Schools & Educational Institutions

Dee loves to share her passion for reading, literacy, and the craft of writing with children, and she has so much fun in schools.  Whether reading one of her books during a class visit or assembly, leading a workshop, or joining the fun as a guest at a school event, Dee’s connection with your students creates an experience they won’t forget!

BOOK DEE
1.  Classroom Visit + Book Reading  

Dee’s bright and fun energy will delight your students when she reads her Little Ruth books. All readings are followed by Q&A and include activities, giveaways, and photos.  Schools, programs, and families will have an opportunity to purchase books for students.

  • Elementary Schools
    • Grades: K – 3
    • Length: 45 min per class
      • Add 15 min transition between classes
    • Price: Price assumes approximately 25 students or fewer per class and
      includes travel up to 50 miles from McLean, VA; Travel for 51 miles or greater from McLean, VA must add
      travel expenses and lodging.
      • 1 class: $450
      • 2 classes: $500
      • 3 classes: $550
      • Virtual visit: $250
      • Book purchases can cover the cost of a classroom visit
      • Free visit: Partners of the Little Ruth
        Collection support free author visits for students. Email Partnerships@LittleRuth.com for more
        information.
    • More Info
  • Early Childhood Schools & Programs
    • Grades: PreK 3 – PreK 4
    • Length: 30 – 45 min per class
      • Add 15 min transition between sessions
    • Price: Price assumes approximately 25 students or fewer per class includes
      travel up to 50 miles from McLean, VA; Travel for 51 miles or greater from McLean, VA must add travel
      expenses and lodging.
      • 1 class: $450
      • 2 classes: $500
      • 3 classes: $550
      • Virtual visit: $250
      • Book purchases can cover the cost of a classroom visit
      • Free visit: Partners of the Little Ruth
        Collection support free author visits for students. Email Partnerships@LittleRuth.com for more
        information.
    • More Info
2.  School Assembly + Book Reading  

Students will enjoy a one-of-a-kind school assembly with Dee’s highly interactive and energetic reading of one of her Little Ruth books.  All readings are followed by Q&A and include giveaways and photos. Schools, programs and parents will have an opportunity to purchase books for students.

  • Elementary Schools
    • Grades: K – 3
    • Length: 45 min
    • Price: Price assumes approximately 300 students or fewer per assembly and
      includes travel up to 50 miles from McLean, VA; Travel for 51 miles or greater from McLean, VA must add
      travel expenses and lodging.
      • 1 assembly: $500
      • Book purchases can cover the cost of an assembly
      • Free visit: Partners of the Little Ruth
        Collection support free author visits for students. Email Partnerships@LittleRuth.com for more
        information.
    • More Info
3.  Teach a Class or Workshop

Students love to showcase their creativity and inner author when Dee teaches a class or workshop. Example topics include creative writing and storytelling, collaborative storyboarding, technical writing skills, literary analysis and other topics. Q&A is included throughout and at the conclusion of the session, and classes/workshops can be combined with a book reading. Sessions are grouped by grade level and customized to classroom needs. 

Classes/Workshops take place during 1 but not more than 2 classroom periods during or after school. They can be combined with another class/workshop as part of an Artist Fellowship / Residency. Any class or workshop may be expanded into multiday or multi-session offerings as part of a Artist Fellowship / Residency.

  • Elementary Schools
    • Grades: K – 5
    • Length: 45 min
  • Middle Schools
    • Grades 6 – 8
    • Length: 45 minutes – 1 hour, depending on school schedule
    • Sample Topics
      • Wondrous Writing & Language Arts (Grades K – 3). Dee will guide students through a storytelling and writing class. Class is adapted to students’ development milestones based on their age and the curriculum used by the school or local school district. Students will leave the class having produced their own independent writing pieces that demonstrate their comprehension of core curriculum topics, such as the elements of a story or other language arts and writing skills. Your students will love this hands-on session that helps them learn the technical aspects of writing in a fun way.
      • Imagination Station (Available for: Grades 1 – 3; Grades 4 and above). Students will be enthused by this incredibly interactive session that blends the art of drawing and painting with the art of writing and storytelling. Dee helps students imagine and develop their own stories using activities that range from creating and coloring illustrative storyboards to adding the words to make their stories come to life. Students can either create an “All In” story through a collaborative process with all their classmates or work on individual stories of their own. This class is a great opportunity for students to develop a love for and learn about the artful aspects of storytelling and creative writing.
      • Let’s Play Pretend Publishing (Grades 1 – 3). Who says youth can’t run a publishing company?! Dee takes students on a publishing house journey of their own creation. Students will lead and participate in multiple stations of their own publishing house that they run, all while learning about the publishing process from having an idea to producing a published book. Stations will include creating, editing, publishing and selling a class book.
      • Literary Analysts (Grades 4 – 8). Students will select an age-appropriate published work by Dee or by another author for Dee to read with the class or, for longer books, read selections from the book with the class. After reading, Dee will lead students in literary analysis and discussion that covers grade-level language arts concepts. Class will include Q&A, giveaways, and photos.
    • More Info
4.  Artist Fellowship / Residency

Students and teachers alike love when Dee is a writing fellow or resident artist at their school, organization, or program. Over multiple classes or days, she teaches creative and technical writing skills and covers topics related to writing and storytelling, publishing, entrepreneurship, or other real-world topics. Residencies / Fellowships can include a book reading.  Sessions are grouped by grade level and customized to classroom needs.  

Residency / Fellowship sessions take place during the school day or after school, and typically last for up to a single 5-day week, M – F.

  • Elementary Schools
    • Grades: K – 5
    • Length: 45 min per class
      • Add 15 min transition between classes
  • Middle Schools
    • Grades 6 – 8
    • Length: 45 min per class
      • Add 15 min transition between classes
      • Price: Price assumes approximately 25 students per class/workshop and includes travel up to 50 miles from McLean, VA each day over multiple days and assume no overnight stays. Travel for 51 miles or greater from McLean, VA must add travel expenses and lodging.
        • 2 classes: $900
        • 3 classes: $1,260
        • 4 classes: $1,600
        • 5 classes: $2,000
        • 6 classes: $2,400
        • Book purchases can cover or be used toward payment for the residency / fellowship.
        • Free visit: Partners of the Little Ruth Collection support free opportunities for students. Email Partnerships@LittleRuth.com for more information.

        Sample Topics

        • Ideation Station (Available for: Grades 1 – 3; Grades 4 and above). Students will be enthused by this incredibly interactive session that blends the art of drawing and painting with the art of writing and storytelling. Dee helps students imagine and develop their own stories using activities that range from creating and coloring illustrative storyboards to adding the words to make their stories come to life. Students can either create an “All In” story through a collaborative process with all their classmates or work on individual stories of their own. This class is a great opportunity for students to develop a love for and learn about the artful aspects of storytelling and creative writing.
        • Confident Composition (Grades 4 – 5). Dee helps students grow their confidence in their writing capabilities. Her approach reinforces grade-level technical writing skills and encourages students to use their individual perspectives to confidently tell the story they wish to compose. Students will love this hands-on writing class that helps them learn the technical aspects of writing in an individualized way.
        • Publishing House Simulation (Grades 4 – 8). Students will love this interactive session that lets them own the publishing process and bring an idea from its initial vision to a published work. Students will create, edit, publish, and sell a class book. Older students’ simulation is differentiated from younger grades by its increased complexity and inclusion of elements that integrate grade-level math and social studies skills to consider key publishing issues such as pricing, market size and location, and distribution.
        • Big Brains & Big Ideas (Grades 6 – 8). Dee helps students develop their creative and artistic writing skills by developing their own ideas into full stories, poems, or even the beginnings of a chapter book. Students will love blending their ideas with other artistic expressions to celebrate the art of storytelling and writing. With activities that range from storyboarding to drawing and painting to singing or spoken word students will be able to bring their creativity to life. Students can either create an “All In” story through a collaborative process with all their classmates or work on their individual stories of their own to present.
      • More Info
5.  Keynote Speaker / Panelist

Dee will participate in your event as the main speaker or panelist with other speakers, providing an inspirational message that integrates topics that are meaningful to your school, students, and community.

  • Public, Charter, Private and Independent Schools
    • All grades / school levels
    • Length: Based on the speaking event schedule
      • Assumes 1 hour of program with up to 20 – 25 min. of speaking time or less plus 15 min transition time if serving as speaker or panelist in multiple sessions.
    • Price: Prices include travel up to 50 miles from McLean, VA; Travel for 51 miles or greater from McLean, VA must add travel expenses and lodging
        • Up to 300 event attendees: $500
        • Up to 500 event attendees: $750
        • Up to 750 event attendees: $1,000
        • 751+ event attendees: $1,500
      • Additional time beyond 1 hour is billed at $150/hour
      • Alternative and reduced pricing is available
    • More Info
6.  Fairs, Festivals, Fundraisers

Event goers and guests will be entertained when you have Dee as a highlighted artist to emcee, speak, do a performative and interactive reading of one of Little Ruth books., sign books or otherwise participate in your event.

  • Public, Charter, Private and Independent Schools
    • All grades / school levels
    • Length: Based on the speaking event schedule
      • Assumes up to approximately 40 min. of speaking time, broken up, with flexibility for Dee’s participation in other event activities.
    • Price:Prices include travel up to 50 miles from McLean, VA; Travel for 51 miles or greater from McLean, VA must add travel expenses and lodging
        • Up to 300 event attendees: $500
        • Up to 500 event attendees: $750
        • Up to 750 event attendees: $1,000
        • 751+ event attendees: $1,500
      • Additional time beyond 2 hours is billed at $150/hour
      • Alternative and reduced pricing is available
      • Free visit: Partners of the Little Ruth Collection support free opportunities for schools and organizations. Email Partnerships@LittleRuth.com for more information.
    • More Info