Visits

SCHOOL/LIBRARY VISITS

*****UPCOMING EVENTS******

TUESDAY, April 29, 2008 at 10 am at Haycock Elementary School (Penny program)

MONDAY and TUESDAY, May 5 and 6, 2008, at 2pm and again at 10 am, book signing at the International Reading Association's Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA.

TUESDAY, May 13, 2008, time 10 AM, at Oakdale Staten Island Preschool (Alphabet Story program) and at noon at St. Joseph's/St. Thomas School (Penny program and Alphabet Story program).

SATURDAY, June 28, 2008, time TBA, book signing at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA.

AND COMING THIS FALL, DATE AND TIME TBA, AN APPEARANCE ON "MEET THE AUTHOR," RED APPLE CHANNEL 21.

Find punctuation boring? Dread teaching it? I have the answer for you. Invite me to your school and let me show you and your students how much fun it can be!

I love to visit schools and libraries. I generally limit my visits to the northern Virginia/MD/DC area, but I am willing to travel to NJ/NY, where I have family, and to schedule visits when I am vacationing at no extra charge.

I have four programs to pick from (described below) and I can modify them to suit your needs. I can come for one program or for several and I am happy to schedule a "Lunch with the Author" for a select group. If you think one might be right for you, please contact me at moirawrite@cox.net or by phone at 703.532.6434.

MY PROGRAMS:

Penny and the Punctuation Bee – Allow me to introduce your students to the final punctuation marks–the period, the question mark, and the exclamation point–through a reading of my latest book, Penny and the Punctuation Bee. Afterwards, we will talk about punctuation, writing and have a mini punctuation bee of our own. Running time is 45 – 50 minutes, with an optional book signing afterwards for pre-ordered books. This program works best for 2^nd and 3^rd grade. Fee - $175, or $125 with the purchase of books.

Alfie the Apostrophe – Students are treated to a visit by Alfie, my hand puppet, a book reading and an interactive talk about punctuation. I close with a really fun punctuation magic trick that involves volunteers from the audience. Running time is 45 – 50 minutes, with an optional book signing afterwards for pre-ordered books. This program works best for 2^nd and 3^rd grade. Fee - $150, or $100 with the purchase of books.

An Alphabet Story – I do a 25-30 minute program for pre-schoolers and very young elementary school children in which I do a dramatic reading of my play, "An Alphabet Story" with help from the audience. It’s a fun and different approach to learning the alphabet and letter sounds. Fee - $100.

Writing Made Fun! – I have an interactive program that lasts 45- 50 minutes and can be modified for any age group from elementary through high school. I have even done it, with very positive results, for adults! It’s designed to help you get started and to tap into your own unique creativity. Fee - $100.

Please note: Fees are based on one performance for a single, class-sized audience (I can take up to 50 children per program if the children are 3rd grade or higher) and will be slightly higher if more than one reading is requested.

Can’t schedule a visit? Feel free to use my Virginia SOL Tie-ins (below) as a teaching tool. Or set up your very own Punctuation Bee, using PENNY as your guide! And please, please let me know if your school is performing the play or my play for older elementary children, The Three Bears v. Goldi Locks, as I would love to come and see it. I watched a stellar performance by a group of brownies two years ago!

Here are just a few of the places Alfie and I have already visited:

February 23, 2007, at 1:15 and again at 2:15 at Keene Mill Elementary School, Springfield, VA

October 20, 2006, at 9 am at P.S. 163, Brooklyn, NY and later that day at P.S. 6, Staten Island, NY

June 7, 2006, at 10:00 at St. Veronica’s School, Reston, VA

Virginia Standards of Learning Tie-ins - Grades 2 – 3
ALFIE THE APOSTROPHE

By Moira Rose Donohue
Illustrated by JoAnn Adinolfi

English – Writing

The title character demonstrates how to form common contractions such as "can’t" and "won’t." The interactive "For Fun" page on the author’s website allows users to make more contractions, including some using the personal pronoun "we."

	2.12	The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
		e) Use apostrophes in contractions, including don’t, isn’t, and can’t.
	3.11	The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
		g) Use apostrophes in contractions with pronouns.

As the punctuation show try-outs proceed, the reader is exposed to the use of basic punctuation marks, such as question marks and exclamation points.

	2.12	The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
		b) Use and punctuate declarative, interrogative, and exclamatory sentences.

In his final magic trick, Alfie demonstrates how to form a singular possessive, "Dot’s doll."

	3.11	The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
		d) Use singular possessives.

English - Reading

ALFIE THE APOSTROPHE is a story about self-esteem. The characters are distinctive and have personalities that fit their uses. And Alfie is faced with a significant problem.

	2.8	The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. a) Make predictions about content. b) Read to confirm predictions. f) Describe characters, setting, and important events in fiction and poetry.
	3.5	The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of fiction. c) Make, confirm, or revise predictions. d) Compare and contrast settings, characters, and events.

ALFIE THE APOSTROPHE not only teaches directly about the use of apostrophes, but also uses them throughout the book, such as describing Alfie as the "show’s shining star."

	2.6	The student will use language structure to expand vocabulary w reading. b) Use knowledge of contractions and singular possessives. The "About the Apostrophe" note in the beginning of the book includes a dictionary definition and history of the word and its meaning and usage.
	2.9	The student will demonstrate comprehension of information in reference materials. c) Use dictionaries and indices.
	3.7	The student will demonstrate comprehension of information from a variety of print resources. a) Use dictionary, glossary, thesaurus, encyclopedia and other reference books, including online reference materials.

Developed in conjunction with a retired FAIRFAX COUNTY TEACHER

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