Heather Montgomery Author Visit Kit
Brief Bio and Introduction
Heather Montgomery’s subject matter ranges from snake tongues to snails. Heather uses yuck appeal to engage young minds and inspire children to make their own wild discoveries. During a typical school visit, petrified parts and tree guts inspire reluctant writers and encourage scientific thinking. Heather has a B.S. in Biology, a M.S. in Environmental Education, and awards for her educational programs. When she is not writing, she can be found painting students’ faces with mud at the McDowell Environmental Center where she is the Education Coordinator. Heather resides on the Tennessee/Alabama border. Learn more about her ten books at www.HeatherLMontgomery.com.
Program Description
Wild Discoveries!
50 minutes
Grades 2-8
Hot pink millipedes, slime-shooting worms, see-through frogs... glimpsing into scientists' journal entries, students make their own wild discoveries! Students will delve into process of species identification, make careful observations of details and discover the fun side of writing.
Asking Questions, Seeking Answers
30-50 minutes
Grades PreK-3
Faced with bizarre bugs and anomalies from nature, students practice their observation and thinking skills. This fast-paced session will have them buzzing with questions, brainstorming research strategies and evaluating questions for different purposes. Curiosities will soar!
Write Like a Scientist
30-50 minutes
Grades 2-5
How does a scientist think? How do they discover information? What kinds of questions do they ask? Do they write too? Students will trace the development of an article for Highlights for Children, inquire about the science and discover the parallels with the writing process.
From Funky Thing to Finished Product
50 minutes
Grades 3-8
Taking a look at the life of an author, students will study the writing process. Discovering the power of voice, they will grow through revision, just like a professional.
Slithering Snakes!
50 minutes
Grades 3-8
Rattlesnakes, garter snakes, worm snakes too. Snakes fascinate everyone. Fun facts about snakes will help students learn science content and discover the fun of research!
Natural Inspirations: A Writer’s Workshop
1-3 hours
Grades 3-Adult
Exploring their environment, students nature journal and discover new worlds through the use of specialized magnifiers. They hone their observation skills and play with literary devices such as metaphors, alliteration, and onomatopoeia. Descriptive writing is fun because they are inspired. This workshop will be held outdoors when possible.
Teacher Workshops
1-6 hours
- Elementary and Middle School Teachers, Librarians, Writing Coaches
- From Reluctant to Radical: Growing Writers With Passion
- Reading, Writing and the Environment
- Alabama’s Earth: Science You Can Put Your Hands-On
Conferences & Festivals
Heather enjoys presenting to the general public, teachers, librarians or other writers. Any of the school presentations can be adapted for a general audience at festivals.
A Wild Discovery: Turn boys from reluctant to ready readers, researchers and writers
1-3 hours
Librarians and Elementary and Middle School Teachers
Web-shooting worms, bomb-dropping sea life, leeches up the nose? Nonfiction author Heather Montgomery will share specific strategies and model informational texts that capitalize on the wackiness of nature to hook boys. Turn on their curiosity, expand their passion for inquiry, and set them loose into the land of discovery!
Reading, Writing and the Environment
1-6 hours
Elementary Teachers
Learn hands-on activities that incorporate literacy into science curriculum! Nature journaling, word sorts, metaphor madness, fold-a-poem, vocabulary games, … During this workshop, attendees practice strategies that improve students’ reading and writing skills while challenging their scientific thinking.
Launch inquiry-based science activities with recommended picture books.
Themes and Big Ideas: Taking Your Nonfiction from Trivia to Timeless
50 minutes
Writers
Winning nonfiction goes beyond fantastic facts to help the reader connect with a timeless, universal theme and a "big idea." In this workshop, attendees will compare texts; explore their personal concept of universal and timeless; plus, practice wrestling with facts to support different themes and big ideas.
Virtual Visits
Q & A With the Author
30-60 minutes
Grades K-Adult
Students who have read one or more of Heather’s books engage in a virtual question and answer session with the author.
Extension
30-60 minutes
Grades K-8
Classes which have participated in an in-school presentation or workshop are invited to call/Skype/Google Talk in for follow-up time with Heather. Content may include discussion of the students’ writing, additional writing activities or follow-up to exercises presented during the school visit.
AV Tech
- LCD Projector and screen
- Room which can be darkened
- Microphone (if more than 100 students)
- White board
- 2 small tables for display of books and natural items
Honorarium
Classroom Presentations:
50 minutes = $100 ($80 if 2 or more)
3 hours = $250
Large Group Presentations:
Full Day = $700
Virtual Visits
$1 per minute
Teacher Workshops:
3 hours = $200
6 hours = $500
Travel expenses from Ardmore, AL will be added to the fees listed above.
