Dene Low | School Visits

School Visits

Experience:
I’ve done school visits to elementary schools and junior high schools, and taught numerous classes to high school and university students on all kinds of writing. I have a B.A. in literature, a M.A. in creative writing and a Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition. I’ve also been an AP reader and auditor. Every semester I teach courses on writing and literature.

What I can do at your school:

Elementary schools—

Using my own short stories as springboards, as well as books already in your school library or part of your class curriculum, we can concentrate on the joys of reading for half an hour to forty-five minutes—
Or transition into creative writing, including writing our own story, in an hour to an hour-and-a-half. If we move into writing, we can talk about beginnings, middles, and endings, as well as word value (penny words, dollar words, and ten dollar words), dialogue, audience, and metaphorical language according to the age of the students. Lessons are hands on and interactive and fun.

Middle schools, junior high schools, and high schools — Note: all lessons are geared to keep students upright and involved, even if the subject matter sounds a bit dry.

Using excerpts from my published and unpublished writing to illustrate variations in voice, audience, and genre, we can discuss reading and writing of all kinds. (You choose from creative writing, business writing, academic writing, or persuasive writing.) If you wish, I can incorporate excerpts from literary works you may be studying to demonstrate literary strategies, but you’ll have to let me know ahead of time. Such a lesson usually takes half an hour to an hour.
We can transition into writing as I involve students in hands-on and interactive exercises that demonstrate writing strategies. Such a lesson usually takes half an hour to an hour or more.
If you wish, I can speak about what it takes to be an author, including education, reading, writing habits, and submitting to publishers—from ten minutes to an hour depending on how much you want.
Creative writing workshop. We discuss students’ own work and how to improve it and submit it for publication—from a half day to a full day. Limit 6 students for a half-day workshop. Limit 12 students at a time for a full workshop. Creative works should be sent to me ahead of time. Additional fee.
Resume and letter of application workshop using materials and work sheets I developed—from an hour to half a day.
Optional question and answer period—allow ten minutes to half an hour.
Depending on the age and preparation of the students and what you wish them to learn, I can also speak about how neurological processes affect and are affected by reading and writing. Lesson includes interactive exercises—allow fifteen minutes to an hour, depending on your needs.
If you wish I could conduct a teacher training session on any of the above subjects—allow an hour to a full day depending on your needs.

What I need to give a presentation:

I have my own laptop.
Some presentations require a computer projector. If you absolutely cannot provide one, I can rent one for a fee.
All of my presentations and lessons require the use of a chalk board and chalk or white board and markers.
If necessary, I can convert some presentations to overhead projector slides.
If I am in an auditorium or similar large area, I need a microphone.
Tell me in advance how many copies I’ll need and how many attendees there will be.

What you can do to make the most of my visit:

Arrange my visit to coincide with units about reading and writing.
Tell students ahead of time that I am coming and be excited.
Arrange activities, such as writing contests, read-a-thons, pajama reading parties, etc., to coincide with my visit.
Order my book and present it for sale either through my publisher or through a local bookstore.

How to arrange a visit:

Determine your needs in detail and obtain necessary approvals.
Determine one best date and two or three alternative dates you would want me to come.
Email me at denelow@comcast.net and ask me to call you. Don’t forget the phone number where I should call you.
During the phone call, check with me about my schedule and to discuss options and details.

Fees:

Utah, from Spanish Fork to Ogden, Heber Valley

Up to one hour—$200
Half day—$500
Full day—$750
Creative writing workshop half day—$700. Creative works should be sent to me two weeks ahead.
Creative writing workshop full day—$1000 plus lunch. Note: lunch with the students in our own room can be very productive and tons of fun. Creative works should be sent to me two weeks ahead.

Utah, south of Spanish Fork, north of Ogden, east of Heber Valley

Full day—$850
Additional after school or evening presentations—$200
Creative writing workshop, full day—$1,200 plus lunch. Note: lunch with the students in our own room can be very productive and tons of fun. Creative works should be sent to me two weeks ahead.
Two days in one school district—$1,500 plus transportation, room, and meals ($60 for meals per day). After school and evening presentations are an additional $200 each. Please do not schedule events too close together that are in different locations and allow time for meals.

Outside Utah

Full day—$1,200 plus transportation, room, and meals ($75 for meals)
Additional after school or evening presentations—$200
Creative writing workshop, full day—$1,500 plus lunch, plus transportation, room, and meals ($50 for meals). Creative works should be sent to me two weeks ahead. Note: Lunch with the students in our own room can be very productive and tons of fun. Limit—12 students.
Two days in one school district—$2,000 plus transportation, room, and meals ($75 for meals per day). After school and evening presentations are an additional $200 each. Please do not schedule events too close together that are in different locations and allow time for meals.