_ “I am pleased to
recommend Clint Johnson’s presentation on story writing…. He covered some
important elements of story writing (characters, setting, plot, antagonist,
protagonist, and conflict) as he led the group of students in collectively
creating a story. Mr. Johnson is bursting with creative ideas and is able
to weave the students’ ideas into an imaginative story including all of the
story elements listed above. The students were actively involved
throughout the presentation and walked away with a series of steps to take in
constructing their own stories, either independently or in class under the
instruction of the classroom teacher. The teachers walked away with a
group of students who had writing ideas ready and were excited to write.”
~Madaline Chilcutt, Literacy Facilitator, Bell View Elementary
*****
Sometimes it requires the knowledge that “Hey, it takes a real person to write a book!” to get kids to read. That personal connection can make all the difference with many reluctant readers. If you are interested in having me visit your school, please contact me.
I live in Salt Lake City, Utah and am eager to work with schools in the area frequently and at any time of the year. Scheduling visits to schools in more distant locales may be more problematic, but please don’t hesitate to contact me anyway. I will make a special point to record interested schools across the nation and be sure to visit them as I tour in promotion of my books.
Visit Options:
Group Storytelling Assembly (grades 3rd-6th)—I teach students the foundational elements of narrative—setting, characterization, plot, motivation, and conflict—in a freewheeling, fun, and hilarious improvised story based on elements selected by the students. Using media visuals to teach the concepts, I then enlist the help of kids to pick all particulars of our story while choosing volunteers to act out the unfolding tale as I tell it. Past assemblies have witnessed students mining the moon for cheese while battling a zombie platypus with magic dynamite and a man-eating couch. The assembly is designed to engage all students, including reluctant readers, on the level of story, where all children can thrive. Then at the end I tie storytelling to reading and writing in a way that uses the engagement established to get students to view reading and writing in a different, more empowered light. The assembly lasts about 45 minutes with any extra time devoted to questions from the students.
Simple, Strange, Sophisticated, and Stupid Questions for Smart Kids: The game show that teaches more than you ever wanted to know about writing and writers, some of which you will certainly regret later (grades 5th-9th)—This game show allows classes to compete against each other in a fun and instructive assembly that tests their knowledge of children’s writing and writers while teaching that writers are real people not so different from anyone else. The questions run from the silly—authors contemplating their boring lives and odd inspirations, like a request for a hero with “big ears”—to serious education about history, sociology, writing and publishing, and the nature of creativity. Winning classes are awarded books in commemoration of their brilliance. The assembly engages students while letting dozens actually participate in a competition designed to challenge and amuse even adults. The assembly is widely versatile, lasting from 45 minutes to as long as desired.
Workshops (all grades)—I have experience teaching writing to a wide variety of students, from young children and reluctant readers to university graduates, experienced adult writers, and professional educators. I have set workshops that I have delivered many times but also welcome requests for specific instruction on the class or grade level. Simply contact me with a proposal for what would be most helpful.
Goosebumps, Great Expectations? Tomato, tomahto, potato, potahto… Why the only poor story is a story not read (all educators)—Excavate mounds of favorite and not-so-favorite stories to discover their common universal foundation; explore how Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung teach that every story has its Darth Vader—and who plays the role in Pride and Prejudice; and learn why archetypes and universal narrative make read story the essential linchpin of all education. This workshop is designed to help educators better understand how their students’ ability to tell and interpret stories determines their lifelong educational potential.
All my presentations focus on the connection between literacy and narrative. I am a huge advocate of using storytelling to invest students in their own literacy development by empowering their interests. All events are highly interactive. Because I emphasize creativity and narrative in reading and writing and the teaching of such, reluctant readers are far more likely to feel comfortable participating in my presentations than in an event with overt emphasis on reading performance.
If you are interested in my visiting your school in any capacity, please contact me for more information, including my visit fee, a curriculum vitae of my experience as a presenter, testimonials on my teaching, and the rest of my school visit package.
~Madaline Chilcutt, Literacy Facilitator, Bell View Elementary
*****
Sometimes it requires the knowledge that “Hey, it takes a real person to write a book!” to get kids to read. That personal connection can make all the difference with many reluctant readers. If you are interested in having me visit your school, please contact me.
I live in Salt Lake City, Utah and am eager to work with schools in the area frequently and at any time of the year. Scheduling visits to schools in more distant locales may be more problematic, but please don’t hesitate to contact me anyway. I will make a special point to record interested schools across the nation and be sure to visit them as I tour in promotion of my books.
Visit Options:
Group Storytelling Assembly (grades 3rd-6th)—I teach students the foundational elements of narrative—setting, characterization, plot, motivation, and conflict—in a freewheeling, fun, and hilarious improvised story based on elements selected by the students. Using media visuals to teach the concepts, I then enlist the help of kids to pick all particulars of our story while choosing volunteers to act out the unfolding tale as I tell it. Past assemblies have witnessed students mining the moon for cheese while battling a zombie platypus with magic dynamite and a man-eating couch. The assembly is designed to engage all students, including reluctant readers, on the level of story, where all children can thrive. Then at the end I tie storytelling to reading and writing in a way that uses the engagement established to get students to view reading and writing in a different, more empowered light. The assembly lasts about 45 minutes with any extra time devoted to questions from the students.
Simple, Strange, Sophisticated, and Stupid Questions for Smart Kids: The game show that teaches more than you ever wanted to know about writing and writers, some of which you will certainly regret later (grades 5th-9th)—This game show allows classes to compete against each other in a fun and instructive assembly that tests their knowledge of children’s writing and writers while teaching that writers are real people not so different from anyone else. The questions run from the silly—authors contemplating their boring lives and odd inspirations, like a request for a hero with “big ears”—to serious education about history, sociology, writing and publishing, and the nature of creativity. Winning classes are awarded books in commemoration of their brilliance. The assembly engages students while letting dozens actually participate in a competition designed to challenge and amuse even adults. The assembly is widely versatile, lasting from 45 minutes to as long as desired.
Workshops (all grades)—I have experience teaching writing to a wide variety of students, from young children and reluctant readers to university graduates, experienced adult writers, and professional educators. I have set workshops that I have delivered many times but also welcome requests for specific instruction on the class or grade level. Simply contact me with a proposal for what would be most helpful.
Goosebumps, Great Expectations? Tomato, tomahto, potato, potahto… Why the only poor story is a story not read (all educators)—Excavate mounds of favorite and not-so-favorite stories to discover their common universal foundation; explore how Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung teach that every story has its Darth Vader—and who plays the role in Pride and Prejudice; and learn why archetypes and universal narrative make read story the essential linchpin of all education. This workshop is designed to help educators better understand how their students’ ability to tell and interpret stories determines their lifelong educational potential.
All my presentations focus on the connection between literacy and narrative. I am a huge advocate of using storytelling to invest students in their own literacy development by empowering their interests. All events are highly interactive. Because I emphasize creativity and narrative in reading and writing and the teaching of such, reluctant readers are far more likely to feel comfortable participating in my presentations than in an event with overt emphasis on reading performance.
If you are interested in my visiting your school in any capacity, please contact me for more information, including my visit fee, a curriculum vitae of my experience as a presenter, testimonials on my teaching, and the rest of my school visit package.