“I am pleased to recommend Clint Johnson’s presentation on story writing…. He covered some important elements of story writing (characters, setting, plot, antagonist, protagonist, and conflict) as he led the group of students in collectively creating a story. Mr. Johnson is bursting with creative ideas and is able to weave the students’ ideas into an imaginative story including all of the story elements listed abve. The students were actively involved throughout the presentation and walked away with a series of steps to take in constructing their own stories, either independently or in class under the instruction of the classroom teacher. The teachers walked away with a group of students who had writing ideas ready and were excited to write.”–Madaline Chilcutt, Literacy Facilitator, Bell View Elementary
*****
Sometimes it requires the knowledge that, “Hey, it takes a real person to write a book!” to get kids to read. That personal connection can make all the difference with many reluctant readers. If you are interested in having me visit your school, please contact me.
I live in Salt Lake City, Utah and am eager to work with schools in the area frequently and at any time of the year. Scheduling visits to schools in more distant locales may be more problematic, but please don’t hesitate to contact me anyway. I will make a special point to record interested schools across the nation and be sure to visit them as I tour in promotion of my books.
My standard school presentation focuses on the connection between literacy and narrative. I am a huge advocate of using storytelling to invest students in their own literacy development by empowering their interests. To this end, my presentation focuses on narrative components universal across media and genre, specifically setting, characterization, plot, and conflict. The event is highly interactive and involves group storytelling. Because I emphasize creativity and narrative throughout most of the presentation, reluctant readers are far more likely to feel comfortable participating than in an event with overt emphasis on reading performance. When I do address the necessity of reading and writing, it is after having empowered kids as storytellers and invested them in the possibilities of literacy. Following the event, students who have pre-ordered books can get their books signed. I also coordinate book signings in the area where I offer any student who comes to the signing a free signed item, such as a poster or bookmark.
Contact me for more information, including my visit fee, a curriculum vitae of my experience as a presenter, testimonials on my teaching, and the rest of my school visit package.