I wanted to pass on some information to anyone looking for a reasonable and talented local author to do classroom or school visits.  

Her name is Julia Garstecki and she has written and continues to write series of books - all nonfiction at this point - geared towards the 4th-8th grade reader. Her work includes some high interest science topics written at a low reading level for special needs students.  

She has come to do classroom lessons on the publishing process for her most recent book called "The Complete Guide to the American Revolution",  where she elicited ideas from students what they'd like to read about and have answered regarding the topic.  Having been a classroom teacher herself, she was wonderful with the students and they left feeling that their ideas would directly affect her writing. Her approach was motivating and empowering.

She is coming back to show my students the spreads as they are approved from publisher. 

I will be having her do similar lessons with the fifth and sixth graders on her "Fighting Forces" series.

She is just starting her venture as a visiting author, her fees are reasonable and on a sliding scale.

More helpful information can be found on her website: www.juliagarstecki.com  

Feel free to contact me if you'd like to hear more details of what she did with our students at Canton Intermediate School.
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