SPARKING CREATIVITY!

Programs developed in order to meet state core curriculum standards and professional development.  Your in-service day will be tailored to your needs, and may include any of the following professional development exercises/sessions:

INTRODUCTION: "Writing To The Beat of a Different Drummer" 
A one-hour session with a slide show which introduces the audience to Linda Oatman High and her work as an author. Special emphasis on topics such as generating ideas from real life, poetry, revision, and fiction. Questions and answers follow the slide show.

WRITING WARMUP:  "Get Your Wheels Shined Up!"
A ten-minute hands-on writing Warmup - "I like . . . I don’t like." Includes tips for warming students up for creativity.


SURVIVOR ISLAND
  • Working Out With Words: Writing Exercises
A thirty-minute session. Exercises include Creativity Promenade and Snapshot Writing.

  • Painting The Waves: A Poetry Workshop
A one-hour hands-on writing workshop, leading teachers through poetry exercises and games to inspire students in poetry-writing.

  • Writing From Experience: The Heart of Creative Expression
A twenty-minute instruction session on how to set the stage for creative autobiographical writing with speaking, using the Speak-Listen-Write formula.

ONE HOUR OF IDEAS FOR WRITING GAMES
  • Notes, Signs, and Shopping Lists: Tips for teachers on having young students express themselves with everyday items.
  • What’s The Best Word?: A game of word-choosing and specifics.
  • Name The Action: A game to help children see how certain words capture action.
  • Build An Image: Helping students build images in three-column drafts.
  • Building A Sentence: Helping students to see the difference between a complete sentence and a grammatically-incorrect image.
  • Make A Sensory Detail Book: Learning about including the five senses in writing.
  • A Recipe For Characters: Help in creating characters.

HOW TO PLOT A STORY
  • A thirty-minute workshop in plot.

POETRY WORKSHOPS 

PLAYWRITING FOR STUDENTS
  • A thirty-minute workshop on how playwriting is an ideal forum for students to practice dialogue, plot, conflict, and characters.
CURRICULUM GUIDES FOR EDUCATORS
Using Linda Oatman High’s books in the classroom.
  • Ideas for using middle-grade novels MAIZIE, HOUND HEAVEN, THE SUMMER OF THE GREAT DIVIDE, & A STONE’S THROW FROM PARADISE; as well as picture books BEEKEEPERS, BARN SAVERS, A CHRISTMAS STAR, UNDER NEW YORK, THE LAST CHIMNEY OF CHRISTMAS EVE, WINTER SHOES FOR SHADOW HORSE, & A HUMBLE LIFE: PLAIN POEMS in the classroom. Tips on books which will awaken creativity. A one-hour workshop.
STORY STARTERS
Ideas for story starters. A thirty-minute session, with one hands-on writing exercise.

SONG WRITING
Using popular music to illustrate how poems set to music produce songs. A thirty-minute session.

PUBLISHING POSSIBILITIES
Markets Which Accept Work By Children
  • A thirty-minute session discussing options for publishing writing by children, including Internet markets.



Stipend for a 3-hour in-service program:
  • $1000.00, plus travel expenses and hotel.
  • Equipment needed: Carousel slide projector, overhead projector, possibly a microphone.


Stipend for 6 hours of in-service instruction:
  • $1900.00, plus travel expenses and hotel.
  • Earn professional credits!  Written documentation will be given regarding hours spent in class.