CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE BROCHURE

What Teachers are Saying About Rachelle Burk's School Author Visit

"As a principal, you want the children to see assemblies that will enhance their learning and inspire them. Your assembly did just that."~Principal, Lindeneau School, Edison

"Several teachers have told me you were the best author we have had at our school! " ~Jaggard School PTA president, Marlton

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“The author was able to grasp all of the students' interests... amazing! She was full of fresh writing tips and enforced how important positive thinking is and where it can take you.”

“She discussed the power of words and what elements are needed to make a good story (characters, setting, etc.) This supports what we teach in writing workshop.”

“The author was enthusiastic and motivational. The students were further encouraged to write, and recognized ongoing growth as a writer."

“A winner! The author was animated, knew how to interest the children and hold their attention.”

“It brought an author to life for them. Books really are written by people. I liked how she showed them where her ideas came from.”

“I thought the program was wonderful! It was age appropriate and the children were engaged the whole time. My favorite part was the humor that she integrated into the presentation.”

“The students learned what it takes to be an author. They also learned that it is possible for all of them (even at this young age) to become authors and write their own stories. Overall it was an amazing presentation!”

"I couldn't believe she kept my kindergarten class captivated for a full hour!"

"This was the very, VERY best program of this type that we have ever had at our school."

CLICK HERE for COMMENTS FROM MENLO PARK ELEMENTARY, March 2, 2012
 

Rachelle's Author Visit IN THE NEWS (click here) Photo courtesy of Catholic Spirit, Newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen

AUTHOR VISITS

CHILDREN WRITE ON! Read STORIES WRITTEN BY CHILDREN following Rachelle's inspirational school visit.

Location: New Jersey & surrounding states, New Orleans (spring & fall)...will travel anywhere I have friends or family to visit.

Virtual Author/School Visits via Skype available also!

RACHELLE'S AUTHOR VISIT PROMISES TO:

Motivate students to read, write and express themselves
Reinforce classroom instruction
Help students to approach revisions with a positive attitude
Demonstrate the rewards of perseverance
Offer students a chance to experience the joy and excitement of meeting a local author

PROGRAMS:

~ASSEMBLY PROGRAM: "Meet Your Inner Creative Genius": This dynamic assembly program emphasizes the importance of creativity, imagination, and determination, and includes discussion of the Four R's: Read, Research, 'Rite, Revise.

~CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS (can combine with assembly sessions): Small group workshops in poetry and fiction writing
 
~PRESCHOOL and KINDERGARTEN: Special Author Visit programs for the very young

~PARENT PROGRAM: "Fostering a Family Reading/Writing Culture": Enlightening and entertaining evening assembly that shows parents and children how to bring reading and writing into their every day lives in simple, fun ways.

~ ESSAY WRITING WORKSHOP: Originally designed to help students write personal narratives for applications to private high schools, with a proven record of success. Helpful in all aspects of essay writing

~STORYTELLING programs for ages 2-7 

~For entertaining holiday and safety shows for pre-K through second grade, click here

Program Elements: Rachelle's dynamic presentations are aimed at helping children tap into their own creativity. Assembly programs are geared for K through eighth grades. Writing workshops target grades 3-8. I can work with small or large audiences, and will tailor programs to fit your needs. Depending on venue, grades, and audience size, programs can include the following:

~A MAGICAL introduction that will engage the students and get them laughing.

~A peek at the author's sometimes comical life which includes concurrent careers as a clown and storyteller, social worker, rescue squad volunteer, and writer. (message: Open your mind--You can be anything you want to be!)

~She takes the audience on the journey from her first cardboard-and-scrap-paper book (age seven), to her first magazine stories, her work as a children's science writer (and to think she disliked science as a kid!), and finally the publication of her first book.

~The children will learn about the creative process of becoming a writer and creating a book. Rachelle discusses the limitless ways to come up with story ideas, using her own stories as examples.

~Rachelle touches on the agony of rejection letters (reading brief excerpts from some of her own), and the importance of REVISION and NOT GIVING UP!

~She will share the illustrator's early sketches for Tree House in a Storm, (as well as the secret behind the hidden frogs throughout the book!). Students will learn how even illustrators need to do research to create just the right pictures.

~Through a brief look at Tree House in a Storm (inspired by her real childhood experience of surviving a hurricane), she discusses how a writer often combines real and fictional events when writing a story.

~The children will enjoy an energetic group writing activity to demonstrate "brainstorming" and story development.

~Question and Answer period.

~Book signing arranged as requested.

~Optional small group lunch with students selected by teachers.

~Children will have the opportunity to see THEIR WORK PUBLISHED on Rachelle's special website.
PreK through first grade programs: Rachelle will read Tree House in a Storm (letting the children find the hidden frogs), followed by interactive storytelling with masks, storyboard, and other props.Each school will receive a free copy of Tree House in a Storm for its library.
~Teacher’s Guide to the book and activity Sheets for students can be printed for free from this website. Activities include Crossword Puzzles, Wordsearch, Maze, Draw-a-Treehouse, Find-The-Differences and Coloring Pages (from copies of the illustrator's original sketches). Color bookmarks can also be printed (4 per page).

BOOK ORDERS: Books can be ordered ahead of time, although some will also be available for purchase the day of the program. After the visit, she will be happy to answer letters from students as well as sign and mail bookplates for any books that were ordered or delivered late. Book order forms can be printed from this website.

HONORARIUM**

$350 for local visits, single session (morning or afternoon) *
$150 for each additional session (same day, same school, up to 4 sessions) *There may be travel expenses, which are dependent on location.

**Rachelle believes that no children should miss the opportunity to have an author visit their school. If your school has economic concerns, please contact the author to discuss a workable financial arrangement on a sliding scale.

FOR INFORMATION ON FUNDING SOURCES, GO TO: http://www.schoolgrants.org/Grants/nation-no_deadline.htm

Also see the blog: How to Get a School Grant

EMAIL: Rachelleburk@gmail.com
CALL: 732-390-4605 or 732-485-4910

PLEASE CONTACT RACHELLE FOR REFERENCES FROM SCHOOLS.
Read about Rachelle's Assemblies in the News!

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FLAT STANLEY MEETS THE AUTHOR 

When an Edison, NJ student named Amelia asked Rachelle to participate in her FLAT STANLEY project, the author had an incredibly fun time! Click here for the full adventures of Rachelle and "Flat Amelia"