April Pulley Sayre’s

Teacher Inservice Programs

This 3- hour program is geared for elementary educators. Either of the following topics can be a focus:

Teaching Nonfiction Voice

Explore the variety and beauty of nonfiction voice through examples and Lose Weight Exercises. Understand nonfiction expository voice and narrative voice. Learn the components of voice: point of view, tone, and style. See how word joy and playing with language can provide opportunities for voice experimentation. Find out what helps create a nurturing writing environment. Discover simple prompts that help young writers break out and vary the voice of what they are writing.

Playing With Patterns: the Joys of Nonfiction Structure

Play with the possibilities for nonfiction structure. Discover Sayre’s Nonfiction Nine: the essential elements of quality nonfiction. Explore how how patterns make nonfiction compelling and how you can use existing children’s books to model patterns for your students. Learn to identify simple essay/exposition patterns. Discover simple narrative templates—the elements of plot that can be used in biography and other kinds of nonfiction.  Find out how music, science, and art studies lay down patterns that can be translated to writing.

All-inclusive cost, if not in conjunction with other appearances:

$1200 locally, in South Bend/Mishawaka/Granger

$1600 within 40 miles of South Bend

$1800 within 100 miles of South Bend

$2000 over 100 miles from South Bend.

Book signing included in all sessions.

After school session, 1 h 15 min

Available locally for $500

Or, if in conjunction with school visits/other appearances: $400 additional.