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Presentations by Robert
Large Group Performances * Classroom Presentations * Writing Workshops
Workshops for Educators * Keynotes
Large Group Performances - up to 350 students per performance
 Laugh Along Poetry - (preK - 6 grade) 45 min.
Start your school's author visit with a bang. Robert dramatically performs his funny poems and stories with plenty of audience participation. This performance typically kicks off an author visit, and builds an enthusiasm for poetry that can later be capitalized upon in writing workshops.
 Wicked Good Poetry - (preK - 6 grade) 45 min.
Given to large groups at schools, libraries, and festivals. Many parts are identical to the Laugh Along Poetry performance. This performance simply has more of a Maine focus.
Classroom Presentations/Writing Workshops - up to 60 students per session
NEW SESSION!
 Write a List Poem - (2 - 6 grade) 30 - 40 min.
This session dissects and rebuilds one of the most popular type of children's humorous poetry, the list poem. It explains the structure of the poem comparing it to a story structure. Then the various elements of the poem are highlighted, including rhyme scheme, alliteration, hook, humor, and word choice. Participants will then be shown how to assemble all of these pieces in an easy to follow process. By the end of the session the group will have helped to create a list poem that may easily be expanded upon after the session.
This new session has quickly become the most popular writing session Robert offers. For the best results participants should complete a brief pre-writing activity before Robert's visit. (download a pdf explaning the pre-writing activity)
 The Bus - (3 - 6 grade) 20 - 40 min.
Ride along and watch the creation of a poem through many revisions to finished poem. Students will learn about Robert's creative process and the revision process by getting a rare glimpse into a real writer's notebook. Along the way, proper use of alliteration, consonance, assonance, rhyme scheme, and cadence will be demonstrated. Also, find out why writing poetry is a great fit for people with a short attention span.
 Act Along - (K - 3 grade) 20 min.
Group participation poetry. There are a lot of complicated, and difficult ways to teach how to create rhythm in a poem or song. When big scary words like "accented syllables," and "trochaic tetrameter," start being used, students start looking for a window to stare at (or jump out of!) Robert has designed age appropriate movement activities to help student internalize rhythm and cadence without the use of big scary words.
 Acting Out - (4 - 6 grade) 20 min.
By the end of Robert's large group performances children are jumping out of their seats to help act out a poem. This workshop gives children a chance to do just that and learn a few performance tips along the way. Children will learn about volume, speaking speed, and movement as they perform various poems. All of these skills are easily transfered to public speaking.
Question and Answer - (3 - 6 grade) 20 min. Students decide the direction of the presentation. If the class has worked in advance to come up with some creative questions, this open format is very memorable and educational for the students.
Writing Workshops - up to 30 students per workshop
 Crazy Farm - (K - 1 grade) 20 min.
Children will participate in a rhyming exercise that enhances phonemic awareness. Robert calls this activity phonics in reverse. The rhymes students come up with will then be used to create a funny fill-in-the-blank rhyming poem, while demonstrating the importance of the revision process.
 Haiku - (2 - 6 grade) 20 min.
Students will learn how to write a haiku through an animated digital presentation. Robert will then assist the students in writing their own haikus. Students will learn about revision, counting syllables, and the difference between haikus and senryus.
 Write with Robert - (2 - 6 grade) 40 min.
Students help Robert write his next poem. Students will be guided through the early stages of idea development for a poem. Students will pick a topic and research it before Robert's visit. Robert will then rely on his class of experts to help him brainstorm ideas, generate rhymes, develop humor, and begin a poem. Robert will keep the class posted on any progress of the poem after his visit. Since this workshop involves on-the-spot creativity, it's quality ranges from magically outstanding to Plain-Jane good.
 Cinquain - (3 - 6 grade) 20 min.
Students will learn how to write a cinquain through an animated digital presentation. Robert will then assist the students in writing their own cinquains. Students will learn about the revision process, counting syllables, and mathematical patterns found in a cinquain.
 Clerihew - (4 - 6 grade) 20 min.
Students will learn how to write a clerihew through an animated digital presentation. Robert will then assist the students in writing their own clerihews. Students will learn about revision, rhyming, and the appropriate use of humor. Download a FREE sample movie (Quicktime movie - 4.7 MB) of a digital presentation Robert gives to start a writing workshop.
Workshops for Educators
additional fees may apply for workshops for educators, call for details
 Robert Pottle's Matrix Writing - (K - 8) 1 - 2 hours
There is a pattern that great stories follow. Robert has taken those writing secrets he has learned as a children's author, organized them with his experience as a teacher, to create Robert Pottle's Matrix Writing. There are many great programs out there that deal with the writing process - Robert Pottle's Matrix Writing differs from those programs in that it also teaches the structure, elements, and craft used to write great stories. Teachers learn much more about this exciting new program at: Robert Pottle's Matrix Writing!
 Authentic Writing Tips from an Authentic Author - (K - 8) 1 - 3 hours
"Teach students to be great writers, and those students will get great writing scores." How odd that a statement like that should be the least bit controversial. This workshop focuses on specific ready-to-use activities to teach students to be great writers of poetry.
 Warnings, Warnings, Warnings! How Many Are Enough? - (K - 8) 1 - 2 hours
Time, it has been said, is the coin of learning. Yet every teacher has known the frustration of losing valuable instruction time to matters of discipline. The value of the very best teaching practices is diminished in a classroom where instructional time is lost to discipline issues. Time To Teach is a set of classroom strategies proven to eliminate the multiple warnings and repeated requests in a way that is efficient and effective. Robert has been trained by the Center for Teacher Effectiveness, and become an adjunct professor at Chapman University to offer this highly effective training to schools.
Keynote Speeches
separate fee schedule, call for details
Do It Now - The Power of Words - A motivational speech to inspire writers both young and old. Learn how the power of the written word can help you to set, work toward, and achieve gigantic goals.
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