Author School Visits: Then & Now

THEN: January 2020

Last January, I had the pleasure of leading a full-day writing workshop for a kindergarten to grade 8 school in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. When the principal first contacted me, I had no idea if or how I would be able to manage that great of an age span to keep the students interested and engaged for an entire school day. BUT, I was intrigued by the opportunity, so I agreed to give it a go.

That bitterly cold Friday in January of 2020 turned out to be one of the most inspirational experiences I've ever had, and I am so glad I agreed to trying something even though I had no idea what I was doing! Children have the most incredible imaginations and passions that sometimes just need to be prodded with inspiration to get the ember to turn into a blazing flame. For an entire school day, I walked a school of students and their teachers through creating their own books that they were wildly excited to share. The kindergarten students were glowing as they lined up to show me their stories with 5-8 pages each, then eagerly asked if they could write another. The grade 2-5 got more in-depth with detail, illustration planning, and more. Some students made picture books like the one about magical unicorns with bubble gum hot air balloons or the memoir-style hockey story. Some students made chapter-style books with more in-depth plots and fewer pictures, and other students made graphic novel comic-style books full of superheroes, superpowers, villains, and imagination. The older grades had clear passions that they incorporated into their stories from cars to horseback riding stable stories, and everything in between. Some went the fiction route, while others created non-fiction and educational books. Each student was excited to make the type of book that resonated most with them, which was my favourite part.

Reminiscing about this experience makes me feel the inspiration all over again. It also has me looking forward to the day when I can physically get back into schools to connect with students. However, life looks very different now than it did a year ago. Even for those who saw the pandemic coming, we likely never could have expected it to alter life moving forward in quite the way it has. But adaptation is a huge part of survival, and in many ways and many spaces we have adapted, adjusted, and carried on. So, while I reminisce on the incredible experiences I've had with students during in-person school visits, I am also excited to share that I have been connecting with schools virtually in the meantime. It has also been a great option to still be able to share my love of books, writing, and empowering messages with schools. Everyone is needing some inspiration these days.

This is what school author visits look like NOW (February 2021):

Virtual author visits are just like in-person visits except we connect via Google Meet or Microsoft Teams, and you can connect multiple classrooms into the visit. Author visits can include a book reading and a keynote presentation, or two book readings and a Q&A period. You can choose which Inner Compass Book you'd like me to read to your students, and you can choose which keynote presentation you'd like me to share.

Keynote presentation options include:

The Picture Book Process
Inner Self (coincides with Grade 3 Health curriculum objectives)
Growth Mindset
Entrepreneurship (for the older grades)

If you have any other ideas for presentations, don't hesitate to reach out.

If you would like to have me virtually visit your school or classroom, please reach out. Since location and travel considerations and expenses are no longer an issue, now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity by booking a virtual author visit! Give your students and teachers a dose of inspiration!

For more information about school author visits and how to book Kristin, please visit www.innercompassbooks.com/school-visits. I can't wait to connect with your school!

Inner Compass Books are available in-store with our various retail partners in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario. They are also available online. (Support local first if you can). To order copies for your school library, please get in touch or visit our BUY page.

About the Author:

Kristin Pierce loves chai lattes, inspirational quotes, hunting down incredible kids books, and writing in rhyme. She is an award-winning children's book author, self-awareness educator, and momma of two who is on a mission to spread empowering and inspiring messages about following your passion, thinking outside-the-box, and believing in your big dreams. She is the author of Your Inner Compass That Could, Mayva O'Meere, Creationeer, Magnus O'Meere, Mind Pioneer, The Sweet Dreams Express, and Hazel Mist, Hypnotist.

Find us on Facebook & Instagram @InnerCompassBooks or check out our FREE Parent & Teacher Learning Resource that is full of FUN printable activities for your children.