Featured Presentations
Stories I Never Tell
Award-winning author Steven Layne has published over twenty books - children's picture books, young adult thrillers, gifts books for adults, and professional titles for teachers, too! And there are stories about those books that are rarely discussed-the kind of interesting behind-the-scenes "scoop" that libraries and bookstores don't know anything about at all! Join Steven for what promises to be an entertaining reveal about several of his books and participate in a questions and answer session that just might motivate the writer in you!| Audience: | All |
| Length: | 45, 60, 75, 90 minutes |
Steve's Top Five Writing Tips for Grades 3-8
Award-winning author and educator Steven L. Layne shares five dynamic and practical strategies for implementing better writing instruction in the intermediate and middle grades.| Audience: | Teachers in Grades 3-8, special educators, literacy coaches |
| Length: | 60, 75, 90 minutes |
Dynamic Read Aloud Programs and Titles that Work
Award-winning educator and writer Steven L. Layne is passionate about reading aloud to kids of all ages. In this session, he will highlight some of the "titles that do the trick" for even the most reluctant readers and offer practical suggestions for implementing a read aloud program designed to make your students readers for life.| Audience: | Classroom Teachers, Librarians/Media Specialists |
| Grades: | K-12 (tailored to specific grade ranges as requested) |
| Length: | 60, 75, 90, 120, 150, or 180 minutes |
Successful Strategies for Building Lifetime Readers:
Great Ideas You Can Put in Place Tomorrow!
| Audience: | Classroom Teachers, Librarians/Media Specialists |
| Grades: | K-12 (tailored to specific grade ranges as requested) |
| Length: | 60, 75, 90, 120, 150, or 180 minutes |
Igniting a Passion for Reading
Energetic author and award-winning educator Dr. Steven L. Layne promises a seminar to delight, empower and motivate teachers and librarians who are interested in bridging the literacy gap. The entertainment options available to young people in our fast-paced society are ever on the increase. What are we, as educators, doing to make reading books more appealing? Who's responsible for "keeping the reading lamp lit" for our young people today? Teachers - of every content area and grade level can play a part - as well as the library staff. The kids are rarely our students for only a year. In some ways, they'll be our students forever, and we care about their future. This seminar will offer practical ideas for every classroom that will keep kids reading and loving books. Great titles - old and new - will be highlighted for all grade levels.| Audience: | Any instructional personnel providing direct service to students |
| Grades: | This seminar can be modified for any set of grade levels K-12 |
| Length: | 5.5-6 Hours |
Using Children's Books to Excite Young Writers
Teachers are always in need of a good response to kids who say, "I can't think of anything to write about." After this energizing presentation, you'll have several great answers! Join award-winning author Steven Layne as he uses a wide-range of children's picture books and middle grade novels to introduce five key arenas from which authors draw story ideas. Come and discover how easily this information translates into practice in any K-8 classroom where literacy development is a top priority. It's time to get your students' pencils moving with excitement!| Audience: | Classroom Teachers, Librarians/Media Specialists |
| Grades: | K-12 |
| Length: | 60 or 75 minutes |
Picture Books as a Springboard to Literacy Activities
Picture books are a valuable resource for scaffolding literacy activities at any grade level, and Steven L. Layne can show you how to make it happen! This session promotes practical ideas which use picture books as a vehicle for expanding students' reading and writing experiences. Come prepared for a lively and engaging session full of great ideas for the classroom.| Audience: | Classroom Teachers, Librarians/Media Specialists |
| Grades: | K-8 |
| Length: | 60 or 75 minutes |
What Parents Can Do to Nurture Lifetime Readers
In an age where children have far more choices of what to do with their time than they once did, what can parents do to instill a love of reading? How can you keep those same kids reading throughout the grades, and how do you reignite interest in reading for a child who seems to have forgotten all about books? These questions and more are addressed with practical suggestions and solutions in this parent education workshop.| Audience: | Parents of children and young adults in grades PreK - 12 |
| Length: | 60, 75, 90, or 120 minutes |
Books the Little Kids Love!
Author Steven L. Layne guides your discussion of the elements that create a successful picture book - the kind of book that children in the primary grades want to experience over and over and OVER again! Lots of great books will be included via demonstration.| Audience: | Classroom Teachers, Librarians/Media Specialists |
| Grades: | K-3 |
| Length: | 60 or 75 minutes |
