Ying Chang Compestine - School Visits


	SCHOOL VISITS


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e INVITE ME TO YOUR SCHOOL f

Ying as a child I have many years of teaching experience and enjoy visiting schools. I like sharing with students how my life in China inspired my writing. All of the stories I write for children convey an important message about sharing, compassion, creative inventions, Chinese culture, and food.

The 50-minute program is appropriate for grades K-12. I can also conduct student writing workshops and parent/child writing workshops. Programs can be Chinese bilingual. Click here for classroom activity ideas that use my books.

To arrange for me to visit your school, library, or conference, please read the logistics section below, and then contact me at yingc@yingc.com.

Author Program

School Visit For grades K-1, I perform hands on activities for students: learning how to make dumplings or use chopsticks.

For grades 2-5, I give a PowerPoint presentation on growing up in China, with emphasis on the rich Chinese culture, its wonderful food, and what inspired me to write my books

For K-5 I also show a short video from the Discovery TV show Home Matters. It features my book The Run-Away Rice Cake. It details making a rice cake, celebrating the Chinese New Year, and introducing the Chinese values of sharing and compassion. I then discuss the writing process, developing ideas, research, writing, and the editing process; or the bookmaking process with hands-on materials showing different stages of book production.

middle-school-1 For middle school and high school, I talk about the process of writing my award-winning novel, Revolution is Not a Dinner Party, and A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, inspired by my experiences while growing up in China. I will show slides of some of the locations that inspired my stories.

With small groups and evening programs, I share with the students my journey as a writer and the challenges of writing in my second language, and emphasize the importance of reading. I can also talk about healthy Asian eating and lifestyle to students, parents and teachers.

For school fundraising events, I can conduct classes in healthy cooking for parents or parents and their students. The classes are popular action items. The ideal class size is 12 people. Here is a slideshow of a cooking class for the Diabetes Youth Foundation, and photos from a cooking class held aboard the Holland America ship MS Zuiderdam during a Mediterranean cruise. Here is a video of Ying making dumplings.

A school visit in Seattle, Washington	... and one in Stockton, California.
These children at the Charter Learning Center in San Carlos, CA had a Chinese lunch and saved me a plate. The dumplings and green beans tasted wonderful!

Below are Some Logistics for my School Visits

Setting a Date: I can work with you on the date that is best suited to you. You can go to my Events Page on my website and pick a few candidate days that haven't been booked yet. I will get back to you.

Transportation: If I can get near you by BART, I would be happy to take it and meet someone at the station. Otherwise I will need your assistance for transportation, since I don't drive long distances.

Fee: My standard fee covers up to three sessions and a book signing.
Within the East Bay: $1,500 per day, plus transportation and meals.
For a cooking event, or school visits outside of the East Bay: $2,000 per day plus transportation, lodging and meals.
For Skype Sessions: $150 for one session, up to 50 minutes.

What Can You Do To Make This A Great, Rewarding Visit?

I look forward to visiting your school. As teachers you are well aware of the importance of preparation. It is essential that the students in your school are prepared for my visit.

Small or large groups are acceptable. I prefer students grouped by no more than two consecutive grade levels with a maximum of three 45 to 50-minute presentations per day.

Some Suggestions:
Download a book order form by clicking here

Read my books to the students before my visit. Click here for ideas for classroom activities.
Practice using chopsticks
Discuss Chinese holidays with the students along with the virtues of sharing and compassion
Ask PTA mothers if they would be willing to make the Rice Cake or the Eight Treasure Rice Pudding (recipes at the back of my books) to let the students have a taste of these special Chinese desserts

Equipment I May Need

For making dumplings and the chopsticks contest, teachers will select one volunteer student from each class, so I don't need chopsticks for all students.

In the past, some teachers have held their own contests in the classroom before or after my visit, so every student can have a chance to participate.

If we are going to make dumplings, I will need the following:

Prepare the filling based on the recipe in Boy Dumplings (enough for 20 dumplings)
A packet of wonton wrappers
A bowl of cold water
Thin-slice a carrot to make discs for the dumplings

If we are going to practice with chopsticks, I will need

6 pair of chopsticks,
one large bowl full of large marshmallows, about 2 bags

TV and VCR
A computer connected to a VGA-compatible projector for my PowerPoint presentations
Clip-on Microphone
A large table

Scenes From School Visits

Students made these beautiful kites after reading The Story of Kites.

Day presentations are 40-55 minutes in length, sometimes longer. Evening programs can be 60-90 minutes and can include book signings and presentations to parents and students, or other activities that suit the needs of your school.

with-students-in-japan

School visit at the Canadian Academy International School
Kobe, Japan

Evening programs can be arranged for an additional fee.

When traveling to a non-local area, I like to schedule more than one day of presentations in a row. This also benefits the visiting schools, because several schools can share the travel costs.

In the past, when a school decided to invite me, they sent an announcement to other schools in their area. When a few schools have joined together, they then assign one person from each school to coordinate my travel and other details.

Presentations are limited because of my schedule. Please make arrangements three to six months in advance. We will need a written agreement or contract. If you like, I can prepare one. The contract must cover the date and time of the visit, the presentation schedule, and honorarium. If necessary, the contract should also cover travel, housing, and meal arrangements. I will also need a contact person for any questions I may have.

A word about travel: When I was growing up in China, nobody owned cars. Therefore, I didn't learn to drive until I came to the US. I am still nervous behind the wheel. I would greatly appreciate any transportation assistance your school can provide. PTA mothers with safe vehicles are preferred!

To arrange for me to visit your school, bookstore, library, or conference, please contact me at yingc@yingc.com, or the following Author Visit Coordinator:

Tim Jones. Assistant Director, Marketing
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
tim.jones@hholt.com

Ying Chang Compestine


	[Bookcase] [Events] [Ying's Articles] [TV/Media] [Workshops] [Spokesperson] [School Visits] [Why I Write] [yingc@yingc.com]