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Young Author Conference
Classroom Demonstrations
An Author In-Residence
Staff Development
Publicity Photos and Info
References
Contact Lola Schaefer
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I speak with students, writer–to-writer, celebrating authorship of their very own books. During these full day visits, I am more than happy to work with children of all grades, K-8. Each presentation includes a few strategies that will help them grow as readers or writers, but it is offered in an entertaining manner. Question and answer time can be a part of the program.
Other times I am asked to come to a school to inspire young writers and share specific strategies before they write their Young Author Books. These presentations can focus on organization: beginning, middle, and end; story structure; characterization; or plot development.
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Much of my school time is spent working with students in the classroom. I visit the same classrooms for three consecutive days helping students create their own individual pieces of writing. I work directly with the students as a classroom teacher. I model the different engagements of the writing process while working on an original piece of writing at the overhead. The regular classroom teacher and often the other teachers of that grade level sit in the room and write their own pieces with us. We are a community of writers. (Kindergarten demonstrations can be interactive or journal writing, depending on the time of the school year.)
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Other times I am asked into classrooms for one-day demonstrations. In one hour or one hour and fifteen minute blocks of time, I can introduce strategies for one form of poetry or story organization. I can show children how to write their own cumulative story. Some times I introduce a mini-lesson on one craft element and we practice what we’ve discussed in a short piece of writing.
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Some schools ask me to visit and read my books to children, discussing how an author works. I explain how I develop and fine tune ideas, write and revise, submit, and work with editors to collaboratively publish a book. These presentations can be for individual classrooms or larger groups.
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This program is an intense three-day exploration of the writing cycle and craft elements. Teachers write pieces and work through the process themselves. They learn how to provide powerful mini-lessons and help students with independent revision strategies.
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These topics can be explored in depth during one-day teacher workshops:
The Writing Process
Mini-lessons That Change How Students Write
Rubrics: Students Taking Responsibility for Their Writing Growth
Narrative Non-fiction: Helping Students Write What They Know
How to Plan for Different Genres
Reading Like a Writer: Literature That Supports Craft Instruction
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Dear Visitor,
You may print and use these photographs or bios for publicity purposes on posters, conference brochures or publicity fliers. The images below are thumbnails only, for printable versions click the link below the image you would like to use and download the file to your computer.
Lola
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Lola M. Schaefer
Lola M. Schaefer is an author of more than 200 books for children. She writes narrative non-fiction picture books such as Arrowhawk (Henry Holt, 2004), What’s Up, What’s Down? (Greenwillow Books, 2002), and Pick, Pull, Snap! Where Once A Flower Bloomed (Greenwillow Books, 2003) for the younger reader. Her fiction titles include Loose Tooth (HarperCollins My First I Can Read Book,2004), Mittens (HarperCollins My First I Can Read Book, 2006) and
Toolbox Twins (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2006). In addition, Lola has published nine books with Scholastic for teachers so they can help their students understand and enjoy the writing process. Teaching Young Writers: Strategies That Work, (Scholastic, 2001) offers purpose, explanation, and demonstration of interactive, journal, poetry, and story writing in grades K-2. Four new books on Teaching the Elements of Craft offer model lessons and student samples on Ideas, Organization, Elaboration, and Voice.
Because of her background as an elementary classroom teacher for eighteen years, Lola also authors early-reader biographies and books about the natural world for the school/ library market. She visits many elementary and middle school classrooms each year, both as an author-in-residence and as a writing consultant.
Lola M. Schaefer
Lola M. Schaefer is an author of children’s books and a writing consultant in elementary and middle schools. After teaching in classrooms for eighteen years, grades K-7, she now provides teachers and students with the tools and insights that cement the use of the writing process. Several years ago, Lola began attending conferences to refine her own writing and realized that there was a wealth of strategies that needed to be shared with students. Blending the qualities of literature and the craft of writing, she offers precise and lively presentations to educators who want to improve the teaching of writing.
Lola has been an impassioned presenter for more than twenty years. Today she combines the understandings of current educational research with sound writing techniques so that teachers and students can immediately experience the benefits of successful writing communities in their classrooms.
She has also written and published more than 200 books for children in trade, school/library, and classroom markets. Mrs. Schaefer has published nine books for teachers with Scholastic Professional Books including: Teaching Narrative Writing: The Tools That Work For Every Student (grades 4-8), Teaching Young Writers: Strategies That Work (K-2), Ten Writing Lessons for the Overhead (2-4) and Writing Lessons For the Overhead (4-8).
Lola also teaches graduate education courses on the Writing Process in the Elementary Classroom.
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Lazunia Thomas
Assistant Principal
Lindsey Elementary School
Warner Robins, GA
478-929-7818
e-mail: lathomas@hcbe.net
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Lola Schaefer’s writing demonstrations were very “teacher friendly” and practical. Oftentimes, when teachers observe or partake in professional learning activities, it is very difficult for them to transfer and implement the strategies in their classrooms. The teachers at Lindsey began implementing story plans, persuasive writing and literature responses within the following week of observing Lola. They also felt more comfortable with the use of rubrics to help students assess their own writing. It was great!
Lazunia Thomas
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Professor Rebecca Shearer
Education Department
Taylor University
1025 West Rudisill Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46807-2197
e-mail: rbshearer@tayloru.edu
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Lola's passion and enthusiasm for writing is contagious! She not only inspired our elementary education majors, but also provided them with many practical tools of the craft to make their classrooms a place where writing flourishes.
I highly recommend Lola Schaefer as an educational consultant. She is an accomplished children's author, and an invaluable resource for teachers and students.
Professor Rebecca Shearer
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Irene Fahrenwald
Lower School Librarian
The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
1362 E 59th Street
Chicago, Illinois
Ph: 773-702-9450
e-mail: ifahren@vertex.ucls.uchicago.edu |
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 fiction 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. Lola is a delight to work with! Personable, organized, experienced and professional, she can be depended upon to tailor her presentation to whatever the situation requires.
Irene Fahrenwald
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Amy Fouse
Coordinator of Middle School Language Arts
Houston County Schools
Perry, GA
email:
afouse@hcbe.net |
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." She not only has made a direct impact on our teachers, but she has also served to motivate and inspire our students through her classroom demonstrations. I cannot think of a better person to help improve not only our students' writing skills, but also their intrinsic love for writing.
Amy Fouse
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Edwinna Thomas
Literacy Specialist
Gettysburg Elementary
Greenville City School District
Greenville, Ohio
e-mail:
ETHOMAS@greenville.k12.oh.us
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"How soon can we have her come back?"
That was the question posed to me by the vast majority of our teachers, both primary and intermediate, following Lola's Schaefer's staff development session on teaching author's craft to young writers. She was compelling, knowledgeable, and practical in her approach with the staff, and she left them feeling empowered and enthusiastic about their role as writing instructors. She tailored her approach to meet the needs of our staff through clear communication with me prior to her visit.
Not only is she skilled at working with adults, but she also captured the hearts of young writers by providing developmentally appropriate classroom presentations on author's craft. Children were asked to take on the role of "co-writer", interacting with her and each other, to make decisions about writing using her books as mentor texts. From the smiles, the raised hands, the writer-to-writer conversations, and the talk in classrooms in the days following her presentations, I knew our students grew from the experience of working with such a wonderfully skilled teacher-writer * if only for a day.
Edwinna Thomas
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Marolyn Krauss
Third Grade Teacher
Horizon Elementary School
10060 Brummitt Road
Granger, IN 46530
PH: 574-679-9788
email: mKruass@phm.k12.in.us
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Refreshing, inspiring, and nurturing. Lola Schaefer modeled and demonstrated the elements of craft as she wrote alongside third graders and six third grade teachers at Horizon School. She brought expertise, personality, and pizzazz to writing workshop.
While interacting with the kids, she got them involved immediately in the writing process through questioning, clarifying, and offering feedback to each other. Practical tips on planning and jotting down reminder notes were offered. Writers were nudged by Lola to add specific words and spicy details to their drafts. Suggestions and comments related to the meaning of their compositions were encouraged and recognized. Lola is the kind of writer kids and teachers never forget.
Marolyn Krauss
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Donell S. Housel
Principal
J. E. Ober Elementary School
801 East Houston Street
Garrett, IN 46738
Ph: 260-357-3112
Email: dhousel@gkb.k12.in.us
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I have had the pleasure of working with Lola through our county’s Young Author Conference and as an in-service presenter. I have been in the audience for many of Lola’s staff development programs and can attest to the fact that her planning is evident. Information is delivered with clarity and in a logical manner. Lola’s presentations are lively and illustrated with many practical experiences. Every opportunity in which I’ve worked with Lola has been punctuated with a high level of professionalism and commitment.
Donell S. Housel
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Dr. Marilynn Quick
Asst. Professor at Ball State University Teachers College (former supt. of Prairie Heights)
Department of Educational Leadership
Muncie, IN 47306-0590
Ph: 765-285-3287.
Email: mquick@bsu.edu
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A "failing" school district decided to tackle writing, knowing that if students learned to write well, they'd be better lifelong communicators. Lola Schaefer played a key role in this initiative by developing writing rubrics for the different grade levels and offering our K-12 staff practical teaching strategies to help students learn the craft elements they would need to be successful writers. The exciting results at Prairie Heights clearly demonstrated district-wide student gains in language arts. Thanks, Lola!
Dr. Marilynn Quick
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Jeffrey Rich
Principal
South Adams Elementary School
605 W. Main Street
Berne, IN 46711
Ph: 260-589-2181
Email: jrich@southadams.k12.in.us
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Lola visited our elementary as an author to help kick off our Young Author’s Fair. The staff was greatly impressed with her knowledge of writing and her gift to communicate that knowledge. It was decided to contract her services for the following year as our writing consultant. Our staff is looking forward to this opportunity and is excited to be able to professionally grow with Lola.
Jeffrey Rich
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“Lola accomplished quite a bit in one day! I appreciated her mini-lessons and other practical ideas. Everything she said made sense. I'd love to attend another workshop presented by her.”
Teaching the Craft of Writing Workshop - Jasper, Indiana
“Absolutely wonderful! The most meaningful writing workshop I've ever attended.”
Jane Starling, Georgia Reading Association Leadership Forum, 2005.
“I like the way Lola models what she does with students to improve their writing.”
(Literacy For All, Providence, RI)
“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, 2004)
“I can’t say enough positive words. I am so inspired! Can’t wait to go back and teach.”
Susan Hackel (CT Reading Conference, 2004)
“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, 2005
“One of the best institutes I’ve ever attended! I will use these ideas tomorrow. Refreshing to hear ideas that are plentiful, yet not overwhelming.”
Tina Rembish (CT Reading Conference, 2004)
“I love the way Lola keeps it positive.”
(Literacy For All, Providence, RI)
“Thanks for the wonderful and powerful mini-lesson ideas. Also, the great literature you presented and most powerfully modeled for us!!”
Kimberly Zimmer (CT Reading Conference, 2004)
“Lola has so many practical ideas for teaching the craft of writing. I can hardly wait to buy her overheads for teaching students to write.”
Lanna Denison, Pierce County Middle School, Blackshear, GA
Georgia Reading Association Leadership Forum, 2005
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Shirley Mullins
Book Store Owner
Kids Ink
5619 N. Illinois
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Ph: 317-255-2598
Email: kidsink@indy.net
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Deb Stafford
Sherwood Forest
Mitchell Books
6360 West Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Ph: 260-432-2665
Email: debs@mitchellbooks.net
“What an inspiration Lola Schaefer is to teachers and students! She has done many signings and presentations at Mr. McGregor's Garden and now at the new Mitchell Books. She relates so well to children, captivating them with her marvelous books. Her advice is sought after by many aspiring area authors as well. She is gifted, not only as a writer, but also as a speaker.”
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Alison Weber
Alran Books, LLC
9 Townsend Road
Harrisville, NH 03450
Ph: Toll Free 888-445-4551
Email: askalison@alranbooks.com
“Lola's professional and trade books complement her workshop sessions so teachers can take what was learned in the conference to the classroom.”
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If you are interested in having me visit your school or bookstore please email me by clicking here.
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Stimola Literary Studio
308 Chase Court
Edgewater, NJ 07020
(201) 945-9353
ltrystudio.@aol.com
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