Visits and More

“Welcoming and approachable, Olugbemisola engaged our students in thoughtful discussion about her most recent work. Readers and future authors alike eagerly inquired about her work and her writing process. Not only did she “hook” our students during her presentation, but students left our library requesting copies of 8th Grade Superzero; the copies continue to be in constant circulation to this day. Her visit was a real treat for all.”
-Susan, Brooklyn New School/Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies Librarian

RECENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS:

    May 1: Hudson Children’s Book Festival, Hudson, NY

    May 20: Brooklyn Public Library Tween Book Club

    June 27-28: ALA National Conference, Washington, D.C. BOOK SIGNING: Sunday, June 27th 4 PM, Scholastic booth #2624 — Come say hi! PANEL: Monday, June 28th 10 AM: “Low-budget ways to connect readers with authors using Web 2.0″ with Jennifer Hubbard, Cynthea Liu, and Lindsey Leavitt

    August 6: Black Caucus of the American Library Association Conference, Birmingham, Alabama. “Beyond The Book: Using Digital Technology to Enhance the Power of Black Literature for Children and Teens” (representing The Brown Bookshelf, presentation with author Varian Johnson.)

    September 11, 2010: Princeton Children’s Book Festival

    September 12, 2010: Brooklyn Book Festival

    November 2010: NCTE National Convention, Orlando, FL. “Looking for the Real Me on the Hyphen: Stories of Migration and Return” Panel with authors Neesha Meminger, Lyn-Miller Lachman, Zetta Elliott, and Debby Dahl Edwardson

    I love hanging out with writers, educators and book lovers of all ages. As a visiting artist, with many years of experience in schools, classrooms, community-based organizations, and home education settings, I look for ways to support and enhance what’s already being done, and what writers already know, and offer tools and inspiration to encourage independent, joyful teaching and learning long after my visit has ended. I’m also available for Skype visits, digital writing workshops and residencies, and e-mentoring. Presentations and workshops include:

  • Discover Your Superhero Self: Write for Change & Change The World (can include letter-writing workshop, collage and/or stitchery activity)

    • (Thinking about young activists? Read what the Albany-Times Union had to say about SUPERZERO and Mitali Perkins’ wonderful BAMBOO PEOPLE in this article by GRINGOLANDIA author Lyn Miller-Lachman.)

  • Revision: Look, Listen, and Look Again
  • The Word & the World (themed book clubs, connecting current works by a variety of authors to issues in everyday life. Multi-session.)
  • Craft Connections (the literary uses of stitchery, knitting, collage, bookmaking, etc.)

    • More of my thoughts on how much fun this can be at Imagination Soup and on crafting and writing at author Margie Gelbwasser’s blog.

  • Play on Words: Encouraging all kinds of readers and writers through handwork, bookmaking, collage, and multimedia tools
  • This I Believe…And That, Too: Reading and Writing Memoir through a lens of faith/spirituality
  • Storytelling and literacy fun and games (early childhood groups and classrooms)

    • (my related article for Instructor magazine on easing Pre-K and Kindergarten children into the school routine.)

  • Reading, Thinking, and Writing for Change (memoir, persuasive writing, and transformation).
  • More than Mentor Texts: Collaborate with Authors to Boost Writing Skills and Enthusiasm
  • New Ways to Write About Reading: Using 21st Century Tools for Timeless Teaching & Learning ( Wikis, Googledocs, Twitter, Podcasts, and more to energize student writing and for meaningful discussion about reading)
  • Playlisting Your Days: Stories, Songs, and Life
  • Friendship and Community Building through Stories, Art, and Activities (for children ages 5-8 and/or their caregivers)
  • Old School, New School, Living School: Making Literacy connections for Life

    • I wrote about some of my favourite educational resource sites at The Tenners Community — drop by and share your own!

    I am also available in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CONN) for extended residencies or workshops, including digital writing workshops, and will design custom writing workshops and programs (essay, realistic fiction, genre fiction, etc.) that complement K-12 classroom work and promote critical and creative thinking skills. I have years of experience in early childhood classrooms and can conduct reading and writing workshops using classic and current picture books, songs, and other activities to engage even the youngest children.

    I have 10+ years in literacy education and youth development work with children, adults, and families; a Professional Development certificate in the teaching of writing from the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University, an M.A. in Educational Technology and English Education from the Steinhardt School of Education at NYU, and my B.Sc. from Cornell University.

    There are many ways to fund a visit! Maybe you can partner with another school or organization. Look into grants, the SCBWI Amber Brown Fund, local arts councils and commissions, adopt-a-classroom, your PTA and other local organizations, national and local businesses…bake sales, book sales, and other fundraisers can also be a big help. Author and school visit expert Alexis O’Neill offers video tips to help schools and libraries find funds for author visits.

    For school visits, signings, and related matters, please use the form on my Contact page, or send an email to events@olugbemisola.com. Thank you so much — hope to meet you soon!