I am now teaching writing residencies in Raleigh through their Artists in the Schools Program. I am offering week-long residencies in Book Reviewing, Fiction Writing, and Reflection. All residencies include book & writing connections. Please contact me for more information.
Coming in January, an evening class at Durham Academy’s Academy Nights.
So, You Want to Write a Children's Book
Thursday January 14 ● 7:00-9:00pm ● $25
Class held at Durham Academy Upper School
Like many people, you've probably seen some terrible children's books and thought, I could do better than that! Or maybe you've had an idea forever and you just don't know what to do to make it a reality. Susie Wilde, writer, consultant, and children's book reviewer for the Raleigh News and Observer, draws on 25 years of reviewing and writing experiences to untangle mysteries like how the submission and publishing processes work and what kinds of books have the best shot at success. The class includes resource notes and a special peek at Susie's secret "bad book" pile.
REGISTRATION: You may register by mail, phone or fax. Durham Academy – Academy Nights, 3130 Pickett Road, Durham, NC 27705-6008.
Fax: Fax your completed registration form to 919-489-9205.
Phone: Call 919-493-5250 between the volunteers office hours of 8:30 am and 10:30 on weekdays.
I was alerted this winter that DPI has changed requirements so that CEUs must reflect both 3 CEUs of Reading Methods and 3 CEUS of teaching strategies in your area of concentration. My six upcoming courses at Meredith College reflect these changes as you’ll see below.
Each class is $100/ (10 hours/1 CEU). Register for a class
Reading Methods Reveal the Power of New Books (Course 1753)
Friday, February 12, 4:30 - 8:30 and Saturday, February 13, 9 - 3
Book reviewer, Wilde, will spend the pre-class month collecting envelopes and boxes of books that come daily to her home. She will bring these to class with a list of activities that will lead participants to examine a host of new children’s books. Within the class they will categorize the books and then apply hands-on collaborative reading methods exercises to evaluate and evolve a list of books that have value in classrooms.
Teaching Strategies to Revitalize Book Reports (Course 1754)
Friday, February 26, 4:30 - 8:30 and Saturday, February 27, 9 - 3
Book reports are a thing of the past, but how do you get students past their typical response: “It’s a good book”? Wilde shows you how to use student reviews as a basis to develop a criteria and how to use that criteria to build reviews that really say something meaningful and edit so that writing sparkles.
Teaching Strategies to Inspire Reflective Writing (Course 1755)
Friday, March 5, 4:30 - 8:30 and Saturday, March 6, 9 - 3
Inspiring students to write is hard and asking them to reflect is just as difficult. Wilde shows how picture books and non-threatening writing prompts stimulate students’ reflections while giving them a vehicle to express themselves. During this class, Wilde reads aloud children’s books and suggests related prompts that will help students understand themselves better. Teaching professionals experience this first hand as they, themselves write to these prompts.
Reading Methods to Examine Pi-cture-Text Magic (Course 1756)
Friday, March 19, 4:30 - 8:30 and Saturday, March 20, 9 - 3
This class pairs art and classroom specialists who unite their expertise in studying the crucial connection of text and image. Class participants will view and analyze a wide spectrum of children’s books, examining and evaluating how visual images and text images work to support each other and provide contexts for deeper reading and thought.
Reading Methods to Examine Non-Fiction Picture Books (Course 1757)
Friday, March 26, 4:30 - 8:30 and Saturday, March 27, 9 - 3
Weakness in comprehending non-fiction texts has inspired concern. In this class, the instructor will provide current books and hands-on experiences that aid teachers in bringing meaning to non-fiction. Techniques include graphic methods of analyzing non-fiction reading, determining age-appropriate texts, and connecting areas of curriculum with non-fiction books.
Teaching Strategies to Connect Content Areas (Course 1758)
Friday, April 16, 4:30 - 8:30 and Saturday, April 17, 9 - 3
One key to making learning meaningful comes from connecting educational experiences. This course will unite non-fiction picture books and fictional picture books with a non-fiction link. Participants will break into study groups, each group defining a different course of study like art, science and social studies. During the class each group will examine a variety of newly published children’s books and offer suggestions for activities they might stimulate. Together the class participants will complete a resource based on the books they examine.
Coming in March an eight-week class in writing a children’s book offered at Carrboro’s ArtsCenter—description and information follow
Write a Children's Book!
Thursday, 7-9pm, March 25-May 13 (8 weeks)
How do you turn the children’s book idea you’ve dreamed about for years into a real manuscript* What elements make a children’s book succeed* What is the process of getting published* Susie Wilde, children’s book columnist for the Raleigh News and Observer, unites 30 years of writing and reviewing experience and reveals steps to make your writing dream possible. From creating original characters to inventing satisfying resolutions, Wilde blends hands-on exploration of children’s books with writing exercises and opportunities to share your writing.
Price: $155
Friend Price: $140.
Register Online (find the tab 'artschool' then go to 'writing')