Testimonials

  • I heartily recommend Lola Schaefer as a visiting author. She gave four different presentations, each geared to the age of the students. She was able to combine her background as a researcher, storyteller, writer, and teacher to offer programs that were instructive as well as spellbinding. The students loved her. Our teachers were so impressed that they are requesting a three-day writing workshop with Lola later in the year.

    Ann Glass Darlington’s Lower School Librarian Rome, Georgia

  • As a Title I Literacy Coach, it is part of my job to assess academic needs of our students. We had concentrated several years on improving the teaching of reading; now it was time to address writing. After hearing Lola Schaefer at a county meeting, I knew she was the writing professional for our staff. Lola worked closely with all grade level and special area teachers last year demonstrating the art of teaching writing. Teachers were very receptive and excited about Lola's guidance. This year, Lola is returning to work more in depth with a team of teachers who will then redeliver lessons to their teams.

    Barb Denbow, Ed.S, NBCT
    Cumming Elementary
    Forsyth County, GA

  • "Lola Schaefer is a dynamic speaker and educator. In Orange County, FL she addressed the Reading Coaches and was captivating, and informative. Lola speaks to educators and offers usable information and strategies that are easily transferred to classroom practices."

    Carmella DiMatteo
    Scholastic Classroom Books and Library
    cdimatteo@scholastic.com

  • “Just as you think you know virtually everything there is to know about writing, Lola Schaefer comes along.”

    Sherrie M. Moss
    English/Language Arts Department
    Fulton County Schools
    Administrative Center
    Atlanta, Georgia
    MossSM1@fulton.k12.ga.us

  • It seems that with any classroom teacher the question always arises, “What is the most effective way to teach writing to my students? How do I encourage creativity, yet require strong language and correct mechanics and sentence structure?” Identifying the need to implement a school-wide writing initiative, we went in search of a consultant to support our efforts. We invited Lola Schaefer to our school to work with teachers and students at each grade level, K-5.
    As we observed Lola model genre-specific writing lessons in classrooms of great numbers, filled with both general education and special education students, we knew we had tapped into a resource that would benefit all teachers and students. Lola incorporates high-interest, quality literature into her writing lessons as she guides students in the writing process. Capturing the reader’s interest, making judgments about literature, supporting judgments through references to text, and lifting the level of language were among the areas of focus.
    As teachers are continually searching for strategies to effectively teach writing, strategies that make wise use of time during our standards-driven instructional days, we have found that Lola’s lessons have been irreplaceable. What an incredible resource she is!

    Cindy Kiernan
    Curriculum Support Teacher
    Sweet Apple Elementary School
    Fulton County Schools
    Atlanta, GA

  • “For the first time EVER - (I’ve been teaching 26 years) voice was clearly explained. I know what it is and how to teach it! Thank you!”
    CT Reading Conference

  • "Our district has had the distinct privilege of working closely with Lola Schaefer during the last two years. Through both classroom demonstrations and one-day workshops, Lola has inspired our teachers with instructional strategies and rapport building skills to help move our students from 'good to great.'"

    Amy Fouse
    Coordinator of Middle School Language Arts
    Houston County Schools
    Perry, GA
    afouse@hcbe.net

  • "Ms. Schaefer recently spoke at our school during an awards ceremony honoring her for her book, Arrowhawk, which swept all three of the picture book categories awarded annually by our students. She gave her unique presentation on narrative nonfiction in an organized, informative and lively way, engaging the very large audience of students in the discussion and providing them with a base upon which to build their own writing in this genre. "

    Irene Fahrenwald
    Lower School Librarian
    The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
    Chicago, Illinois
    ifahren@vertex.ucls.uchicago.edu

  • “As Language Arts Coordinator, I struggle with ways to get teachers to move away from teaching writing through formulaic plans. Lola gave me starbursts to share!”
    Barbara Lipe
    Georgia Reading Association Leadership Forum

  • “I like the way Lola models what she does with students to improve their writing.”
    Literacy For All, Providence, RI

  • “Absolutely wonderful! The most meaningful writing workshop I've ever attended.”
    Jane Starling
    Georgia Reading Association Leadership Forum