Books By Bex

Author Visits

I would love to be a part of your learners’ literary journeys!

As a former teacher and current homeschooling parent, I enjoy sharing my love of reading and writing with kids of all ages. I will gladly tailor my approach to different age ranges and group sizes, and I offer in-person or virtual visits.

My topics range from book-specific to the writing process and creativity in general. Curricular connections and context will always be considered. If you have anything particular in mind, feel free to reach out and I can work within your requirements to meet the needs of your learners.

You may contact me to find out more information and arrange a visit.

Presentations include:

Finding and writing about a personal connection to home.
Curricular context: brainstorming, drafting, editing
Connections: social studies, Habitat for Humanity story contest
Learners will begin the process of drafting a personal story about home, referencing You Are Home as an example. They will discover the difference between tangible and intangible and learn ways to use this dichotomy in their writing. Learners will work individually and in pairs and groups (time permitting) to first brainstorm and then begin writing their stories with my step-by-step suggestions and advice. Writing devices including alliteration and metaphor will be discussed in this context. Students who wish to submit to a story contest will be well on their way toward a completed entry, while all participants will emerge with a greater understanding of the diversity of home and tools for heightened empathy.

Exploring the diversity of home to create art inspired by words.
Curricular context: poetry, visual art
Connections: social studies
Learners will challenge their pre-conceptions of what makes a home while learning about and making art with various mediums. Presentation will include a slideshow of fine art, a tutorial in paper folding, a group graffiti activity, a reading of You Are Home, and a special video from a professional illustrator. Finally, I will lead an exploration of what home means to each learner that will culminate in the creation of art inspired by words. Everyone will have the opportunity to be creative, and uniqueness will be celebrated.

Mining personal experience to write unique stories.
Curricular context: creative nonfiction, poetry, drafting
Connections: social studies, creative writing
I begin by sharing You Are Home and how my life experiences formed the basis for the book. Learners then get to mine their own lives for experiences they would like to write about. With my guidance, each child will choose an idea and begin the process of forming it into a story, complete with beginning, middle, and end. We will delve into the basics of story writing and play some games to get learners’ creativity flowing.

Presentations for even the youngest readers, centered around Floor It! a fast-paced racecar-themed adventure celebrating imagination and family!