To view a short video of a school visit presentation,
go to www.edtv99.org/video/10808

Barbara Gowan offers students and teachers a unique opportunity to explore
Arizona through author visits to your school or library.  Celebrate literacy during
Young Author's Week, Read Across America Day, Turn Off TV Week, Children's Book Week or as a Family Literacy Night.

Grade level presentations for K-2 are 30-minute multi-sensory experiences. Grades 3-6 explore the creative writing process in a 50-minute presentation. Presentations work best in a library setting with no more than 100 students at a time. Barbara will present 4-6 sessions in a full-day or 2-4 in a half-day.

In the G is for Grand Canyon presentation for the younger students,Barbara reads the alphabet rhymes while wearing an alphabet apron.  Inside the letter pockets are items for the children to discover- copper ore, petrified wood, bola tie, saguaro seeds and more. Older students take a trip through Arizona testing their mapping skills locating sites on a large magnetic map.

With the help of animal puppets and props, Barbara introduces the number rhymes and math concepts in her Desert Digits program. Grades 3-6 discover what's inside a Writer's Toolbox and learn how a book is made.  During the reading of the book, the author reinforces math concepts.

In both presentations, posters of the original  manuscript from the rough draft or sloppy copy through the rewrites and editor's revisions are shared with the older students. Teachers appreciate the emphasis on the six traits of writing and the concept of rewrite, rewrite and rewrite - the mantra of an author.  Grades 3-6 enjoy time for questions and answers with the author in their 50-minute presentation.

Students create a class ABC book.  The workshop is four hours of writing instruction that occurs over a 6-week time period.  Additional class time is needed for research, writing and illustrating.

Students and teachers are proud of their "published" book.  Third graders at Encanto Elementary and fourth graders at Village Vista, Sierra Verde, Cheyenne Traditional, and Paradise Valley Christian Prep are just some of the young authors of classroom alphabet books from the Build a Book workshop with author Barbara Gowan.

A book sale coincides with the Author Visit.  The school receives a donation based on the number of books sold.  The students and staff have the opportunity to pre-order books before the visit.  Additional books are brought to the school.  Books are signed and personalized.  Information including a pre-order form and sample books are part of your School Author Visit kit.

Professional development for teachers is an exciting way to discover what's new in children's
literature complemented by hands-on activities for grades K-6.  Allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Choose from three themes:
        C is for Creativity - a Writing Workshop
                         Sharing Nature through Picture Books
                                          Read Any Good Math Lately?      

Read Any Good Math Lately? Participants survey a variety of children's picture books as they relate to the math standards from Number Sense to Data Analysis to Measurement.  Hands-on activities including writing math poetry complement the books.  A bibliography of math books for K-6 is shared. A specialized version just for kindergarten teachers was presented to educators of the Paradise Valley Unified School District.

C is for Creativity Teachers explore a variety of ABC books and discover themes that cross the curriculum. Using popular trade books as writing models, participants learn how easy and fun it is to write alphabet books.  Samples of student written books are shared. A bibliography of alphabet books is available. A modified version of this workshop was presented at the International Reading Assn. conference in Phoenix in February, 2009.

Sharing Nature through Picture Books Discover the power of picture books to introduce science/nature topics from life cycles and habitats to teaching kids to love the earth.  Pair informational texts with fiction for your early learners.  Be prepared to awaken the child in YOU!  The Tri-County Teachers' Academy enjoyed this workshop this summer.  The Paradise Valley Unified School District and several reading councils of the Arizona Reading Assn have scheduled for fall 2009.

Program fees:  Full-day (4-6 presentations)         $600
                           Half-day (2-4 presentations)        $350
                           Family Literacy Night                    $200
                           Staff Development Workshop      $300              
A mileage fee is added to the program fee.

Contact Barbara at bgowan54@cox.net to schedule your school author visit.