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Chapter 2
Ten Reasons to Invite Robert Pottle to Your School
2.1 Your school will be visited by a certified teacher.
If you've worked in a school long enough, you've had the unpleasant experience of seeing a presenter who, while an expert in his or her field, was either unable to relate to the students or got them so wound up it took you the rest of the week to get them back under control. Robert is a certified teacher in the state of Maine with eleven years of experience in first grade. He will engage, inspire, and educate children. He will build enthusiasm while maintaining an appropriate level of control.
"Being a teacher himself, Robert Pottle certainly knows how to hold the attention of his audience. He makes poetry understandable and fun for `kids' of all ages. My students were all ready to participate and `act out' a poem during the workshop session by grade level."
-Steven F. Douglas - Grade 5 Teacher, Leroy H. Smith School
2.2 Your school will be visited by a professional.
Robert is not a "flaky artist." He conducts himself in a professional manner. From your first contact, to the visit, to post-visit follow-up, he will be courteous, on time, and organized. If something does go wrong, he will go out of his way to make it right.
The Artist
From drawing blue bananas,
my marker has gone dry.
I'll use my mouth to moisten it
and give another try.
My marker's working better now.
And wow, I love the taste.
It's surprisingly more flavorful
than crayons, chalk, or paste!
Katie starts to giggle.
I ask, "What's wrong with you?"
She points at me, laughs, and says,
"Your tongue is colored blue!"
My tongue is blue! How cool is that?
I'm artistic and it shows.
I grab a green, open it,
and color on my nose.
Then with purple, pink, and gray,
yellow, brown, and red,
I color ears and eyes and teeth,
I'm Mrs. Rainbow Head!
Miss Libby looks and throws a fit:
"Why can't you just be good?"
It's hard to be an artist
when you're so misunderstood.
From MOXIE DAY and Family
Copyright 2002 Robert Pottle
2.3 Your school will come down with a contagious enthusiasm for poetry.
This is perhaps the greatest gift Robert can give to your school. You know that if students are excited about a topic, then learning is so much easier. Students spend much of Robert's performance laughing. This helps to develop a positive attitude about poetry. When your students want to write their own poems, it is easier to teach them about poetry. Robert will create an enthusiasm for poetry that teachers can capitalize upon long after his visit.
"No Foolin'
His April first visit was such a blast!
We wanted his visit to last and last.
His poems and hats we found quite funny;
We giggled a lot and had a sore tummy. "
-Mrs. Yeaton and her Third Grade Class - Cape Cod Hill School
2.4 Your school will have materials to make planning a successful school visit as simple as possible.
You know all too well about the demands placed on teachers today. These demands seem to increase every year. A successful school visit does require planning and advanced preparation. You will be provided with a checklist and other materials to make the planning efficient yet effective.
2.5 Your school will be visited by an experienced presenter.
Robert has performed numerous presentations, from hilarious poetry performances for students to idea-filled workshops for teachers, from inspiring keynote addresses to humorous small group literacy nights. His laugh and learn philosophy will shine under a variety of conditions and he can adapt to unforeseen circumstances.
"Robert Pottle's presentation and style were wonderful. He had the children engaged and laughing with his enthusiasm and animation. All kids and teachers can relate to his poems."
-Jackie Boothby - Second Grade Teacher, Ella Lewis School
2.6 Your school will have a custom-designed program.
Robert offers a variety of presentations. Whether your goal is to entertain, enlighten, or inspire, your school will be assisted in creating a program that is custom-made to fit the unique needs of your school. You are not limited to a set number of performances or workshops per day. Robert will be active at your school from the time the students arrive until the buses leave in the afternoon.
The Bus
Sixty kids and one adult,
you gotta love those odds.
The perfect place for pulling pranks
and throwing paper wads.
Hank is standing on his head.
Billy's playing ball.
Peter wet his pants again.
Tasha pushes Paul.
Steven steals. Kevin cries.
Millicent is missing.
Katie punched her cousin Keith.
Ben and Jen are kissing.
Me, I'm taking lots of notes
on public transportation.
I think the bus provides me with
the finest education.
Appears in MOXIE DAY the Prankster
and If Kids Ruled the School
Copyright 2004 Robert Pottle
2.7 Your school will be charged a reasonable rate.
School funding can be tight. Not only does Robert offer a reasonable rate for an author visit, but he also provides ideas and tools, so your school can make a visit even more affordable.
2.8 Your school will get ideas to help generate pre-visit excitement.
All teachers have seen how excited students can get about rock bands, video games, and television shows. Wouldn't it be nice if some of that enthusiasm were focused on reading and writing? You will get ideas for how to generate excitement in your school before Robert's visit.
"Robert Pottle's poetry draws you in, opens up your imagination, and makes you laugh!"
-Rick Charette - Children's musician and author of "I Love Mud"
2.9 Your school will get tools to capitalize on the enthusiasm after Robert's visit.
After Robert's visit, your school will have poetry books and activities to help you capitalize on the students' enthusiasm. Your school will even have a web site designed to assist in keeping that enthusiasm going long after Robert's visit.
"Mr. Pottle was very engaging for all classes from K - 6. He presented wonderful poetry for sharing. Then in separate workshops was able to show students how a poem was thought of, worked through, and developed. He was inspiring to students and teachers alike!"
-Myrna J. Robinson - Writing Teacher, Grades 4, 5, and 6, Cape Cod Hill School
2.10 Your school will get discounts on current and future books by Robert.
Your school will receive a 30% discount from Blue Lobster Press on all books ordered before Robert's visit. You may either pass this savings on to the students or sell the books at full price to help defray the cost of the school visit. For books ordered after Robert's visit, your school will get $1.00 off the cover price of each book by Robert Pottle, AND Blue Lobster Press will donate an additional $1.00 to the fund-raising organization of the school's choice (such as a parent-teacher organization).
2.11 You will have direct contact with Robert Pottle.
Okay, this makes eleven, but Robert likes to over-deliver. You will have Robert's phone number and e-mail address. You will not have to deal with an agent or an assistant. You can deal directly with Robert.
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