Betty G. Birney: School Visits

School Visits Betty speaks to a wide range of audiences. Here are just a few of her presentations.
FOR GRADES 1 - 5	How I learned to think, act, talk and write like a hamster (and you can too!) A lesson in writing and learning to squeak up for yourself! Students at the Eldredge School, East Greenwich, Rhode Island, show off their hamster masks. The World According To Humphrey is geared toward 7-11 year olds, but is also appropriate for younger children as a read-aloud. (Many first-grade teachers are using it this way.) Highlights of the presentation include: Betty’s early desire to be a writer (with samples) and writing career How the character of Humphrey was born and evolved, including early notes Learning about hamsters: rodent research! Writing, rewriting and rewriting some more All About Humphrey - Everything you ever wanted to know! The Cover Story (who are Bertje, Spuri and Rocky?) Betty's presentation is 45-minutes to an hour and includes lots of visuals, humor and student interaction. She would prefer the students are familiar with the book.

FOR GRADES 3 - 8	The Search for Sassafras Springs Join Betty on a journey to explore the roots of THE SEVEN WONDERS OF SASSAFRAS SPRINGS as she explains and illustrates how her family's oft-told tales (true and otherwise) inspired and informed this book and specifically, how each of the individual stories came together, demonstrating where ideas come from and how they evolve into stories. Emphasis is on the value of listening to and passing on family stories. The perfect accompaniment to units on family stories, genealogy or story-telling. It is important that students have read the book first. 45-minutes to an hour

FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL	From Story To Script Betty speaks and/or workshops with students on writing scripts (animated or live action), the differences between writing a script and writing narrative fiction, with an emphasis on creating meaningful stories that make a difference.

FOR ADULTS	Betty also speaks to parent and civic groups about her development as a young writer and what she's learned as a writer for children's television and books.

RECENT AND UPCOMING SCHOOL VISITS	2010 Betty is drastically limiting her travel this year in order to get more writing done, but she's open to visits in and around Los Angeles and the West Coast January 12 St. John's Lutheran School, Orange, CA February 5 Santa Fe Springs Author Month event, Santa Fe Springs, CA February 18 Golden Oaks Community School, Santa Clarita, CA March 5 Children's Book World Event- TBA - Los Angeles, CA 2009 January 27 Second Baptist School, Houston, TX February 2 Monterey Hills Elementary School, South Pasadena, CA February 18, 19 Miller Elementary School, Burbank, CA February 25 Vista Del Valle School, Claremont, CA March 3 Rea View Elementary School, Waxhaw, NC March 4 Sandy Ridge Elementary School, Waxhaw, NC March 5 Polo Ridge Elementary School, Charlotte, NC March 5 McAlpine Elementary School, Charlotte, NC March 27 Ekstrand Elementary School, San Dimas, CA April 13 Prairie Wind Elementary School, Omaha, NE April 14 Picotte Elementary School, Omaha, NE April 15 St. Vincent de Paul School, Omaha, NE April 16 St. Wenceslaus School, Omaha, NE April 17 Montclair Elementary School, Omaha, NE April 18 Signing: The Bookworm, 8702 Pacifica Street, Omaha, NE 11:AM April 20-21 Foxview Intermediate School, DePere, WI April 20 Book Signing: Butterfly Books, DePere, WI 5:00 PM May 8 Paterson Elementary, Jacksonville, FL June 5 Santa Fe Springs City Library, Santa Fe Springs, CA - 7 pm Sept 12 Book Signing, The Golden Treasury Bookshop, Wandsworth, South London, UK Sept 21 Caterham School, Caterham, Surrey, UK Sept 23 School Event, Seven Stories Bookstore, Newcastle, UK Sept 24 School Events, Mary Erksine School, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK Sept 25 School Events, Scottish Book Trust, Edinburgh Sept 25 School Event, Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh Sept. 27 Bath Children's Literature Festival, Bath - 6 pm ticketed event, Bath, UK Oct 5 Corona Public Library, Corona, CA Oct 26-30 Missouri City, TX Nov 9 Northwood Elementary School, San Antonio, TX Nov 10 Hardy Oak Elementary School, San Antonio, TX Nov. 11 Castle Hills Elementary School, San Antonio, TX Nov 12 Camelot Elementary School, San Antonio, TX Nov 13 Thousand Oaks Elementary School, San Antonio, TX Dec 1 The Hamlin School, San Francisco, CA 2008 January 11 John Evans Elementary School, Orlando, FL January 12 Barnes and Noble, Oviedo, FL, Book signing January 14 Trinity Elementary School, New Port Richey, FL January 15 Schrader Elementary School, New Port Richey, FL January 16 Wesley Chapel Elementary School, Wesley Chapel, FL January 17 Marlowe Elementary School, New Port Richey, FL January 22 Whittier Christian School, Maybrook Elementary, Whittier, CA February 2 Delta Kappa Gamma Society Conference, Pomona, CA February 21 Jurupa Unified School District and library visit, Riverside, CA March 2 Bath Literature Festival, Bath, UK March 3 Bath Royal School, Bath, UK March 3 Shaw School, Wiltshire, UK March 4 School Events at the Guardian Newsroom, London March 5 St. Alban's Abbey School, St. Alban’s, UK March 6 WORLD BOOK DAY event held at Stratford Circus, London March 7 Basildon Children's Book Festival, Basildon, UK March 18-19 Chadwick School, Palos Verdes, CA April 8-11 Farmington Hills, MI schools April 8 Highmeadow Elementary School – Farmington Hills, MI Forest Elementary School (with Wooddale), Farmington Hills, MI Kenbrook Elementary School – Farmington Hills, MI April 9 Hillside Elementary School (with William Grace),Farmington Hills, MI Lanigan Elementary School, Farmington Hills, MI April 10 Gill Elementary School, Farmington Hills, MI Beechview Elementary School (with Longacre), Farmington Hills, MI Eagle Elementary School (with Wood Creek), Farmington Hills, MI Farmington Community Library, evening event April 17 TLA (Texas Library Association) Conference, Dallas, TX April 21-22 Oklahoma Library Association conference, Tulsa, OK April 23 Indian Springs Elementary, Broken Arrow, OK April 24 Park Lane Elementary, Broken Arrow, OK May 2 Stagg Street School reading club, Van Nuys, CA May 12 Smoky Row Elementary and Forest Dale Elementary, Carmel, IN May 14 Novak Elementary School, Marion, IA Linn Grove Elementary School, Marion, IA Indian Creek Elementary School, Marion, IA May 15 Oak Grove Elementary School, Marion, IA Westfield Elementary School, Marion, IA May 16 Wilkins Elementary School, Marion, IA Bowman Woods Elementary School, Cedar Rapids, IA May 19 Mill Creek Elementary School, Bucks County, PA May 20 Goodnoe Elementary School, Bucks County, PA May 21 Richboro Elementary School, Bucks County, PA May 22 Holland Elementary School, Bucks County, PA June 12 Third Street School, Los Angeles, CA September 5 Midway Intermediate School, Waco, TX September 8 The John Cooper School, The Woodlands, TX September 26 Vail Mountain School, Vail, CO October 17 Golden Sower Award ceremony, Lincoln, NE October 23 Sonoma Mountain Elementary, Petaluma, CA October 29 Stephen S. Wise School, Los Angeles, CA November 5 Eugene Coste Elementary School, Calgary, AB Canada Dr. Gordon Townsend School, Calgary, AB Canada November 6 Coventry Hills School, Calgary, AB Canada November 6-8 Kaleidoscope Conference, Calgary, AB Canada November 15 Grace A. Dow Memorial Library Battle of the Books, Midland, MI 2007 January 10 Moulton Elementary, Laguna Niguel, CA January 29-30 Van Buren Elementary, Oklahoma City, OK Jan. 31-Feb. 1 Columbus Enterprise Elementary, Oklahoma City, OK February 2 Earl Harris Elementary School, Bethany, OK February 5 Wayland Bonds Elementary School, Oklahoma City, OK February 5 Briarwood Elementary School, Oklahoma City, OK (evening) February 6 Houchin Elementary School, Oklahoma City, OK February 6 Santa Fe Elementary School, Oklahoma City, OK February 7 Northmoor Elementary School, Oklahoma City, OK February 7 Red Oak Elementary School, Oklahoma City, OK February 9 Curtis School, Los Angeles, CA February 13 Whittier Christian School, Whittier, CA March 2 Citrus Elementary School, Upland, CA March 27 Sonrise Christian School, Covina, CA April 1 Mirman School, Los Angeles, CA April 30 Metcalf Elementary, Exeter, R.I. Wawaloam Elementary, Exeter, R.I. May 2 Fisher School, Arlington, VT Manchester Elementary Middle School, Manchester, VT May 3 Seven Hill Towns,/Seven Wonders event, Shelburne Falls, MA, 7 PM May 17 Children's Book World, Los Angeles, 10:30 am May 24 Middlebury, IN - Seven Wonders events June 6 Young Author's Celebration, Victorville, CA July 17 Reading Camp, Azusa, CA Sept. 19 L.A. County Fair - America's Kids - all day Sept. 28 Chandler School, Pasadena, CA Sept. 29 Signing, Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Store, LaVerne, CA Oct. 13 Washington Media Library Conference, Yakima Nov. 6 Sycamore Elementary School, Upland, CA - evening event Nov. 8 Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs, Buena Vista Branch, Burbank Public Library - Book Club members only Nov. 16 California State Library Association Conference, Ontario, CA 2006 January 26 Wagon Wheel Elementary, Trabuco Canyon, CA February 11 Signing – Maple Street Books, New Orleans, LA February 13 St. Martin’s School, Metairie, LA February 14 Trinity Episcopal School, New Orleans, LA February 15 St. Andrew’s Episcopal School February 17 Fox Chapel Middle School, Spring, FL February 17 Calusa Elementary School, New Port Richey, FL February 18 Hernando County (FL) Festival of Reading March 20 Mesnier Elementary School, Affton, MO March 23 Children’s Community School, Van Nuys, CA May 9 St. James School, Los Angeles, CA May 11 Lake Asbury Elementary School, Green Cove Springs, FL May 12 Paterson Elementary School, Orange Park, FL May 17 Eldredge School, East Greenwich, RI May 23 Heath School, Heath, MA July 13-14 Lexington, KY Episcopal Diocese Summer Reading Camps July 15 Book Signing, Joseph Beth Bookstore, Lexington, KY July 16 Danville, KY Library event August 22 Summer of Wonders event, Towne Center Books, Pleasanton, CA October 11 Magnolia Elementary School, Upland, CA October 23 Clermont Northeastern Middle School, Batavia, OH October 23 Book Signing – Blue Marble Bookstore, Fort Thomas, KY October 25 Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Awards, Seven Springs, PA November 2-3 FAME (Florida Association of Media Educators), Orlando, FL December 7 Sierra Vista Elementary School, Upland, CA 2005 October 17 Grandparents’ Tea, Chandler School, Pasadena, CA October 21 Colleen Bevis Elementary School, Lithia, FL Kingswood Elementary School, Brandon, FL October 22 Signing, Barnes & Noble, Brandon, FL October 24 Alafia Elementary School, Valrico, FL (all day, plus ParentWorkshop in the evening) October 25 Roosevelt Elementary School, Tampa, FL October 26 Lithia Springs Elementary School, Lithia, FL Pinecrest Elementary School, Lithia, FL October 27 Teleconferenced presentation to Hillsborough County (FL) schools October 28 Curtis Fundamental School, Clearwater, FL October 29 St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading October 31 Maple Grove Elementary School, Dittmer, MO November 1 Union, MO School; Evening presentation, Union, MO Library. November 2 Lonedell School, Lonedell, MO St. Clair Elementary School, St. Clair, MO November 3 School presentations to all third graders in Farmington, MO; Evening presentation, The Factory, Farmington, MO November 5 Signing, Barnes and Noble, Crestwood, MO November 6 Presentation at the Franklin County (MO) History Fair November 10 Children’s Book World, L.A. - Wildwood School Friday, Nov. 11 Signing at Barnes & Noble, Encino, CA

	Betty speaks at Roosevelt Elementary School, Tampa, FL

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