ANNA KIRWAN

Anna Kirwan has spoken and led workshops in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as college seminars and conferences.   She can cover a range of subjects, from writing to poetry to discussing the subjects of her books, including Mesoamerican cultures, the Victorian/Industrial Revolution periods, Medievel period, fantasy literature, Winslow Homer, and Louisa May Alcott.  She can give a reading from one of her books, with Q&A about the writing and research process, as well as her background.  This presentation lasts 1 - 1 1/2 hours, for any size group.

For workshops, Anna can provide optional writing "starter" exercises designed to be an open-ended stimuli for poertry or prose writing.  After a half-hour to 45 minutes of writing time, students are encouraged to read their fresh work-in-progress to the group for response in the form of "positive-only" critique: discussion of the strong and interesting elements of the first draft.  

 If subsequent workshops are part of the program (for 2- or 3- day or weeklong residencies), she works with students on identifying points for revision and editing, and on effectively completing a polished piece of writing.  In such programs, she includes discussion of the parameters of original work, acceptable "help with homework," editorial norms, plagiarism, and what can honestly be handed to a teacher or submitted to writing contests, standardized tests, etc.  The ideal size for writing workshops for children and teens is 12 (no more than 30, please!).  The workshop lasts approximately 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

Adult groups follow the same process, but with additinoal discussion of the positive-only critique method in classroom teaching and the home, and of the "do's and don'ts" of using this workshop method.

Author's home: Sunderland, Massachusetts
Suggested audience: 4th grade & up
Maximum number of presentations per day: 3 (she prefers that one of these is a reading)
Honorarium: $400 - $1200 per day plus expenses

ISBN                         Title                                                  Level               Retail Price

0-439-71010-3          Portraits: Of Flowers and Shadows         Gr. 4-7              $9.99

0-439-40971-3          The Royal Diaries:                                      Gr. 4-7             $10.95
                                             Lady of Palenque, Flower of Bacal

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  The Teacher Store

  1001 Things to Spot in the Town by Anna Milbourne and Teri Gower Bursting with creatures and interesting things to find, count, and talk about, these bright picture books provide hours of puzzle-solving fun. Readers will explore the rich diversity of the world's habitats while developing basic word and number skills. Bursting with things for young children to find, count, and talk about, this charming picture book provides hours of fun. It also helps develop vital word and number skills. A lively carnival, a bustling fishing port, a town park, and a c $5.95 Paperback Book | Grades K-2

  
  1001 Things to Spot in the Town
  Grades K-2 $5.95
  
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  Black Beauty by Anna Sewell SET FEATURES:   o    Each foreword is written by a well-known author and sets the tone for the reader's experience in each book   o    Student guide at the end of each book   o    Each is original and unabridged   REVIEWS:   3/1/07 Library Media Connection If used as required reading in classroom sets, these 17 titles would work beautifully. The stories are ac $17.85 You save: 30% Library Binding | Grades 9-12

  
  Black Beauty
  Grades 9-12 $17.85