Born:
  Boston, Massachusetts,
United States Of America

Current Home:
Ventura County, California,

Alexis O'Neill Author Visit Kit

Author Visit Kit

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Alexis O'Neill will spend a full day at your school, combining dynamic large group assemblies with eyeball-to-eyeball small group follow-up sessions, motivating students to read and express themselves through stories.

ASSEMBLIES & CLASSROOM VISITS: In lively, highly interactive assemblies, Alexis uses music, costumes, props, images and kinesthetic experiences to engage students in "performing" stories.  She shares strategies for finding ideas and shows the importance of playing with words, making messy first drafts and reading each draft aloud. With older students, she also demonstrates how professionals work in the "real" world of writing and how it parallels with their school assignments. 

Following her assemblies, Alexis visits intermediate classrooms (Grades 3–6) for eyeball-to-eyeball Question & Answer sessions with students. These sessions amplify the instructional benefit of her author visit to your school.  She shares behind-the-scenes information on how books are published and shows how she handles the writing process — from group critiques to revisions to publication. 

WRITING WORKSHOPS:  Alexis, a former elementary school teacher and museum educator, also offers dynamic workshops for young writers:

"GETTING UNSTUCK — WRITING WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START"
Engaging students in creating a book "signature," Alexis leads them through an idea-generating exercise to show students how to come up with ideas for writing when they are stuck.  Through activities with photographs and works of art, students then demonstrate their observational and writing skills, generating new ideas for storytelling in fiction and nonfiction. 

"SEE YOUR NAME IN PRINT." 
Focusing on "audience" as the ultimate goal, students apply a real-world writing model to their research and writing.  Using students' works-in-progress, Alexis demonstrates how a professional writing group operates.  She shows students how to prepare manuscripts for submission to contests, magazines, and other periodicals that encourage student authors and illustrators. Handouts include a sample list of markets.

You are welcome to contact Alexis directly. (E-mail is preferred.)
Alexis@alexisoneill.com www.alexisoneill.com

Author's Home: Simi Valley, California
Suggested Audience: K–6
Maximum number of programs per day: 2–3 large assemblies and 3–4 classroom visits

Honorarium:
Local: $975 per day plus mileage.
Non-Local/ California: $1200 per day plus expenses.
Out-of-State: $1500 per day plus expenses.
Discounts for consecutive day bookings with neighboring schools
Honorarium is set by the author and is subject to change.

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  The Teacher Store

  Worst Best Friend by Alexis O'Neill Mike and Conrad, Conrad and Mike are best, best friends. That is until Victor, a new boy, a big boy, a cool boy, arrives at school. Suddenly, Conrad turns into the WORST best friend and forgets all about his pal, Mike. But when Victor's need to win leaves Conrad crushed, it's Mike who steps up to the plate and shows how to be a real friend, a true-blue friend, a best, BEST friend. Exuberant illustrations and rhythmic text bounce off the pages in this frank and funny look at the challenge $16.99 Hardcover Book | Grades Pre-K-3

  
  Worst Best Friend
  Grades Pre-K-3 $16.99
  
• Teacher Store
• 

  The Teacher Store

  The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill and Laura Huliska-Beith Watch out! Here comes Mean Jean the Recess Queen, pushing and smooshing all the kids in school. But when a new girl shows up on the playground and asks Mean Jean to jump rope, the two quickly become best friends. Your young student will love this playground tale filled with colorful, funny collage and acrylic illustrations that bring the story to life. Learning Benefits This tale of friendship teaches the importance of kindness and bravery in the fac $16.95 Hardcover Book | Grades Pre-K-2

  
  The Recess Queen
  Grades Pre-K-2 $16.95