Bring Kathy Kenney-Marshall to Your School!

Kathy is included in six Meadowbrook Anthologies. She is a columnist for the MetroWest Daily News and has had poetry published in a teacher’s resource book to help children prepare for standardized testing.

Home: Randolph, MA
Travels to: Kathy travels anywhere she is invited.
Kathy’s poems are published in: Rolling in the Aisles, If Kids Ran the School, My Teacher’s in Detention, Oh My Darling, Porcupine, Dinner with Dracula, and I’ve Been Burping in the Classroom.

Rates

Half-Day Visit: $700 plus travel and other expenses
One-Day Visit: $1,000 plus travel and other expenses
Evening Presentations: $250 with a one-day visit, $150 with a two-day visit or free with a week-long residency.

Biography

Kathy has written hundreds of poems that have been inspired by her third grade students at McCarthy Elementary School in Framingham, MA, and by her own three children. "Kids give me most of my ideas, through their words, actions, and sometimes their disgusting habits!" Her philosophy of education is that standards are crucial, but fun is essential in the learning process. Whicle teaching and mothering, she is also a columnist, and is working on several writing projects. In her free time (what free time?), she loves to exercise, read, and collect M&Ms paraphernalia...And yes, she really does eat them every day.

Event Description

Kathy’s program can take flexible formats. The following can be modified to fit individual teacher/school needs:

30-45 Minute Library Time

This would consist of a poetry reading with interactive poetry and songs. If time allows, a collaborative poem will be written. Two classes can be combined for this type of program. A question and answer time will be incorporated and books will be available to purchase.

Classroom Lessons

Kathy will conduct five 45-50 minute classroom visits that will include readings, collaboration, and a poetry lesson where the students will begin to write their own poetry. Lessons in revision and word choice are also available. Teachers may request that curriculum standards be incorporated into lessons. One classroom at a time please so that each student will be able to receive more feedback from Kathy. Question and answer time will be made available if requested.

Evenings can be conducted in one of two ways:

Option A: If one or more teachers are willing to coordinate students, Kathy will host "An Evening of Poetry" where the students will be the stars. Kathy will begin the evening with an introduction and the reading of a poem. Students will then read their original poetry for parents and staff. Books will be available for purchase and Kathy will sign the books

Option B: This one to one and half hour session will include a reading for parents and students with audience participation when possible. Then, along with both a question and answer segment there will be time to purchase and have books signed.

Testimonials

"Our after school book club had a great afternoon of poetry and songs. Kathy Kenney-Marshall kept the kids involved the entire presentation. Both parents and students were happy with the presentation. I would recommend her as a speaker to other schools, libraries, and clubs!"
—Kathy Corbo, Parent Coordinator, Donald Ross School book club, Braintree, MA

“Kathy is an outstanding educator and poet. Her lessons are always effective and motivating, exuberant and dynamic which becomes contagious in the classroom. One cannot help but be impressed by the enjoyment expressed by the teacher and the eagerness of the children to take part in the lesson. ”
—Joan Vodoklys, Principal, McCarthy Elementary School, Framingham, MA

"Kathy gave a wonderful presentation on poetry. She held the kid’s attention for the entire 45 minutes and go them excited about writing their own poems, They loved her sense of humor"
—Samantha Lowe, McCarthy Elementary School, Framingham, MA

If you are interested in booking an event with Kathy Kenney-Marshall, 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.