| Invite Carol to your school |
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Carol's Scrapbook
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During each year, Carol
visits dozens of schools in Iowa and across the United States. She has
spoken successfully to all age levels -- in schools, libraries, and at
a variety of conferences. |
A Core Presentation:
Most often, Carol is asked to give a general presentation that answers the
questions she's asked most often: Where do you get your ideas? How many times
do you revise? How did you get your start as a writer? This session, called
Making a Living Telling Secrets and Lies, emphasizes how she uses bits and
pieces from her life, but change them to suit the stories she tells.
Reading Discussions and Writing Workshops:
Popular discussion/instructional sessions (suited for smaller groups) include writing workshops or reading workshops.
In the writing
sessions, limited to a maximum of 30 students, the author and students focus on a key component of
writing: the opening hook, voice, characterization, sensory detail, or
metaphor/simile. The sessions begin with many examples, taken from the best
of literature, that model these important elements. A discussion of what choices
the author made to create effective lines or scenes. Then students have the
opportunity to use what they've learned to compose their own pieces of
writing.
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Carol as writer-in-residence at the American School in Warsaw, Poland.
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The workshop's message is this: reading great books can teach us how to
be good writers. If we look closely--if we read the way writers read--we can
learn how effective writing is created.
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| In the reading
sessions, recommended for up to 90 students who have read a specific
book, the author and students discuss specific components from
the particular book. Each book seems to lend itself to a particular topic. |
Stumptown Kid -- racism, negro league baseball, Civil Rights Era.
Stumptown Kid -- "Civil Rights
-- How Far Have We Come? Or Not?" -- This book makes a dramatic
backdrop for discussing the Civil Rights era and the status of civil
rights today. Carol engages readers in a discussion of the research for this
book,and shares personal anecdotes and insights that will promote
thinking and action to further
progress toward equality for all.
Games -- bullying, anti-bullying strategies
Anti-bullying Curriculums will want to include Games: A Tale of Two
Bullies; discuss with the author the story behind this insightful novel.
Dork books -- perceptions of a "dork," self-perception, student behavior, and other topics related to middle grade students.
Large group presentations by the author
are often combined with writing or reading workshop sessions during a day's visit
to a school. At times a partial day at a school is combined with an
evening presentation for the community at the school or at a public
library. Carol's presentations are also well suited for writers and
readers conferences.
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If you'd like to discuss an author visit to your community -- contact McBookwords for more information.
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Books by Carol Gorman - Ordering for an Author Visit
Author Photograph for Bulletin Board During Your Author Focus Unit
Bookmark to reproduce with a facsimile signature for use during author visits
- PDF file: PDF file of bookmark.
When authors visit schools/libraries it is often not possible for each
student/attendee to purchase a book -- and yet they too would like a
moment of the day. We recommend that bookmarks or a similar keepsake
of the day be duplicated for each child so the pleasure of the day is
universal for each child, regardless of whether or not they can afford
a book.
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© 2008-2010 Carol Gorman
All rights reserved.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa USA
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