HOW TO ORGANISE A SCHOOL VISIT:

Christina loves to visit schools and organisations, has a number of presentation options and will happily work with you to organise the best outcomes for you and your students.

Christina presents to all ages, large groups and small. She is known for her highly interactive and engaging talks and workshops. Students are know to want to stay in for recess and do more!

An experienced K-12 teacher, Christina is a confident, effective speaker and educator. Assemblies, teacher professional development, inspirational talks, workshops, story readings, artist/writer - in - residencies: Christina will cater and adapt to your needs, budget and program.
Hints and tips:
  • look at what you can afford and what style best suits your budget
  • you can book for a week, a few days, one day or one session, it's up to you
  • remember that if an author has to travel to you, you need to budget for travel costs and possibly accommodation if it is a longer distance.
  • if covering travel, look at sharing the cost with another school nearby
  • if a visit is not within your school budget, consider a fundraising day or event or even local business sponsorship
  • discuss with the author/illustrator clearly your ideas and requirements for the visit
  • ensure that you have your dates correct before you book and that you will not have any other programs that clash on the day (music ,sport, science events etc.)
  • let all staff know about the visit well in advance, read the authors books, order in books you don't have, organise timetables or schedules in advance
On the day:
  • ensure that everyone is aware of the schedule and timetable for the day/s of the visit
  • reserve a parking spot for the author & let them know where it is (they usually have heavy books and materials to carry and can't spend the day dashing out to pay parking meters)
  • let the author know where to find the office
  • let office staff know that you are expecting a visitor and who they need to contact when they arrive, you might like to organise some students to escort your visitor to the presentation area
  • make sure all tech equipment is working and ready to go, you don't want to spend your valuable time with the author waiting for sound equipment or computers to work (check with the author what they need before they arrive)
  • make sure the room where the presentations are happening is comfortable for the author and the students during sessions and that interruptions are avoided
  • show the author where the closest toilets are and where the staff room is (please introduce them to staff at break times) and let them know which mugs they are allowed to use
  • if your author is with you for lunch and they have travelled to you, ask them ahead of time if you can organise lunch for them
General FAQ's:
Why do authors charge to visit schools or present at festivals and conferences?  
Authors and illustrators have the same income requirements as anyone else. To be knowledgeable enough to teach others and present at events, they have put in years of hard work and study. It is a myth that they can earn a lot of money from their books, in fact, the average income of many authors is below the living wage so they need to supplement their incomes in other ways. They have mortgages to pay and families to feed and to enable them to keep creating the books you love, they need to be paid for their work, just like anyone else. There is a set award rate for authors and presenters just as there is in any other industry.

Why does it cost so much?
It can sometimes look like a lot on paper but when you consider the time presenters put into their preparation and organisation, it is often a lower hourly rate than most professionals, such as relief teachers, IT experts, plumbers etc. There are many ways to organise a visit within your budget, ask your author for some tips and have a look at the hints and tips section above.

Can we cut costs by billeting the author at a teachers house or with a school family?
Unfortunately, the answer here is mostly a no. Most authors and illustrators have work to do once their sessions are over and they need to rest for their next day of presentations or travel. Mostly, authors will do their utmost to keep costs down for the schools they visit. Consider sharing travel and accommodation costs with another school in your area by booking visits on consecutive days

Can the author/illustrator spend an extra session with our budding authors during lunch?
Usually lunch is an important time to take a breath, grab a drink, eat lunch and allow the voice to recover. If you want an extra session with these students, discuss it with the author and it can be scheduled into the organised program. It will usually be charged as an extra session if it is additional to those booked. This is at the discretion of the author.

What does a writer or illustrator/artist in residency look like?
This can take many forms and is designed around the needs and desires of the school or organisation. It can be an intensive block of time or it can be spread over a few weeks or a term or longer, depending on the availability and location of the author/illustrator. It can be one day a week or every day. In essence, it provides students and staff to work alongside the author/illustrator in the creation of their own work or a group project as well as being able to observe the visiting creator working on their own work. A residency has long lasting outcomes on all involved and has fantastic educational impact. Residencies can often be funded through grants, they are well worth considering. Please talk to your author before applying for a grant so you can apply for the right amount of funding.
FAQ's - CHRISTINA:
Do you have a booking agency?  
For bookings in TAS, VIC, WA, NT, SA and overseas, please book directly through Christina's booking page.
For Bookings in NSW, ACT & QLD. please go to The Children's Bookshop Speakers' Agency.

Where will you travel to?  
I will travel to most places within my home state, the mainland and overseas. Travel fees, petrol and accommodation charges will apply except in my immediate local area. The most practical means of travel and accommodation will be organised to help  to help keep the cost down.

Who will you visit?  
 Schools (K-12), interest groups, parents, libraries, conferences, staff professional development sessions, dinners, universities, festivals etc. Just ask. We will cater to your topics
and needs.  

What age groups do you work with?  
All age groups. we will  create a program that suits every age. pre-school, new parent groups,  kindergarten, lower and upper primary, middle school, secondary and senior secondary. Adults of a ages. A presentation of workshop can e adapted or created for any age group.

What topics do you cover?  
Illustration, writing, book production, career choices, my personal journey as an author/illustrator, literacy, reading, art, workshops: the topics are limitless (but I'm not good at
brain surgery!).

Will you sell your books?  
Yes, if I have them in stock and if I am not restricted by luggage restrictions (books are heavy!).
I support buying books from local bookstores so another option is to order books through your store before I arrive and i will be able to sign them for you. You can do this for students as well.
If you are in NSW and have booked through The Children's Bookshop Speakers' agency, they will provide book sales
for you.

Can we write to you?  
Yes. Go to my contacts page for details. I love to hear from my audience, it's what it is all about. Where appropriate, I will always try to write back. If you would like your class to write via snail mail, please contact me for my postal address, or send to the publisher of the book you have been reading.
Christina supports local bookstores. Her books are available at your local store. If they are not on the shelf, ask them to order them in for you.