making memories together
January 13, 2010
Before the holidays, an elementary school in the Rockwood School District participated in their first videoconference- with Patricia McKissack on Stitchin’ and Pullin’: A Gee’s Bend Quilt. Here’s a bit of feedback we received on the distance learning experience from the participating third grade teacher:
“…the conference was incredible! The kids and I really appreciated the fact that Patricia took the time to answer the kids’ questions. They were intrigued by the fact that her husband is the researcher, and she is the writer. I thoroughly believe the time with Patricia, hearing her voice, reading her own words, and discussing her own experiences were extremely beneficial for the kids and me. I like the fact that she spoke of differences and similarities between people, no matter what the background, color, race, etc. She emphasized the appreciation of family and love and making memories together. Beautiful.”
Thanks for sharing!
The Clone Codes and Science Fiction Writing
January 5, 2010
For over 10 years, acclaimed St. Louis author Patricia McKissack has taught students the writing process over videoconference. During hands-on & highly interactive sessions, students discuss plot, themes, character development and more. In a series of three videoconferences, Mrs. McKissack customizes for any grade level and any part of the writing process. In the first v/c, the author meets with the teachers to discuss the goals of the author visit and what books they would like her to present. In the second, the author dialogs with students, and in the third v/c she gives feedback on the writing & illustrations they have done.
In 2010, we’re excited to offer a new take on a favorite program: Creative Writing – Science Fiction. This videoconference is open for 4th-12th grade students; if both elementary and high school teachers respond, we’ll most likely add another time to split the groups up. For 2010, Science Fiction will be offered in the spring:
Teacher Session: Thursday, April 15, 2010 @ 4 pm CT
Student Session I: Thursday, April 29, 2010 @ 11 am CT
Student Session II: Thursday, May 12, 2010 @ 11 am CT
Cost for the series of 3 v/c is $650 for New Links members; non-members $750. Please register by April 1.
Pat’s newest book, the science fiction story The Clone Codes, (a collaboration with her husband and son), is now available. In The Clone Codes, “The Cyborg Wars are over and Earth has peacefully prospered for more than one hundred years. Yet sometimes history must repeat itself until humanity learns from its mistakes. In the year 2170, despite technological and political advances, cyborgs and clones are treated no better than slaves, and an underground abolitionist movement is fighting for freedom. Thirteen-year-old Leanna’s entire life is thrown into chaos when The World Federation of Nations discovers her mom is part of the radical Liberty Bell Movement.…”
Celebrating Winter Holidays with Author Pat McKissack
October 21, 2009
What winter holidays do your students celebrate? Here’s a great chance to explore the different religious and cultural celebrations throughout the winter months!
Award winning author Patricia McKissack shares with students over a three part videoconference series her expertise when in comes to writing, and tells participants about her holiday book, Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters. This illustrated book, for children ages nine and up, compares the preparations between the plantation mansion and the slave quarters leading up to Christmas celebrations.
Register no later than November 1! To learn more about this videoconference, scroll down.
Stitchin’ and Pullin’: A Gee’s Bend Quilt Book Reading
October 2, 2009
Read St. Louis is a community-wide initiative developed by St. Louis County and St. Louis Public Libraries to encourage St. Louisans to read and discuss books.
AUTHOR EVENT: Patricia McKissack, Stitchin’ and Pullin’: A Gee’s Bend Quilt
Public Event and Book Signing at the St. Louis Public Library – Schlafly, located at 225 North Euclid Avenue in St. Louis, MO on Saturday, October 24, at 2:00 p.m.
Patricia McKissack will discuss and sign her book, Stitchin’ and Pullin’. Mother and daughter, grandmother and granddaughter, aunt and niece, friend and friend. For a hundred years, generations of women from Gee’s Bend have quilted together, sharing stories, trading recipes, singing hymns – all the while stitchin’ and pullin’ thread through cloth. Every day Baby Girl listens, watches, and waits, until she’s called to sit at the quilting frame. Piece by piece, she puzzles her quilt together – telling not just her story, but the story of her family, the story of Gee’s Bend, and the story of her ancestors’ struggle for freedom. Patricia C. McKissack is the author of the Caldecott Honor Book Mirandy and Brother Wind and the Newbery Honor Book The Dark-Thirty. She and her husband, Fred, have written over 100 books about the African American experience. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri. Books for sale courtesy of Barnes & Noble.
Stitchin’ and Pullin’
Come experience the Patricia C. McKissack book Stitchin’ and Pullin’: a Gee’s Bend Quilt as we read some of the poems from the book and make beautiful quilt squares to take home. Recommended for ages 3-5.
Thursday, October 1, 1:00 p.m.
Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63131
Friday, October 2, 10:00 a.m.
Daniel Boone Branch, 300 Clarkson Road, Ellisville, MO 63011
Thursday, October 15, 10:00 a.m.
Weber Road Branch, 4444 Weber Road, St. Louis, MO 63123
Wednesday, October 21, 10:00 a.m.
Natural Bridge Branch, 7606 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121
Thursday, October 22, 10:00 a.m.
Jamestown Bluffs Branch, 4153 N. Hwy 67, Florissant, MO 63031
Southern Tales of the Supernatural Videoconference with Patricia McKissack
September 28, 2009
Author Patricia McKissack (and recent Mark Twain Reader Award nominee) will conduct three, 60 minute story-hour sessions during the fall of 2009 with New Links to New Learning. Pat reads the selected books, she’ll talk about (her) inspiration, and she will take questions from students. These story hours are for students in first through fifth grades (depending on the book). The cost is $200 for New Links members and $250 for non-members. First up is The Dark Thirty. To register, contact Rebecca Morrison by October 16. There are currently two slots left for interactive sites.
Just in time for Halloween: Pat will read select portions of The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural on October 23, 2009 at 11 a.m. central. This book is for students ages 9-12; “these 10 spine-tinglers range from straight-up ghost stories to eerie narratives. The tales in this winner of the 1993 Coretta Scott King Award depict racism, haunting and vengeance in a manner that can be read out loud around a campfire or savored privately, offering middle readers thoughtful exposure to important, though frightening, historical themes.” (Amazon.com)
A Friendship for Today Recognized
September 25, 2009
Each year, Missouri students in fourth through sixth grades vote for their favorite book from a list of nominated books to honor one with the title of the Mark Twain Readers Award.
(Students, teachers, librarians and parents can recommend books for the award). The participating students are eligible to vote for their favorite book if they have read at least four of the titles on the current master list. Then the Mark Twain Readers Award is given to the author of the winning book by the Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL).
Nominated for 2009-2010 is New Links to New Learning author Patricia McKissack, for her 2007 book, A Friendship For Today (Scholastic Press). According to MASL, “the purpose of the Mark Twain Award is to provide children of Missouri with a recommended reading list of literature that will enrich their lives.”
Congrats to Pat for being nominated! Voting ends in March 2010.
Goin’ Someplace Special Podcast
September 3, 2009
The latest Author Visit Podcast is now up on podbean.com. Patricia McKissack reads from her book, Goin’ Someplace Special, a story about the injustices of segregation in the South in the 1950s.
Pat’s podcasts include reading excerpts from her books Tippy Lemmey and Clone Codes.
New Links to New Learning and Patricia McKissack are excited to announce two new programs to her videoconference offerings!
In addition to her three part writing series and story hour sessions, Pat will be offering “talk shop” videoconferences on historical fiction and science fiction. These one hour programs are for middle school and high school students, and will be available upon request. During the videoconference, Pat will talk with students on the ins-and-outs of writing either historical fiction or science fiction.
Where does the writer start? What kind of brainstorming techniques does she find most useful? How does Pat research for her books?
These questions, plus more, will be discussed between author and students. Patricia McKissack is the author of over one hundred books, many historical fiction. Her newest book, due out in January 2010, is her first science fiction novel. To see all of the 2009-2010 McKissack videoconferences, visit the New Links to New Learning website. This videoconference is $200 for New Links to New Learning members and $250 for nonmembers.
Author Visit Podcasts!
August 19, 2009
To listen to Patricia McKissack’s newest podcast, click on the photo below!
