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TITLES
- Little Beaver and the Echo (Putnam, 1990)
- Rachel Fister's Blister (Houghton Mifflin, 1990)
- Cousin Ruth's Tooth (Houghton Mifflin, 1996)
- The Spider Who Created the World (Orchard, 1996)
- No More Nice (Orchard, 1996; Avon 1997)
- No More Nasty (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2001)
- Please Malese! (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2002)
- Quentin Fenton Herter III (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2002)
- No More Nice/No More Nasty ((Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2002)
AWARDS
- Little Beaver and the Echo: Silver Stylus (Netherlands), Children's Book Award and Kate Greenaway Award shortlist (UK), Best Books of 1990 (Parents Magazine, The New York Times), Best Books of the Century (The Independent, UK)
- Rachel Fister's Blister Hornbook Fanfare (Best of 1990)
- Cousin Ruth's Tooth, ABA Pick of the List, NEBA Book of the Month
- No More Nice Parents Choice Silver Honor Award; Children's Choice Award nominee in Connecticut, and several other states
- Please Malese Oppenheim Platinum Award
- No More Nasty "Children's Choice" nominations in Oklahoma, Indiana, South Dakota, Iowa, New Hampshire, Louisiana, West Virginia, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Rhode Island
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GRADES
Grades K-8, Families, Teachers
LENGTH OF PROGRAMS
30-60 minutes
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Unlimited for assemblies, family evenings, and classroom visits. Fifty for large-group writing workshops. Twenty-five for small-group writing workshops.
PROGRAMS
Becoming a Writer (Grades K-6)
An ideal foundation for later writing workshops, this assembly consists of a reading, followed by a discussion of the process of writing, illustrating, and being published. Using many visual aids, Amy dwells on some of the pleasures as well as the pitfalls of writing (with special emphasis on the need to edit and revise work).Includes a Q & A session. Tailored to different age levels. Can be done in individual classrooms or as part of assembly.
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These mini writing workshops can accommodate two-to-three classes at a time. They include a "Questions and Answer" follow-up to the assembly. Amy then teaches the students the rudiments of writing a story or piece of non-fiction, depending on grade level. Though most large groups don't complete the story in the workshop itself, teachers are given enough information to complete the writing afterwards.
Small-Group Writing Workshops
Students create their own stories (see Writing Workshops, below). By meeting in a single classroom, students receive more individual attention and complete much of the story, under Amy's guidance.
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For a more in-depth writing experience, Amy can meet with 4-5 classes a day over a space of three or more days, each one devoted to planning, writing, and revising a story.
Teacher Workshops
Amy is a teaching artist as part of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts "Partners in Education" National Touring Program. Developed in conjunction with the Kennedy Center., the Professional Development workshops train teachers to give two of Amy's classroom workshops ("Writing by Storm" and "Persuasive Writing") as well as dwelling on the principles of teaching good writing. See description below; or visit her page in the Center's brochure for more description.
Family Evenings/Book Signings
Each school visit involves a daytime booksigning. Additional family evenings my be scheduled.
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Kindergarten — Big Book
We write a "Big Book" together with emphasis on rhyme, which aids reading as well as writing through phonemic awareness.
Grades 1-5 — Where Do Ideas Come From?
A fun look at the sources of creativity, which includes a quick writing exercise that helps children come up with new ideas for stories. Can be done with unlimited numbers, in individual classroom, or as part of assembly.
Grades 1-4 — Writing by Storm
Using Rachel Fister's Blister for inspiration, students brainstorm to produce a finished story together, using a method that helps reluctant writers participate, and teaches all involved to recognize the elements of a story, overcome common obstacles to writing (getting started, getting stuck, finishing it), and how to tackle revision.
Grades 5-8 — Persuasive Writing
Why is mastering writing important? This workshop is a playful yet serious look at ways we are manipulated — and can learn to manipulate others — with language, in various media: politics, advertising, and even in fiction. Applicable across the curriculum.
Grades 5-8 — Creation Myths
We write together a creation story, like Amy's Spider Who Created the World, using a multi-cultural model.
Grades 5-8 — Fan Fiction
Write like J.K. Rowling! Amy uses her books No More Nice, Rachel Fister's Blister, Quentin Fenton Herter III, and Please, Malese! as well as classics like Dr. Seuss, The House on Mango Street, and Harry Potter to get students writing like their favorite authors. And in doing so, they learn a lot about both writing — voice, character, dialogue — and what goes into writing their favorite books.
TEACHER IN-SERVICE WORKSHOPS
Writing by Storm: Overcoming Common Obstacles (Grades 1-5)
This workshop is especially useful for teachers who worry that they can't teach writing, because they are not writers. Using simple, concrete, and fun techniques we write a story together in a way that reinforces understanding of the parts of stories, and helps us all leap common roadblocks: finding ideas, staying focused, ending it, and the dreaded revision.
Persuasive Writing (Grades 5-12)
This workshop will help teachers impress on students exactly why mastering writing is important: who controls words controls minds. A playful yet serious look at ways we are manipulated — and can learn to manipulate others — in the media, politics, advertising, and even in fiction. Applicable across the curriculum.
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"For more information, visit my web site, www.AmyMacDonald.com.
FEES
- Half Day (2 assemblies): $600
- Full Day: $1050
After School Programs
- Teacher In-service Workshop: $500
- Family Program: $300
Bonus
Free Family Evening included in three-day residencies. Free Teacher Workshop included in every five-day residency.
Travel Costs
Fees include all expenses except airfare or mileage. Travel costs may be kept to a minimum by combining with other local schools for block booking. (See Amy's web site to see if she has already scheduled visits in your state. Or call to find out how to do this.)
New England Schools
Maine schools qualify for reduced rates (see Amy's web site) and all other New England schools qualify for New England Foundation for the Arts subsidies of up to 50% of the cost of the visit for artists on their roster. Please note that while NEFA now lists any and all interested artists on their roster, I am one of the few juried artists (selected through a competitive jury process). See their New England States Touring Program web site for details and schedules. Or contact your local state arts agency.
SET-UP AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
- PowerPoint projector
- PA system
- Room that can be darkened
AUTOGRAPH INFORMATION
Book signing encouraged.
LEARN MORE ABOUT AMY MACDONALD
Amy MacDonald
10 Winslow Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
Telephone: 207-781-5526
Fax: 207-781-5223
Email: AmyMac@Maine.rr.com
Website: www.AmyMacDonald.com
