Large Group Performances - up to 350 students per performance
MOST POPULAR Pre-K - 6 LARGE GROUP SESSIONLaugh 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
MOST POPULAR 3 - 6 SESSION How to Write Giggle Poetry - (3 - 6 grade) 30 - 40 min.
This session
dissects and rebuilds one of the most popular type of children's poetry, giggle poetry. 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 giggle poem that may easily
be expanded upon after the session.
This new session has quickly become the most popular writing
session Robert offers.
MOST POPULAR Pre-K - 2 SESSION Act Along - (Pre-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.
The Bus - (3 - 6 grade) 30 - 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.
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.
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.
Laugh Along
Poetry - (preK - 6 grade) 45 min. 
Wicked
Good Poetry - (preK - 6 grade) 45 min. 
How to Write Giggle Poetry - (3 - 6 grade) 30 - 40 min. 
Act Along - (Pre-K - 3 grade) 20 min. 
The Bus - (3 - 6 grade) 30 - 40 min. 
Acting
Out - (4 - 6 grade) 20 min. 
Crazy
Farm - (K - 1 grade) 20 min. 
