Authorless Event Kit Writing Radar Event Kit_v3.indd 1 6/27/17 4:13 PM
Host your own Writing Radar creative writing workshop for kids! In Writing Radar: Using Your Journal to Snoop Out and Craft Great Stories, Newbery Award winning author Jack Gantos shares advice on how to be the best brilliant writer in this funny and practical writing guide, perfect for all kids who dream of seeing their name on the spine of a book. This kit provides materials and instructions on how to host your own Writing Radar event and writing workshop for kids. The Writing Radar authorless event kit contains: Instructions for setting up your own creative writing workshop for kids with reproducible writing activities, tips, tricks, and sample journal pages. (1) My Writing Radar Journal promotional item (1) Writing Radar USB pen with special video from author (20) Writing Radar USB pen with special video from author Promotional event signage and poster Hand-selling tips for WRITING RADAR and Jack Gantos s award-winning backlist Promotional flier for WRITING RADAR and Jack Gantos s award-winning backlist
Host your own Writing Radar writing workshop with these event ideas! 1. Make copies of the writing activities, tips, and tricks for the kids. 2. Distribute the supplied journal pages and pencils. 3. Guide the kids through each of the writing exercises, and make them fun! 4. Ask each kid to read what they ve written out loud. Encourage others in the group to ask questions and comment. Helpful comments only! 5. Play the story video included on the USB and have the kids follow along in their own journals. 6. Give away pencils and journal as prizes at the end of your event!
Recipes Here are some great drinks and treats to share during your Writing Radar workshop! VEGGIE PIZZA Feed all of your creative writers with this handy finger food! Ingredients 2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls 8 oz. softened cream cheese 16 oz. sour cream 1 packet of dry ranch dressing mix ½ cup broccoli florets ⅓ cup cucumber slices (cut in quarters) 8 chopped cherry tomatoes ¼ cup shredded carrots Instructions Heat oven to 375 degrees. Unroll both cans of crescent rolls and press dough into bottom and sides of ungreased raised-edge baking sheet or jelly-roll pan. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely. Stir together cream cheese, sour cream, and dressing mix until well blended. Spread mixture over crust. Decorate with vegetables. Refrigerate until ready to serve. FRUIT PUNCH All aspiring writers need some refreshment when they re using their writing radar! Ingredients 1 2-liter bottle of red fruit-punch drink 1 2-liter bottle of ginger ale 1 46 oz. can of unsweetened pineapple juice ½ gallon orange sherbet Ice Instructions Using a large punch bowl (or other large bowl), mix together the fruit punch, ginger ale, and pineapple juice. Add scoops of sherbet using an ice cream scoop. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes so the sherbet can start to melt. Using a large spoon, stir until the sherbet is completely incorporated into the liquid. Add some ice and serve.
Writing exercises WRITING PROMPT As a writer, you are always looking for inspiration, and quite often you can find it hiding behind a powerful emotion. Think about your day and ask yourself questions. For example, if you were in a bad mood this morning, all you have to do is ask, Why did I feel grumpy at 10 a.m. today? Or if you felt really smart in school: Why did I feel like a genius in math class today? Figure out what your question is and use the answer as a starting point for a story about your really great or really bad day! STORY MAP ACTIVITY Draw a map of the inside of the bookstore. Include anything that you see. Take a look at everything you ve drawn once your map is complete to find inspiration for a story about the bookstore!
Writing tips Writing Tip #1 The more you stuff your journal with the odds and ends of life, the more you find that the odds and ends connect to create complete stories. Try to add to your writing journal every day. Make it a rule to see or hear something interesting, find something interesting, or imagine something interesting that you can either write about or tape into your journal. Writing Tip #2 When you get a good story idea, write it down or you will lose it. In other words, don t put money in a pocket with a hole in it. Writing Tip #3 Action + emotion are two of the most essential story ingredients! Write your own story ideas inspired by the action and emotion words below. Action Words Emotion Words secrets chores school friends bored curious awkward accomplished
Handselling tips for Writing Radar By Jack Gantos Your guide to being the best brilliant writer! Target audience: Readers aged 9 12 Perfect for kids who love to write Parents of reluctant readers who want their kids to get excited about reading and writing Fans of Jack Gantos s other published works Teachers and librarians interested in creating writing workshops How to sell to different audiences... Parents Great way to get your kids interested in writing A book about developing writing skills that won t bore your kids A writing book unlike any other that speaks to kids on their level but also helps them develop writing skills in a very grown-up way Teachers A book on writing by award-winning author Jack Gantos Perfect addition to your writing curriculum An informative book on writing that will keep kids engaged Readers A really funny book that will teach you how to write your own stories Is your teacher making you learn how to write stories? This book can teach you how, the fun way! Jack Gantos has written so many books for kids, and now you can learn to write just like him! Writing Radar Event Kit_v3.indd 7 6/27/17 4:14 PM
more by jack gantos! Dead End in Norvelt TP: 9780312641573 $9.99 / $10.99 Can. TP: 9781250062789 TP: 9781250010230 HC: 9780374304560 $17.99 / $24.99 Can. Writing Radar: Using Your Journal to Snoop Out and Craft Great Stories FOR OLDER READERS HC: 9780374379957 $17.99 / $20.50 TP: 9781250090638 $9.99 / $13.99 THE NORVELT BOOKS WRITING RADAR From Norvelt to Nowhere Hole in My Life The Trouble in Me Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key Joey Pigza Loses Control What Would Joey Do? TP: 9781250068071 TP: 9781250061669 TP: 9781250061690 TP: 9781250061683 TP: 9781250061676 THE JOEY PIGZA SERIES I Am Not Joey Pigza The Key That Swallowed Joey Pigza Jack Adrift: Fourth Grade Without a Clue Jack on the Tracks: Four Seasons of Fifth Grade Heads or Tails: Stories from the Sixth Grade TP: 9780374437169 $9.99 / $13.99 TP: 9780374437152 $8.99 / $9.99 TP: 9780374429232 $8.99 / $12.99 TP: 9780374437176 $9.99 / $13.99 TP: 9780374437183 $8.99 / $12.99 Can. THE JACK HENTRY ADVENTURES Jack s New Power: Stories from a Caribbean Year Jack s Black Book Practice Makes Perfect for Rotten Ralph Rotten Ralph Feels Rotten HC Reader: 9780374363536 $16.99 / $18.99 Can. HC Reader: 9780374363543 $16.99 / $18.99 Can. HC Reader: 9780374363574 $16.99 / $18.99 Can. Rotten Ralph Helps Out TP Reader: 9780374400026 $8.99 / $12.99 TP Reader: 9780312672812 $3.99 / $4.99 Can. ROTTEN RALPH Three Strikes for Rotten Ralph Rotten Ralph s Rotten Family Jack Gantos has written books for people of all ages. His works include Hole in My Life, a Michael L. Printz Honor memoir, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, a National Book Award Finalist, and Dead End in Norvelt, a Newbery Award winner. The seeds for Jack s writing career were planted in sixth grade, when he read his sister s diary and decided he could write better than she could. He began to collect anecdotes he overheard, mostly from eavesdropping outside the teachers lounge, and later included many of these anecdotes in his books. He now devotes his time to writing books and educational speaking. He lives with his family in Boston, Massachusetts. Writing Radar Event Kit_v3.indd 8 6/27/17 4:14 PM