How to prepare for a school visit

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Preparation is the key to a successful visit! When preparing for a school visit, the first and most important step is to discuss your goals with the author. Let the author know the age, number, and "personality" of your students. Some schools prefer a wild and wacky presentation, others want a more serious lesson. Our speakers are willing to provide what you're looking for, but they'll never know unless you tell them!

Here are some other tips on how to prepare for a great visit:

One Month in Advance

Appoint one or more educators - the media specialist, reading specialist, or classroom teacher who's most knowledgeable about the author - to visit each classroom and talk about the author and his or her work.
The more the students know about the author, the more they'll appreciate and benefit from the visit. Read the speaker's work aloud and make a special display or cart in the library.
Plan an itinerary for the visit day, accounting for presentations, breaks, or special events. E-mail the itinerary to the speaker in advance so he or she may look it over and discuss any issues with you. Send the finalized itinerary to all the staff in your school so they'll be aware of the day's events.
Contact your local newspaper about the visit. Place a blurb in the school newsletter publicizing the event.
Make arrangements to sell books at the visit. For more information, read our helpful guide on how to sell books at an author visit.

The Week of the Visit

Hang a welcome sign or banner in the school lobby where students, teachers, parents, and the author will enter the school.
Have students illustrate their favorite story or poem by the author. Hang the illustrations on the classroom or hall walls.
Encourage students to recite their favorite poems or read aloud from their favorite stories written by the author. Ask them to prepare questions for the author.
Teach students the importance of being a good audience. Remind them of what kind of behavior you expect from them in the assembly.

The Day of the Visit

Have students greet the author with a performance of his or her work.
Make sure you know in advance what the author will need in the way of props (i.e., a slide projector, easel and markers, whiteboard, or microphone) and have them ready.
Provide water, coffee, or soda to keep the author refreshed.
Help the author locate restrooms or the teachers' lounge during breaks, and coordinate lunch plans with the author. (Will he or she eat in the lounge or with the students? Will staff have lunch with the author at a local restaurant?)
Have teachers monitor students' behavior during presentations. Ask teachers to move quickly to deal with any disturbance. Share your favorite "quiet" signal (one hand in the air, a clap sequence, etc.) so the author can call for quiet if it's needed.

After the Visit

Ask students to write thank-you notes (or poems) to the author expressing why they enjoyed the visit.
Reread the author's work and refer to it in class.
Have students make books or posters celebrating their favorite poems or stories by the author or their favorite moments of the visit.
Encourage older students to discuss the author's work by comparing and contrasting it with other authors'.
Provide us with feedback. Did you and the students enjoy the visit? Would you have done anything differently? Print out the Author Visit Evaluation form; fill it out and fax it to 952-930-1940. Your feedback helps us provide the highest quality presenters for schools such as yours.
Start planning your next author visit with AuthorsInSchools.com!