Mona Hodgson
Topics For Educators

Are you looking for a speaker for your teacher in-service training or for a teacher conference or convention?

School visits are great fun. I so enjoy opportunities to interact with students, but I also welcome all opportunities to support and encourage teachers. In addition to keynote addresses for general sessions, I also offer workshops for early education teachers and teachers for the primary grades.

On this page, I offer a list of my topics and a compilation of frequently asked questions with my answers. I hope this helps you as you consider including me in your event for teachers.

Topics

Keynotes

Four P’s For Teaching Success

A breakfast burrito serves as the analogy for this fun and inspirational talk as I provide teachers with four traits necessary for success and we look at how to wrap these traits in God’s grace for His glory.

Power Point and handouts.

Nehemiah’s Template for Teachers

I draw from the book and life of Nehemiah to examine strategies for effective teaching, the obstacles, and the prize. This talk is designed for Christian school teachers.

Power Point and handouts.

Early Education Workshops

Providing Space And Place For Mental Exercise
[Learning Environment/Learning Environment/Creative]
At this seminar you will:
* Learn what interactive techniques a published children’s book author uses to teach truth.
* Receive practical helps for teaching with an interactive focus.
* Participate in activities you can integrate into your learning environment.
Power Point or overhead and handouts.

Creating A Confident Explorer
[Social and Emotional Development/Uniqueness and Cultural Awareness]
At this seminar you will:
* Discover emotional triggers you can affect.
* Learn how a published children's book author encourages creative participation.
* Participate in activities that will stimulate confidence and creativity in your students.
Power Point or overhead and handouts.

How To Use A Children’s Book

[Intellectual Development/Child Growth and Development]

At this seminar you will:

* Learn how a published children’s book author uses a trade book to stimulate creativity in a child.

* Learn how to mine a children’s book for curriculum.

* Participate in activities you can integrate into your learning environment.

Power Point or overhead and handouts.

Grades 2-6 Workshops

Poetry in Good Form
[Language Arts]
At this seminar you will:
* Become acquainted with simple poetry forms that stimulate word play and personal expression.
* Learn three technique options for building a poem.
* Form the foundation for a poem.
Power Point or overhead and handouts.

Using Story Blocks to Teach Fiction Techniques
[Language Arts]
At this seminar you will:
* Learn how a published children's book author uses building blocks to construct a story.
* Analyze familiar stories using the story template.
* Participate in building a story using the building blocks.
Power Point or overhead and handouts.

How To Write A Picture Book

[Language Arts]

At this seminar you will:

* Participate in activities that will help you think like a writer.

* Learn how to test and develop your book ideas.

* Learn from a published children’s book author how to format and submit picture book manuscripts to a publisher.

Power Point or overhead and handouts.

Branching Out With Ideas
[Language Arts]
At this seminar you will:
* Learn the topic tree method a published children's book author uses to develop a story idea.
* Analyze a book for it’s idea development.
* Participate in filling out an idea tree.
Power Point or overhead and handouts.

Q & A

This page is my attempt to remove at least some of the mystery and guesswork by answering questions usually asked by those interested in scheduling me to speak at a conference for educators.

q What is the advantage of having a children’s author speak to our teachers?

An author can provide a fresh perspective on reaching and teaching children. Many of the techniques I use to reach and teach children through the written word can enhance classroom instruction.

q What children’s books have you written?

Please visit my Children’s Book page for summaries of each of my twenty-two books and a printable book list. And check back often as we are in the process of preparing curriculum for several of my titles.

q How many sessions will you do in a day?

The typical day at a conference or convention will include two workshops and a book-signing event or two, and maybe a keynote address.

q What equipment do you need?

· Power Point projector or

· An overhead projector on a rolling cart.

· A large screen or white wall.

· A large table for props.

· A wireless microphone for groups larger than one hundred.

· A bottle or two of water.

· Two tables in a central area for book sales.

q What is the best way to contact you?

Email is the best way to reach me, however, event planners may also reach me by phone (928) 593-0629.

q How do we make your books available to our teachers and librarians?

I’m so glad you asked. Here are two options:

1. I can bring my books with me the first day I speak. If I’m flying in from out of state, I’d ship the books to your materials coordinator.

2. You can order most of my books directly from my publishers and receive a discount off of the retail price.

q What are your fees?

I require an honorarium, plus expenses. If I’m flying in or driving more than an hour and a half to get to your event, I’ll need lodging the night prior to my visit. I’d also appreciate lodging the night following my presentations. If I have a multiple-day engagement at your convention or at a related conference, I’ll require lodging for the night prior to my first day’s events, for each night between the engagements, and the night following the last day of my presentations.

Thank you for sticking with me thus far. Please contact me with any additional questions you may have. I appreciate your interest in having me speak at your conference or convention and I look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes,