I am eager to tell you about another opportunity for an Author Visit with me, possible through the new and exciting technology of videoconferencing.

For two years I have been working with an organization called Cooperating School Districts of St. Louis. They offer and arrange videoconferences for my custom designed, interactive hands-on writing seminars and author visits with classrooms of students.

CSD also arranges all my videoconferences of nonfiction writing and public speaking seminars for educational or corporate institutions, in a professional development format, “on-screen.”

To view online examples of successful seminars please click here.

Past participants have evaluated this technology and these opportunities to connect with me in a customized videoconference including:

• “Wonderful”
• “Engaging”
• “Enriching”

If you choose to connect with me in this way, we will:

• Plan and work together
• “See” each other on our television monitors
• Ask and answer questions
• Work in a writer’s workshop format
• Read, respond and reflect upon our writing and speaking
• Take expeditions, through my photographs, to all corners of the globe, to write nonfiction prose and poetry

Personal critiques of individual pieces of writing can also be arranged for an additional fee.

News Release - Eli Lilly Corporate Headquarters

We are delighted to be able to offer award-winning author of nonfiction natural science, Carolyn Lesser who will speak with school children via our interactive Distance Learning technology in her presentation, “Mr. Shubert, Could You Please Bring Home One Cow’s Eyeball.” In her talk, Carolyn will motivate your students to explore and discover the natural world, journal science ideas in their world, find their fascinations, and write nonfiction that dazzles. Join us to learn how to make boring nonfiction memorable.

Letter from James Martin High School

Dear Carolyn:

I am writing in regard to the three lessons you taught to my Journalism I classes in our Distance Learning Labs. They were not only extremely informative but also fascinating and exciting. This event was the first of its kind for my students. None had ever experienced teaching from a remote location, learning material in this way, or seeing themselves on a television screen. Add to this uniqueness your well-developed lesson plans, novel lecture material, and rare photos, and the mix was magic for my classes. They were enthralled from the beginning and looked forward with anticipation to the next opportunity.

Each lesson was well-layered and integrated. They included topics that piqued the student’ interest, encouraged the scrutiny of their values as they related to those topics, and called them to action. Additionally, the material served as an excellent springboard to the discussion of writing techniques and to the prompt for the writing assignment.

Students will be experiencing this form of teaching in other arenas, college and graduate school. I think introducing the students to the experience on the high school level is on e more opportunity to be prepared for the future.

Thank you for making the classes such a rewarding time for my students. They and I appreciate it so much, Very sincerely, Linda Altoonian Linda Altoonian

Linda Altoonian
James Martin High School

Evaluations from students in Ms. Altoonian’s class:

“I had a great experience listening to Carolyn Lesser’s presentaion of the Arctic. Her pictures were so vibrant and colorful, I felt as if I were leaning over the side of the tundra buggy, looking into the great white polar bear’s eyes. I hope to some day visit the Arctic and relive her memorable experiences. The writing assignment Ms. Lesser gave us was challenging, yet enlightening. I learned how much global warming is impacting animals in the Arctic. Overall it was an amazing learning experience and I hope that everyone else was impacted as much as I was.”
~Shannon P., Journalism Student

“This experience was new to me and I found it fascinating. I really enjoyed the time that we spent together and since this is the first time I have ever been in a learning lab I will remember it for some time. I am thankful for the writing tips that you gave and it will help me write better in the future. I was intrigued by your trip to the Arctic and was listening to every detail you gave about the land, the creatures, and your experience. I also appreciate the writing assignments you gave to us which further helped me in my writing. In short I enjoyed this experience and hope you talk to us again soon.”
~Calvin H., Journalism Student

“While we were in the lab, I really enjoyed the experience. It was really interesting to know we were talking with someone out of state over a t-v. The material we were given during the lesson was very helpful and insightful. It really allowed me to be able to feel like I was in the Arctic and made me feel strongly about global warming. The writing assignment for this activity was actually fun to write. I enjoyed being able to share my thoughts on paper with Mrs. Lesser. It was also great to hear her evaluate our papers and give advice. Usually I don’t like lectures, but this one was different. It was fun to learn about writing and see how I can improve.”
~Kelsey7 H., Journalism Student

CSD handles all the arrangements for my presentations.

Please call Martha Bogart at CSD, to plan your conference.

E-Mail: mbogart@csd.org

Telephone: 314-692-1258 (Direct)

I look forward to working with you “on-screen.”