School Visits & Workshops

Workshops to Suit Every School

Presentations and Workshops For Schools:
Your Secret Heart — Joy, Fear, and the Hard Work of Reaching Your Goals
School-wide or smaller group, 60 minutes, Grades 4-8
In this presentation, Linda describes her path to publication from a childhood affinity for writing, to a moment in her early teens where a harsh word from a peer led her to put aside the risk of putting her heart on the page, to her cautious reentry to the world of writing twenty years later and the publication of A Crooked Kind of Perfect.  Along the way, Linda will encourage kids to pursue their own dreams by:

• Identifying the dreams that truly excite them

• Connecting with others who share and support that dream

• Finding models that inspire

• Persisting despite obstacles

• Not letting the idea of “perfect” get in the way

Linda’s presentation will also touch on writer’s craft, including the use of details to tell a story and the importance of revision (and more revision) to make a piece of writing the best it can be.

Writing and Rewriting the Picture Book
30-45 minutes, K-3 grade
Together, we’ll read Mouse Was Mad and talk about how the story came to be — from the first words, to illustration sketches, to the final book.  Students will:

• learn the parts of a picture book: cover, end papers, title page, page turns, text and illustration

• discuss what makes them mad and use that to brainstorm ideas for what makes Mouse mad before the story begins

• understand the importance of revision in both text and illustration

Writing Workshop: Point of View
60 minutes, grades 4-8
How do we come to know a character?  By looking at the world through his or her eyes.  In this workshop, we’ll use all of our senses in close observation, then attempt the same from the point of view of a fictional character, ultimately trying our hand at a short writing exercise that demonstrates who that character is.

Additional Writing Workshops can be constructed to suit your school’s writing goals and student interests.  Possible topics include: Adding Detail in your Writing, Telling the Truth (even when you’re writing fiction), and Using Writer’s Notebooks.

FOR TEACHERS AND WRITERS:
Writer’s Notebooks: How making a mess makes all the difference
45 minute talk with slides for teachers and writers focusing on various strategies (serious and silly) for encouraging creativity, analysis, open hearts and brave spirits.  Can be held on the same day as a school visit.

CLICK HERE for my super-quick author request form and I’ll follow up with info about fees, scheduling, and things we can do to make your school visit the best it can be.

“Linda Urban’s visit to our school was most memorable. She is such a genuine, down-to-earth person. She truly connected to the students and teachers. She explained her writing process and encouraged the kids to be writers, too. Our teacher’s appreciated that! Linda’s sense of humor comes through, just as it does in her writing!”
— Paula,
school librarian,Houston, Texas

“We were so lucky to have Linda Urban visit our school this spring.  She spoke to a wide-range of students (first graders-fifth graders) and captivated both audiences.  With our fourth and fifth graders, Ms. Urban engaged our students for one hour explaining her writing process from start to finish.  Ms. Urban’s visit was part of our Love of Reading Week celebration.  We couldn’t have had a better addition to our celebration.  Our students left the presentations all wanting to read and write!”
— Lori Patton, reading specialist, Tucson, Arizona

“We are truly fortunate and grateful for the message you shared with students and your willingness to share the story behind the story. I am positive that it is good events and authors like this that help us instill a love for reading and writing with the young people who enter our doors each day.”
— David, curriculum coordinator, Naperville, Illinois