3rd Grade Teacher, Riverside, CT

"What a success your residency was! Thank you for putting your heart into your work."

3-4 Teacher, Williston, VT

My Goal

I want your kids to leave my assemblies and workshops fired-up and ready to express feelings and confidence in their writing. I want to help them find their own voices as writers, just as I have in my own poetry. By sharing my energy with the kids, and by tapping into the power of poetry, I'll light a little writing fire in them that should have lasting benefits.

Which Grades?

PreK to 6th for assemblies. Grades K-8 for workshops. I carefully tailor my assemblies and workshops to developmental levels and teachers' needs. On occasion, I'll do assemblies with 7-8th graders, but since my writer's voice is mostly in the 2-6 range, it's not quite as much fun for them.

How Long?

I will work to create a program that fits your goals and budget. Some schools invite me for a day, but most often I enjoy longer multi-day residencies, where I can spend more time writing with each child and each class. My rate reduces for multi-day because I feel strongly that being with young writers over several days and sessions greatly increases the impact of my visit. If I'm in your area, and have other schools lined up, I will also consider doing a half-day program.

How About Assemblies?

Yes! I feel it's important and very helpful to begin a visit with a 40-50 minute assembly, so every child knows my story and my work, and we have giggled and wiggled together before we write together.

I perform my poetry in an exuberant, theatrical style that kids gobble up. My poems are filled with rollicking rhythms, surprising rhymes and tantalizing twists, and many require audience participation. I weave into my presentation explanations of the sources of my poems while I share my own writing journey of discovery. I relate my writing process to the children's.

Because I tailor my presentations by age/grade level, I prefer to keep assemblies to two to three grades at a time, and around 150-200 children maximum. I can handle more if needed.

Also, if it's possible, a culminating celebration/assembly--with children reading their poems--is great way to wrap things up at the end of a residency.

Workshops

Workshops are 40-60 minutes long and are usually held with a single classroom group, with a maximum of about 30 students. If necessary, we can double up classes to meet tight schedules, as long as there is room for all the poets to sit and write.

Workshops are energized discussions and hands-on writing sessions that focus on poetry--what it is and how it's written and read. I begin with a few well-known poems, use lots of models of poems by children of comparable ages, and always include wonderful student sharing of rough drafts at the end.

That's the breathtaking part.

Workshops can be tailored to a teacher's specific needs, to include any of the following topics:

• The writing process and revision. Choosing our words carefully!
• Making visual and sensory comparisons using tools like metaphor and simile.
• Writing from the heart, recalling and sharing memories and feelings.
• Rhyme and rhythm--exploring and playing with the music of poems.

Whenever possible, all workshops should be preceded by an assembly, for maximum impact and fun.

Meeting State Standards

I also work to specifically address state curriculum standards. I try to contact teachers directly before my residency with a ?menu' of these choices, and a study guide, so I meet each teacher's goals for the session, and so the kids are ready to get the most from my visit. Since I am a licensed elementary teacher in Vermont, this planning comes pretty naturally for me.

Fees

All my fees cover a very full day. As I mentioned above, I also often do multi-day residencies, half-days, teacher workshops, and family evening events. I do have a special multi-day rate to encourage you to consider more writing time for the kids with me. And I love to offer a complimentary "Writer's Lunch" with interested student writers any and all of the days I am with you, as a part of my program.

Additional travel costs include modest overnight accommodations, and air travel, if needed. Often schools in an area share air travel costs to make it more reasonable. I cover all my food, and my driving costs if you are within driving range.

I'll think you'll find my rates very reasonable, especially since you have me presenting and teaching for entire days, and the kids have their own fabulous poems at the end!

Please Email or my rep Betsy (914-683-5354) and we'll happily share my rates with you.

A Few Final Questions...

Do you do book sales & signings, and evening family presentations?

Yes. And yes. I'd be happy to arrange book and CD orders and signings while I am at your school. This is great way for the PTO/PTA to raise money to help pay for my visit. I'll help you with easy-to-use order forms and a discounted purchase price. Kids love to get an autographed book.

I have also done many evening family performances--sometimes these are fun fund-raisers too--and often include some student poetry readings from the work we have done during the residency. All ages enjoy these rollicking concerts.

What the best time of year to invite you?

I'll come any time, in nearly any weather. But my inner-teacher voice strongly recommends you consider the fall for a residency, so that the energy we generate, and the poetry writing lessons we discover can be applied the entire school year ahead.

If your school is in a warm climate, I'd especially love to be invited during the winter. It gets awfully snowy and cold in Vermont and I love to sneak away!

There are two ways to begin the process:

Call or write me today! See below for phone, e-mail, or my snail mail address.

Or call my agent, Betsy , of "Once Upon a Time," at (914) 683-5354. Betsy is a pro at answering your questions and setting up a fabulous school program with me or many other well-known children's authors and illustrators.

My schedule always fills quickly each year, so I'd love to talk soon if you are interested. You can reach me either via the address/e-mail below.

I'd be pleased to provide you with some additional references and answer questions. Thanks for your interest! I hope to hear from you soon. You will NOT be disappointed!

Sincerely,
Ted Scheu

Ted Scheu
P.O. Box 564
Middlebury, VT 05753
Email