue. Then a close friend asked me to help her son with a writing assignment he had in class (homeschool). His was also on the same topic, writing a narrative story focusing on the use of dialogue.
This was no coincidence. All of classes I visited and my friend’s son would have an important test to take this year that will focus on the use of dialogue in writing. The grades I had been visiting, and my friend’s son were between the grades of 2-4. The common core standardized testing focuses in on writing, ensuring the children are adequately prepared in this area, and to move ahead. The question then becomes how can we prepare for this?
The classrooms I visited had amazing teachers! They spent a portion each day helping their students to prepare for this test, and others like it. So when I came to visit their classrooms this became another area they could use to help their students prepare for this upcoming test. How did we accomplish this?
First we read one of my stories together, and as we read we kept in mind a few things. 1. What is the setting? 2. What were the elements of the story? 3. How many characters were there in the story, and how were we able to identify who each one was? Then after we finished reading we discussed: Why is use of dialogue important when we write? What are the elements that go into writing a story? After we covered everything, then we put it into action by writing our own stories!
Each student received a printout I created with the needs of the classroom in mind. It was a story prompt to help them get started on writing their own narrative. I worked closely with each student helping them to focus in on what they will be tested on later. Use of imagination was strongly encouraged, since each child is an individual, I wanted each of the stories to hold true to their own uniqueness.
The same way I worked with the classrooms was the same approach I took with my friend’s son. Only difference was, since we had more time together we were able to work on everything from start to finish. We worked on the rough draft, the editing, and then completed story. Even though it was not required, he decided that he wanted to add illustrations to enhance the story.
Often times we can become overwhelmed and fearful of what we do not understand. Taking tests, or even preparing for them can be especially challenging for young ones, parents even educators. Once we understand what it is involved then we remove that fear, and can tackle it head on.
Everyone has different approaches to writing. Some for example may need to draw the illustration first, before they are able to write the accompanying story. While others need to write everything from start to finish, then focus on the illustrations. Same is true for authors. Each author has their own unique approach to what they do, and how they do it. What are some of their tips and suggestions for student writing? Well check out next week’s blog and hear from a few fellow kid lit authors yourself!
For more information about Common Core Testing in your state you can visit the website Common Core Standards you can also visit my website Lorenzothebear.com where you can download free writing activities that can be used at home, or in the classroom.
Up next week in the conclusion of this two part blog series hear from fellow authors
AJ Cosmo author of such stories as: Monsters A to Z and My Pet Raptor
Cat Michaels author of Sweet T and the North Wind and Finding Fuzzy
Rosie Russell author of such books as: Beasley’s Journey, Avi and Jackson Best Friends, and Maggie, Millie, and Merries Magical Aventure
Lise Chase author of the Wally and Warren Series
Rhonda Paglia author of such stories as The Three Little Gnomes and a Boy named Orion and the Meeda and Me Series.
Behind the scenes of an Author Visit
Well it’s that time of year again folks! School is coming to an end, or at some schools it has already ended. Summer is just around the corner and the adventures are soon to begin! This past school year has been a blur! It feels like just yesterday I was watching commercials for school supplies at the local Target. I’m sure all of you parent’s reading this are nodding your heads in agreement.
While this school year feels like it just started, it’s already coming to a close! For me, it was a very different type of school year. It wasn’t the normal collecting box tops for education to send to my niece and nephew, or even sending them notebooks and pencils. This year I was privileged to visit a variety of classrooms.
Each visit was a different experience, the grades ranged between first and third. There were English and bilingual students. I had a few combo classes, I was even working with a few special needs students. Each class came with its own challenges, some of which were the various sizes of the classes. Some school have the 20 -1- rule, and others did not. In the end, all of them were filled with a buzz of energy! I enjoyed every second I had with the students, and I cannot wait for the new school to begin so I can start them all over again!
Lately I have been getting several messages/e-mails that look something like this.
“I just got invited for my very first author visit, and I wanted to see if you had any advice since you have done these types of visits before. I will be reading to (insert grade level), what advice do you have regarding handouts, activities, selling books, etc.?”
I thought this would be a fantastic blog opportunity, to break down what goes into a classroom visits. Everything I discuss will be in reference to my series The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear.
However, the same idea can be used with any book. I will be applying these same techniques when my new series Little Katie comes out June 3rd. That’s right everyone, The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear will not be my only series! I’m so excited so share Little Katie with everyone! She has been over a year in the making. Eek! So excited!! Okay, back on topic now.
The grade levels that I tend to stick with are between 1-3, this is my target audience, but I do not limit myself to these grades. I have recently been asked to start visiting both fourth and fifth grade as well, so we’ll have to get more creative there. Before each visit there are several, and I mean several phone/e-mail/text and sometimes in person conversations between the teacher(s) and myself. Any parent knows that each of their children are unique, needing things tailored just for them. Same goes for each classroom I visit.
The needs of each school, classroom, teacher, and student’s vary. That is why I spend so much time communicating with the teacher(s) to address the needs of their student’s. I often ask what they are focusing in school? Do they want an activity that will focus on writing, or art? With their feedback, I work with them to create a custom classroom visit. I usually e-mail a few activities for them to choose from, and then we go from there.
There is a basic structure to the visits; I come introduce myself, read my story, Q&A, activities, handouts, and say goodbye. But each visit varies based on the needs of the class. Sadly, some schools I visit had their funding for Arts cut. Since I am also an illustrator, I inform the teacher(s) that I can offer art as an activity to focus on. Sometimes I’ll show a video to the class showing them how Lorenzo the Bear comes together, then I help the students to draw Lorenzo themselves. The steps they learn when drawing Lorenzo the Bear, can be then applied classroom draw any animal they desire.
Other classrooms are wanting to focus on writing, especially plot and character development. Or, writing a story with your audience in mind. In this instance I offer an activity that focuses on writing, usually a story prompt.
For the really little ones simplicity is key! I like to keep it as short and as simple as I can! I aim to keep in them engaged as much as possible. This is where we will usually play a game together, make bear hats, or color.
Sometimes teachers who just want their student’s to have fun! When this is the case we play something like MadLibs, or Word search. Regardless of the activity that is chosen, each one is custom made by myself, and ties in with the book I read to the class. There is always a theme I stick with, and that is my books. Oh and most importantly, I make it a point to personally work with each and every student in the class.
Despite what some of the kids may say, they all LOVE to color! So I am sure to always bring along coloring pages for them. These are kept as a backup to use, if we fly through the planned activity. Otherwise they get these at the end of the visit to use later in class, or to take home.
I really appreciate the enthusiasm of the teachers. They often ask: “How long can we keep you!?” I explain that it depends on how many classrooms I will be visiting that day. Overall my visits are usually 60 min. especially if I have back to back classrooms. Sometimes my visits are a little shorter for first and kindergartner’s, it just depends.
Here is the big question everyone wants to know “If you sell your books, how do you go about it?” I have to give all of the credit to my publishing house here. My editor sent me a flyer they give to all of their children’s authors to help them sell their books in schools. It’s known as a give back program. The students are sent home with a flyer allowing them to purchase the book from me directly at a discount, then a portion from each sale goes back to the school library. This is approved by the principal, and then sent home with the students. This has been very effective in selling books.
In addition to sending home book order flyers, each student receives a parting gift to commemorate our visit. Usually it’s a book marker, but sometimes it’s a printable activity like a bear and or pirate hat. The student’s seem to get most excited over the donation of a book to each classroom I visit, so they will always have it to read over and over again.
So there you have it! A breakdown of an author visit with me, Carmela Dutra. I hope this helps any of you who might be starting off with author visits. Best of luck. You will rock your author visit! Are you an author who has visited a classroom before? Please leave a comment sharing your experiences!
Are you a teacher or Librarian? Would you like to schedule your own author visit? Please, visit the link below to set one up. Do live out of state? Or perhaps out of the country? That’s OK we can schedule a Skype visit too!
Besides being a fun break from the classroom routine, an author or illustrator visit introduces students to the processes of writing, developing characters, and expressing one’s creativity. It gets readers excited about books, and it provides an opportunity to encourage young writers. All of my visits are free, as I believe strongly in giving back to schools. So schedule one for you today!
CarmelaDutra.com
While this school year feels like it just started, it’s already coming to a close! For me, it was a very different type of school year. It wasn’t the normal collecting box tops for education to send to my niece and nephew, or even sending them notebooks and pencils. This year I was privileged to visit a variety of classrooms.
Each visit was a different experience, the grades ranged between first and third. There were English and bilingual students. I had a few combo classes, I was even working with a few special needs students. Each class came with its own challenges, some of which were the various sizes of the classes. Some school have the 20 -1- rule, and others did not. In the end, all of them were filled with a buzz of energy! I enjoyed every second I had with the students, and I cannot wait for the new school to begin so I can start them all over again!
Lately I have been getting several messages/e-mails that look something like this.
“I just got invited for my very first author visit, and I wanted to see if you had any advice since you have done these types of visits before. I will be reading to (insert grade level), what advice do you have regarding handouts, activities, selling books, etc.?”
I thought this would be a fantastic blog opportunity, to break down what goes into a classroom visits. Everything I discuss will be in reference to my series The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear.
However, the same idea can be used with any book. I will be applying these same techniques when my new series Little Katie comes out June 3rd. That’s right everyone, The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear will not be my only series! I’m so excited so share Little Katie with everyone! She has been over a year in the making. Eek! So excited!! Okay, back on topic now.The grade levels that I tend to stick with are between 1-3, this is my target audience, but I do not limit myself to these grades. I have recently been asked to start visiting both fourth and fifth grade as well, so we’ll have to get more creative there. Before each visit there are several, and I mean several phone/e-mail/text and sometimes in person conversations between the teacher(s) and myself. Any parent knows that each of their children are unique, needing things tailored just for them. Same goes for each classroom I visit.
The needs of each school, classroom, teacher, and student’s vary. That is why I spend so much time communicating with the teacher(s) to address the needs of their student’s. I often ask what they are focusing in school? Do they want an activity that will focus on writing, or art? With their feedback, I work with them to create a custom classroom visit. I usually e-mail a few activities for them to choose from, and then we go from there.
There is a basic structure to the visits; I come introduce myself, read my story, Q&A, activities, handouts, and say goodbye. But each visit varies based on the needs of the class. Sadly, some schools I visit had their funding for Arts cut. Since I am also an illustrator, I inform the teacher(s) that I can offer art as an activity to focus on. Sometimes I’ll show a video to the class showing them how Lorenzo the Bear comes together, then I help the students to draw Lorenzo themselves. The steps they learn when drawing Lorenzo the Bear, can be then applied classroom draw any animal they desire.
Other classrooms are wanting to focus on writing, especially plot and character development. Or, writing a story with your audience in mind. In this instance I offer an activity that focuses on writing, usually a story prompt.
For the really little ones simplicity is key! I like to keep it as short and as simple as I can! I aim to keep in them engaged as much as possible. This is where we will usually play a game together, make bear hats, or color.
Sometimes teachers who just want their student’s to have fun! When this is the case we play something like MadLibs, or Word search. Regardless of the activity that is chosen, each one is custom made by myself, and ties in with the book I read to the class. There is always a theme I stick with, and that is my books. Oh and most importantly, I make it a point to personally work with each and every student in the class.
Despite what some of the kids may say, they all LOVE to color! So I am sure to always bring along coloring pages for them. These are kept as a backup to use, if we fly through the planned activity. Otherwise they get these at the end of the visit to use later in class, or to take home.
I really appreciate the enthusiasm of the teachers. They often ask: “How long can we keep you!?” I explain that it depends on how many classrooms I will be visiting that day. Overall my visits are usually 60 min. especially if I have back to back classrooms. Sometimes my visits are a little shorter for first and kindergartner’s, it just depends.
Here is the big question everyone wants to know “If you sell your books, how do you go about it?” I have to give all of the credit to my publishing house here. My editor sent me a flyer they give to all of their children’s authors to help them sell their books in schools. It’s known as a give back program. The students are sent home with a flyer allowing them to purchase the book from me directly at a discount, then a portion from each sale goes back to the school library. This is approved by the principal, and then sent home with the students. This has been very effective in selling books.
In addition to sending home book order flyers, each student receives a parting gift to commemorate our visit. Usually it’s a book marker, but sometimes it’s a printable activity like a bear and or pirate hat. The student’s seem to get most excited over the donation of a book to each classroom I visit, so they will always have it to read over and over again.
So there you have it! A breakdown of an author visit with me, Carmela Dutra. I hope this helps any of you who might be starting off with author visits. Best of luck. You will rock your author visit! Are you an author who has visited a classroom before? Please leave a comment sharing your experiences!
Are you a teacher or Librarian? Would you like to schedule your own author visit? Please, visit the link below to set one up. Do live out of state? Or perhaps out of the country? That’s OK we can schedule a Skype visit too!
Besides being a fun break from the classroom routine, an author or illustrator visit introduces students to the processes of writing, developing characters, and expressing one’s creativity. It gets readers excited about books, and it provides an opportunity to encourage young writers. All of my visits are free, as I believe strongly in giving back to schools. So schedule one for you today!
CarmelaDutra.com
