Wilson Elementary, Spring 2022
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School Visits, Conferences, & Smaller Group Meetings
I love to interact with students, young readers, and other writers, both as an educator and author.
I offer different presentations and workshops, which can be modified to suit the needs of different audiences and ages.
An overview of each is offered below. Workshop prices and classroom visits start at $40, with discounts available.
With experience giving presentations to large and small audiences, both in person and on-line and in both professional and educational settings, I look forward to bringing an uplifting and rewarding experience to your school, classroom, or conference.
Contact me at skwenger.writes at gmail dot com to start planning a visit that meets your needs.
Storytime + Q&A
A read-aloud of CHICKEN FRANK, DINOSAUR! followed by an Ask-Me-Anything opportunity with the author.
- Any grade, in-person or online.
- Perfect for individual classrooms
Storytime + Q&A + craft
A read-aloud of CHICKEN FRANK, DINOSAUR! followed by an Ask-Me-Anything and a paper craft. Choice of fun, or fun + STEM-related.
- Any grade, in-person.
- Perfect for individual classrooms
Behind the Book - More than one way to tell a story
This presentation offers an inside-view of the craft of writing and journey to publication of a book. The author shares a peek at the three different manuscripts that were crafted for CHICKEN FRANK, DINOSAUR!, all of which caught the attention of an editor's eye. Writers and/or young readers will feel empowered for their own style of writing and be inspired to explore the different ways a story can be told with the same group of characters. Time for Q&A is provided.
- Grades 1 and up, in-person or online.
- Perfect for individual classrooms or conference workshops/webinars for writers
- Perfect for pairing with an additional workshop
Hello, Hello! Introducing characters for the PB format
This presentation offers a review of different techniques that are used in introducing characters for their narrative stories.
Bring your own work in progress to workshop your story in order to fine-tune creative elements and discover new ones!
- Perfect for individual classrooms or conference workshops/webinars for writers
- Perfect for pairing with an additional workshop
Deciphering the Magic of Bubbles and Boxes
A presentation that offers a breakdown of the basic story structures for comic-style picture books, chapter books, and/or middle-grade blended novels (depending on audience interests). Students/attendees will learn how to shape their stories in either a comic-style structure, focusing on dialogue, characterization, and arc, or in a blended form which involves more traditional narrative elements.
- Grades 1 and up, in-person or online
- Perfect for individual classrooms or conference workshops/webinars for writers
- Perfect for pairing with an additional workshop
Working toward WOW. Writing Workshop
Students/attendees will be guided in how to refine and enhance their stories in a blended comic-style OR traditional format through the use of story elements and techniques, such as voice, character growth/want/need, revisions toward best use of space on the page, and imagery/word choice.
- Grades 1 and up, in-person or online
- Perfect for individual classrooms or conference workshops/webinars for writers
The Power of Revision + 1 Workshop (choose a +1 topic to customize your classroom's experience)
This workshop/presentation presents key revision elements for students to consider as they fine-tune a story that they have created. The author also guides students in the process of participating in small group critiques (for both giving and receiving feedback), as well as how to determine which feedback they should act on.
- Grades 1 and up, in-person or online
- Perfect for individual classrooms
- +1 topic = Imagery, Power of 3's, OR Voice
Props, Propellers and Airplanes: Sharpening Voice, Character, and Theme to help Stories Take Flight
A workshop that gives a cohesive insight and exercises to develop voice introduce characters, and zero in on theme in order to give a story its wings.
- Any age, in-person or online
- Perfect for individual classrooms or conference workshops/webinars
After school Meet-n-Greet
Students/parents/guardians can visit with the author for Q&A and a deeper dive into the writing process and journey to publication of a book
- Any grade
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What attendees say
"Our group was thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with Shaunda about her book, her writing, her editing process, her publication experiences, her agent, query letters, and more. It was a fantastic open-ended Q&A that helped everybody immensely. Her helpful hints were straight-forward and easy to follow and I personally have already seen members of our group implementing them! I feel that every critique group, especially those where members are un-agented and unpublished, would benefit from from time with Shaunda. She is so easy to talk to and happy to help other writers in any way she is able." - Cathy Shaefor, Twitter Found, Publication Bound Critique Group.
"Shaunda provided us with an inside look at the revision process - from first drafts to numerous revisions while working with an editor. Her generosity in sharing the details of this process was so helpful for me and students in my picture book writing class, and a testament to her perseverance and commitment to her writing craft." - Jyoti Rajan Gopal, author of the forth-coming American Desi (Little Brown 2022) My Paati's Saris (Kokila 2022), and numerous other forth-coming titles
"S. K.'s presentation shed light on an area of picture books that I wasn't familiar with, and opened my eyes to a new way of storytelling. I left feeling educated and inspired!" - Lisa Katzenberger, author of It Will Be Okay (Sourcebooks 2021), National, Regular, Average Ordinary Day (Penguin Workshop 2020), and numerous other forth-coming titles
"At the end of the presentation, I was excited about having a new way to market and discuss one of my manuscripts. I also felt that the knowledge I gained would be useful as I draft future manuscripts." - Hollie Wolverton, author of a forth-coming book from Familius (2024), organizer of #FirstDraftFriday
"It was so informative to get a close look at how revision can transform a manuscript - thinking about how the heart of the story stayed the same while its structure radically changed. It was also interesting to see the back and forth about what needed to be kept in the manuscript versus what needed to be left for back matter." - Jyoti Rajan Gopal, author of American Desi (Little Brown 2022), My Paati's Saris, (Kokila 2022), and numerous other forth-coming titles
"I took away so many mentor texts to look at. I felt like I learned something new and enjoyed Shaunda's joy while she presented." - Monica Acker, author of the forth-coming, Brave Like Mom (Beaming Books 2022)
Presentation / Instruction Experience
For Writers:
Funny Women Writing Confab at The Writing Barn, Online Conference November 2022. "Comic-Style Structure in Children's Books"
WIFYR, Writing & Illustrating for Young Readers (Jun 2022) Workshop: "Props, Propellors, and Airplanes"
WIFYR Book Club Discussion (Mar 2022) Chicken Frank, Dinosaur! and Alphabet Pet Parade in Topsy-Turvy Town
RateYourStory.org (Mar 2022) Mentor Text Talk webinar for: Chicken Frank, Dinosaur!
The Writing Barn (Feb-Mar 2022) Perfecting the Picture Book I with author Jyoti Rajan Gopal, serving as TA, 6-week class
The Writing Barn (Mar 2022) "Deciphering the Magic of Bubbles and Boxes in Comic-Style Picture Books" at the WSS info night
WIFYR (Jun 2021) "Use of 3-D space on the Path to Publication"
The Writing Barn (Jun-Jul 2021) Perfecting the Picture Book 1 with author Lisa Katzenberger, serving as TA, 6 week class
WIFYR (Jun 2020) "The Path to Publication"
For Kids:
Amherst Public Library (August 2022) Story time and craft visit
Ephrata Public Library (July 2022) Story time and craft visit
Moultonborough Public Library (July 2022) Story time and craft visit
Wilson Elementary School (Apr 2022) Library workshop visit "Deciphering the Magic of Bubbles and Boxes in Blended Texts"
Mendon Library (Nov 2021) Story time and craft visit
The Young Writers and Artists Fest, Cache County School District (April 2012)
Every day in the science classroom :)
For All:
Good Things Utah abc Channel 4 (Jan 2022) Discussion of Chicken Frank, Dinosaur!
Holiday Festival at the Logan Library (Dec 2021)
Virtual Book Launch at The Writing Barn (Oct 2021) with Cynthia Argentine for Chicken Frank, Dinosaur! & Changes in Nature
Speed Date with a Book (Oct 2021) Utah Humanities Book Festival spotlight at The Brigham City Library
Tie-Dye Dino Footprint Cookies Video (Sep 2021) KidLitTV_NYC
Monarchs & Other Winged Wonders, Access Utah public radio (Jun 2021) along with Becky Yeager, Rose Greer, & Rachel Taylor
Essays at Utah USU Access Utah Public Radio (2004-2008)
For Educators/Librarians:
Use of Children's Books in the Secondary Science Classroom, Cache County School District Professional Development Conference, Fall 2022.
3-D Instruction for Earth Science. Utah Science Teachers Association Conference. Fall 2021.
nErD Camp PA (July 2022) "Curiosity with STEM: Opening Curiosity & Learning with STEM children's books" along with Lynne Marie, Mary Boone, Marta Magellan, Lydia Lukidis, and Laura Roettiger
USTA Conference (Oct 2021) "Phenomena-Based Guided Learning for Earth Science" for the Utah Science Teachers Association
nErD Camp PA (July 2021) "Comic Relief: Why Humor is Important for Kids" along with Lynne Marie, Christine Van Zant, Josh Funk, Michele McAvoy, and Alan Katz
nErD Camp PA (July 2021) "Fact in Fiction - Accidentally Educational" along with Nadine Poper, June Smalls, and Moni Ritchie Hadley.
nErD Camp CT (Jun 2021) "Drawing Can Increase Empathy, Generate Story, and Sharpen Learning" along with Abi Cushman, Vicky Fang, and Julie Rowan-Zoch
For Writers:
Funny Women Writing Confab at The Writing Barn, Online Conference November 2022. "Comic-Style Structure in Children's Books"
WIFYR, Writing & Illustrating for Young Readers (Jun 2022) Workshop: "Props, Propellors, and Airplanes"
WIFYR Book Club Discussion (Mar 2022) Chicken Frank, Dinosaur! and Alphabet Pet Parade in Topsy-Turvy Town
RateYourStory.org (Mar 2022) Mentor Text Talk webinar for: Chicken Frank, Dinosaur!
The Writing Barn (Feb-Mar 2022) Perfecting the Picture Book I with author Jyoti Rajan Gopal, serving as TA, 6-week class
The Writing Barn (Mar 2022) "Deciphering the Magic of Bubbles and Boxes in Comic-Style Picture Books" at the WSS info night
WIFYR (Jun 2021) "Use of 3-D space on the Path to Publication"
The Writing Barn (Jun-Jul 2021) Perfecting the Picture Book 1 with author Lisa Katzenberger, serving as TA, 6 week class
WIFYR (Jun 2020) "The Path to Publication"
For Kids:
Amherst Public Library (August 2022) Story time and craft visit
Ephrata Public Library (July 2022) Story time and craft visit
Moultonborough Public Library (July 2022) Story time and craft visit
Wilson Elementary School (Apr 2022) Library workshop visit "Deciphering the Magic of Bubbles and Boxes in Blended Texts"
Mendon Library (Nov 2021) Story time and craft visit
The Young Writers and Artists Fest, Cache County School District (April 2012)
Every day in the science classroom :)
For All:
Good Things Utah abc Channel 4 (Jan 2022) Discussion of Chicken Frank, Dinosaur!
Holiday Festival at the Logan Library (Dec 2021)
Virtual Book Launch at The Writing Barn (Oct 2021) with Cynthia Argentine for Chicken Frank, Dinosaur! & Changes in Nature
Speed Date with a Book (Oct 2021) Utah Humanities Book Festival spotlight at The Brigham City Library
Tie-Dye Dino Footprint Cookies Video (Sep 2021) KidLitTV_NYC
Monarchs & Other Winged Wonders, Access Utah public radio (Jun 2021) along with Becky Yeager, Rose Greer, & Rachel Taylor
Essays at Utah USU Access Utah Public Radio (2004-2008)
For Educators/Librarians:
Use of Children's Books in the Secondary Science Classroom, Cache County School District Professional Development Conference, Fall 2022.
3-D Instruction for Earth Science. Utah Science Teachers Association Conference. Fall 2021.
nErD Camp PA (July 2022) "Curiosity with STEM: Opening Curiosity & Learning with STEM children's books" along with Lynne Marie, Mary Boone, Marta Magellan, Lydia Lukidis, and Laura Roettiger
USTA Conference (Oct 2021) "Phenomena-Based Guided Learning for Earth Science" for the Utah Science Teachers Association
nErD Camp PA (July 2021) "Comic Relief: Why Humor is Important for Kids" along with Lynne Marie, Christine Van Zant, Josh Funk, Michele McAvoy, and Alan Katz
nErD Camp PA (July 2021) "Fact in Fiction - Accidentally Educational" along with Nadine Poper, June Smalls, and Moni Ritchie Hadley.
nErD Camp CT (Jun 2021) "Drawing Can Increase Empathy, Generate Story, and Sharpen Learning" along with Abi Cushman, Vicky Fang, and Julie Rowan-Zoch
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Educators and Librarians!
Download a Free Educator Guide for Chicken Frank, Dinosaur!
As well as additional instructional/discussion resources, arts, crafts, writing, and more.
Download a Free Educator Guide for Chicken Frank, Dinosaur!
As well as additional instructional/discussion resources, arts, crafts, writing, and more.
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Instruction, Discussion, and Design
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Scientific Investigation and Observation:
Tails versus Tail Feathers, Modeling the Difference (STEAM/STEM/Craft activity)
Tails versus Tail Feathers, Modeling the Difference (STEAM/STEM/Craft activity)
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Craft Activity - Creating Chicken Frank
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Edible Art! Make and Design Delicious Character Cupcakes (Egg-Free recipe!)
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I look forward to connecting with you soon. |
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