Meg is booking virtual school presentations into the 2022 school year.
A Virtual Author Visit with Meg Kearney
Meg has adapted the presentations she normally does during her in-person school visits for today’s locked-down world.
Before all presentations, students, teachers, and parents/caregivers are invited to watch the three-minute video, “Trouper’s Story,” which introduces everyone to the author as well as the dog and his book. (Available on this website and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTXE2vpakBU or type in “Trouper’s Story.”)
MEG’S ONLINE PROGRAM FEATURED IN THE BAYSIDER NEWS
GRADES K-1 AND 2-4: WHAT TROUPER HAS TO SAY ABOUT POETRY
The K-1 and grades 2-4 presentations include:
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- A recorded version of the Trouper book, which enables students to listen to the author read the story and see E.B. Lewis’ beautiful illustrations as the pages turn.
- A recorded PowerPoint presentation featuring a few cool facts about the dog who inspired the story and the making of the book, which was written as a poem. Students are introduced to some of the craft elements used in the poem, including rhyme, abstract vs. concrete words, and metaphors. The definition of “trouper” (vs. its homophone, “trooper”) is also explored. Along the way, Meg poses questions for students; pauses in the presentation enable teachers to stop for discussion. The presentation for grades 2-4 is slightly more sophisticated than the K-1. Each ends with a writing prompt.
- Teacher Guides, which clarify some of the questions posed in the presentations and provide back-up materials for the writing prompts.
- A Guide for Parents on “How to Create Lifelong Readers.”
- A culminating “live” Q&A session with the author (half-hour for Kindergarten students; up to one hour for grades 1-4) via the school’s online platform. (These need to be set-up by the school and an access link sent to Meg.)
GRADES 5 & 6: TROUPER, THE SECRET OF ME, and POETRY
The presentation for grades 5 & 6 includes:
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- A recorded version of the Trouper book, which enables students to listen to the author read the story and see E.B. Lewis’ beautiful illustrations as the pages turn.
- A recorded PowerPoint presentation featuring a few cool facts about the dog who inspired the story and the making of the book, which was written as a poem. Students are introduced to some of the craft elements used in the poem, including rhyme—including end rhyme and internal rhyme; terminology such as tercets, quatrains, and “terza rima”; the idea of form & content; abstract vs. concrete words, clichés, and metaphors/similes. The definition of “trouper” (vs. its homophone, “trooper”) is also explored, then students are asked to look them up in a dictionary. Along the way, Meg poses questions for students; pauses in the presentation enable teachers to stop for discussion. This session also take a close look at the craft elements of two poems from Meg’s middle-grade verse novel, The Secret of Me. Two writing prompts are included: one that invites students to write fresh metaphors and the other that challenges them to write a portrait poem.
- Teacher Guides, which clarify some of the questions posed in the presentations and provide back-up materials for the writing prompts.
- A Guide for Parents on “How to Create Lifelong Readers.”
- A culminating “live” Q&A session with the author (half-hour for Kindergarten students; up to one hour for grades 1-4) via the school’s online platform. (These need to be set-up by the school and an access link sent to Meg.)
GRADES 7 – 12: A WRITER’S JOURNEY
This presentation is a recorded PowerPoint that tells the story of Meg’s journey as a writer, starting with her first attempts at poetry in sixth grade when she learned that—to quote her character Lizzie McLane—“There are just some things you can’t say to your parents. But I can write them down.” Meg explains why and how it took years for her to figure out the second sentence in that quote and become the writer she is today. Along the way, she shares some cool jobs and experiences she’s had, including landing the English major’s dream job at the National Book Foundation, sponsor of the National Book Awards (sort of like the Oscars of books).
The presentation encourages students to find their own voices, and ends with a writing prompt. A Teacher’s Guide & the Parent’s Guide is included.
MEG’S HONORARIUM & CONTACT EMAIL
(including up to three virtual “live” Q&A sessions*)
Presentation Recap: K-1; Gr. 2-4; Gr. 5-6; Gr. 7-12
- One presentation with Q&A: $400
- Two presentations with Q&A: $700
- Three presentations with Q&A: $850
- Four presentations with Q&A: $1,100
*Q&A sessions are half-hour for pre-K/K-1 and up to an hour for grades 2-12. A minimum of half an hour must fall between each of the (three to four) Q&As/day.
Extra Q&A sessions (in addition to the three included with each of the above): $175 each.
Meg can be reached via email at meg@megkearney.com.
WHAT TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, & CURRICULUM COORDINATORS ARE SAYING:
Meg, I want to let you know that I finished watching all of the presentations and looking at the teacher guides. They are so, so good. They’re really the perfect blend of topics – who you are, background on the Trouper book, what writers do, how poems work, and then a challenge for them as writers. Your rate and clarity of speech is perfect. So many adults (including some teachers!) speak much too quickly. Kids don’t have years of practice with auditory closure, so they really need a considerate narrator like you!
I really love the guides. Really love them. They are very teacher friendly and are pitched perfectly to the developmental levels of the kids.
Meg, I didn’t respond to this presentation for 7th & 8th grade sooner because I kept hoping that I could find the right words to express my thoughts and feelings about this, but the perfect thing to say is just not coming, and if I wait much longer, you might think we don’t like this last presentation. I loved all of the other presentations — a lot. They were so well done, and the subject matter so perfect for kids. They are definitely the best presentations I’ve ever seen from a visiting author (and I’ve seen some good ones). When I listened to the 7th and 8th grade presentations, it was almost magical. It was as if you were speaking to us in a very intimate setting, sharing your life and experiences and how they all led you to your life of writing. The subtle message throughout is that the kids listening have lives worth writing about, too. They will be captivated by your voice, images, and honesty.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! What a fantastic experience for our students! The quality of the presentations and the smooth running of the technology allowed our students to interact with Meg and her poetry. Meg, your delivery was spot on – both engaging and age appropriate for all students. Thank you for willingness to try something new.