Bring Timothy Tocher to Your School!
Timothy Tocher is a retired teacher and writer from New York state. He writes clever, humorous, and kid-friendly poetry. With his interactive and humorous poetry programs, Timothy will leave students and staff buzzing with excitement. His years of experience as a writer and a teacher make him a natural at bringing out the hidden writing talent in your students.
Home: Suffern, NY
Travels to: Timothy travels anywhere he’s invited, especially in New England.
Tim’s work appears in: I Hope I Don't Strike Out!, No More Homework! No More Tests!, Kids Pick the Funniest Poems, Rolling in the Aisles, If Kids Ruled the School, and Oh My Darling, Porcupine.
Rates
One-Day Visit: $600 plus travel and other expenses
Two-Day Visit: $1,200 plus travel and other expenses
One-Week Visit: $2,800 plus travel and other expenses
Evening Event: $100 (available only when you book a school visit)
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Biography
A retired teacher, Timothy writes humorous children’s poetry, some of which appears in No More Homework! No More Tests!, Rolling in the Aisles, and Kids Pick the Funniest Poems. He’s also one of Meadowbrook Press’ most outstanding fiction writers.
Click here to read an interview with Tim Tocher.
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Event Description
Timothy Tocher's humorous poems have appeared in a many books and magazines. His thirty years of experience in elementary-school classrooms make him a natural at bringing out the hidden writing talent in your students. Teachers and children find new excitement in the ELA curriculum after a visit from Timothy Tocher. Tim offers half- and full-day interactive programs, which include presentations on sports poetry, nursery rhymes, songs, and more. Each program is geared toward the age and interests of the class he visits.
Interactive Nursery Rhymes (K - 1st grade)
As your students act out Tim's fractured versions of classic rhymes, learn the answer to the following questions, as well as more vital ones:
- What did Mrs. Horner think of her son Jack's table manners?
- How can we get Old King Cole to quit smoking?
- What would happen if Little Miss Muffet got a rematch with the spider?
Singing and Writing Song Parodies (2nd - 6th grades)
Sing along with Tocher as the standard songs of camp and school are brought up to date with wacky new lyrics. Students have fun while learning how to use familiar tunes to create rhythmic, rhyming poetry. The session ends with collaborative writing of a new set of lyrics. Warning: This activity is addictive. Students may feel the urge to create long after the author is gone!
Interactive Poetry (2nd - 8th grades)
Students read and perform age-appropriate poems written by Timothy Tocher. Humorous, rhyming poems answer burning questions such as:
- What is the correct way to celebrate "George Birthington's Washday?"
- How does the cheerleading squad really feel when the team loses?
- What food should be avoided at the 4th of July picnic?
More serious poems examine topics as wide-ranging as nature and sports. Students will learn that it is the particular perspective a writer brings to a topic that turns an everyday event into poetry. Each session ends with a brainstorming session that produces a new poem.
Click here to learn about Timothy’s fiction presentations.
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Sample Poem
Excuse Cheer
Our center's nose was runny. Our forwards had the flu.
The guards were feeling funny. That's why we lost to you.
Your team is overrated. We really didn't try.
Our coach was constipated. I'm telling you no lie.
Now go and take a shower and hop back on your bus.
You know we'll beat you next time, so you'd best watch out for us!
© 2004 by Timothy Tocher. Reprinted from Rolling in the Aisles (Meadowbrook Press).
Testimonials
“Tim was prompt and well prepared. His poems were funny and the children were amused.”
—Sheri Droz, Teacher, Susan E. Wiley School, Copiague, NY
"Timothy's workshops are instructional, entertaining, and age-appropriate."
—Barbara Geoghan, principal, George Grant Mason Elementary School, Tuxedo Park, NY
"The school is still buzzing with excitement. Timothy's style is comfortable and down-to-earth. He immediately made a real connection with our kids, engaging them from start to finish in his interactive program. Everyone got to be a confident writer the day Tim Tocher visited our school."
—Sara Medelius, PTA, Ridgeway Elementary, White Plains, NY
"Wonderful workshop, delightful day."
—Jeanine Saal, PTA, Alpine School, Alpine, NJ
"Your presentation was interesting and informative. Everyone loved it!"
—Susan Babcock, children's librarian, Tuxedo Park Library, Tuxedo Park, NY
"Terrific job, Tim! Kids loved reading and creating their own poems."
—Debbie Dunne, third-grade teacher, Tisdale Elementary, Ramsey, NJ
"Tim Tocher used his real-life poems to creatively engage our students' imaginations. His humorous nursery rhymes were transformed into poems that the children found hilarious and enjoyable!"
—Rita Major, second-grade teacher, Ridgeway Elementary, White Plains, NY
"I have never seen an audience react as they do to Tim Tocher. Young and old, children and adults, sit spellbound as they listen to Tim tell his stories. A natural raconteur, Tim magically transforms an auditorium into a warm fireside chat, making you feel that you have known him all your life. An educator at heart, Tim has the gift of finding humor from the school-day routine and makes all of us happy that we are a part of this special world."
—Jan Hammond, EdD, chair of Dept. of Educational Administration and assoc. prof., State University of New York
"Through the humor of his poetry, Tim Tocher is able to captivate both the avid and reluctant readers and writers. The students will be reading, rereading, reciting his poems, and even writing their own poems for months."
—Diana Musich, asst. principal, Monroe Woodbury Central Schools
"Tim Tocher has a way of engaging students with his clever, humorous, and kid-friendly poems. He makes children giggle as he sparks their interest and makes reading fun. Tim truly inspires children!"
—Marianne Vandemark, teacher, Monroe Woodbury Middle School
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If you’re interested in booking an event with Timothy Tocher, please fill out the Author Visit Query form or contact our Author Appearance Manager at 800-338-2232, ext. 105, or admin@authorsinschools.com. We look forward to working with you.
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