Kramer, Jackie

If they're called writing activities, why are we sitting down? Young writers will "paint" kaleidoscopic settings, populate them with real and imagined characters, and concoct adventures from equal parts imagination, delicious details, and eraser crumbs. This writer enjoys working with the teacher to address classroom-specific interests and challenges. She also enjoys tailoring projects to capture the attention--and potential--of diverse learning styles. Residency options include, but are not limited to:

Project #1: Baku
This mythical creature delights in gobbling up bad dreams. Young writers will create (write and illustrate) their own Bakus. In the process we'll flex our senses, set a scene, lure a reader into a story, and breathe life into characters. And while we're at it, we may as well brainstorm about word choice, sentence variety, and mechanics as we review and rewrite.

Project #2: Another Time and Place
Students transport themselves to another time and place and tell their tales. We'll explore the idea that even if a story isn't real, it can, with care, certainly "ring true."

Jackie Kramer has served as a writer and editor for various publishers, including HarperCollins and Scholastic. She has yet to imagine anything more fun than developing, editing, and writing books, magazines, software, and other special projects for children. Currently, Jackie is the lead developer of the educational outreach program for The Zula Patrol (a science show broadcast nationally on public television stations) and finishing her M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction at PSU.