School Events
Rick’s Tips for a Successful School Visit
Before the visit:
1. Be sure you can make the experience a success before pursuing an author visit. Will you have the space? Do you have the funding for both the honorarium and the travel expenses? Will your schedule allow for special assemblies like the ones described above? Will your administration and faculty be excited and supportive? Can they spare the time to prepare students for the visit? If not, it is probably better not to do an author visit.
2. Introduce the students to the Percy Jackson books and Greek mythology. This doesn’t have to be terribly time-consuming, but it makes a huge difference in the students’ enthusiasm for the visit. Here are some ideas:
a. Have students visit Rick’s website. This can be done as a group in part of one class period, using an LCD projector, or if you have access to a computer lab, have students explore the site individually. Have students try the Greek mythology game page, the Half-blood quiz and the tour of the Camp Half-Blood cabins to learn about the different Greek gods. There is also an on-line interview with Rick.
b. Pick an activity from Rick’s teacher guide to The Lightning Thief. There are many to choose from! Students particularly like the Greek gods chart, the Greek alphabet writing activity, and the Greek artwork. These take very little time to do in class or at home.
c. Have students complete this Greek mythology word search and submit it for a raffle drawing on the day of the visit. Let Rick know if you plan to do this, and he will provide two prizes per presentation group.
d. Have students listen to the first chapter of the The Lightning Thief. A teacher or librarian can read it to them, or you can use the audio CD from Listening Library, or you can listen to Rick read it from the website.
e. If you have time, let students do a project on Greek mythology. Some examples are below.
3. Take preorders for the book. This is best done after students have been introduced to the book so they will be more interested! See the section above about book orders for more information.
4. Brainstorm questions. Have students brainstorm questions they want to ask Rick, either about the books or about being a writer.
During the visit:
1. Arrange the presentation groups by age. As much as possible, age groups should be similar in each separate presentation group. Putting 4th graders and 5th graders together is fine. Putting 4th graders and 8th graders in one group does not work very well.
2. Seat the students so that the younger groups are in front, oldest groups in the back. This is very important. Not only does it make it easier for the younger children to see, but the enthusiasm of the younger students tends to energize the older students behind them.
3. If there are many books to sign, have sticky notes available. Students (or a teacher) can write each child’s first name on the sticky note and put it on the book before Rick signs it. This saves time and makes sure Rick spells each name correctly!
4. Water is good! That’s really all Rick needs to drink during a visit. He usually prefers not to eat during the school day.
5. If possible, set up a projector, screen, and computer for Powerpoint. For large groups, Rick has a Powerpoint slideshow. He can present without this, but setting up for a Powerpoint is helpful if students at the back of the audience would have difficulty seeing a book cover held up at the front of the room. Just let Rick know in advance one way or the other. He can bring his file on a flash disk, or project it from his own laptop, whichever works best for your school.
6. Wireless lapel microphone. Rick can project fairly well, and does not use a microphone for groups up to 75-100 unless the acoustics of the room are problematic. For very large groups, it is best to have a wireless microphone available (the kind that clips to a lapel). Rick moves around a lot and uses his hands as he presents! Second best is a wireless hand-held microphone. Microphones with cords are not as maneuverable, though sometimes unavoidable. The least desirable are wireless headset microphones. Rick doesn’t do a very good Britney Spears impersonation! Please, no chair or lectern. Rick’s presentation is very active with a lot of movement. He won’t be standing still or sitting!
7. Where to meet. By far, the best space to hold large group presentations is the school library. A theater space like an auditorium, black box, or lecture hall is also very good. The most difficult spaces are gymnasiums and cafeterias. They hold more students, but the acoustics are poor and the environment is not one that students associate with reading or good audience behavior. Rick has, however, presented in just about every imaginable venue and can make do if need be.
8. On the best school visits:
A. An administrator takes the time to welcome the author to the school. This sends a huge message that reading is important at this school, and the priority starts right at the top.
B. The teachers set the example for appropriate audience behavior. They refrain from grading papers, chatting, leaving to do other things, etc.
C. Kids and teachers know why the author is there. They have been introduced to the books in the classroom and spent time preparing questions and thinking about the visit.
Rick at Saint Martin’s College, Malta
After the presentation:
1. Letters to the author. Letters to the author may be sent to:
Rick Riordan
c/o Hyperion Books for Children
114 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
2. Book reviews and student reporting. Have a student write a review of the book for the school website or newspaper. Alternately, a student can do a news report about the author visit.
3. Turn your students into authors! After hearing about the career of a writer, have your students do a creative writing piece. This can be based on Greek mythology or not, as you please. Create a classroom anthology, make copies, and hold your own author signing event where the students autograph copies of their work. You can also publish the works on line. This can be a empowering experience for the students.
4. Rick welcomes your feedback. Let him know what you thought of the visit and if you have any suggestions!
5. Please don’t feel obliged to give a parting gift, like a school coffee mug, T-shirt, etc. While Rick appreciates the sentiment, it’s sometimes difficult to fit one more thing in the suitcase!
Other helpful resources on author visits:
These sites offer a wealth of information and advice on how to arrange a successful school visit:
Expert advice on author visits. Great tips from leading authors on what makes a successful visit.
How to arrange an author’s school visit
Everything You Need to Know to Set Up an Author Visit in Your School - Random House Children’s Book Author & Illustrator Appearances Kit (Adobe Acrobat format)
The Perfect Author Visit - by Dan Gutman
Preparation Checklist for Author Visit - by the San Diego County Office of Education School Library Service
Timeline to a Successful Author Visit - by Marian Creamer, school librarian, and Laura Kvasnosky
