School Visits
Ying is sought after by educators across the globe. She has visited schools throughout the US and abroad, sharing with students her journey as a writer, how her life in China inspired her writing, and the challenges of writing in her second language.
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Since she writes in multiple genres, from picture books to YA to healthy cookbooks, schools often invite her to present to students of all ages. Besides assemblies, she teaches writing lectures/workshops and offers an extended Writer-in-Residence program. Additionally, she gives hands-on demonstrations on healthy eating and cooking for adults and students.
“Ying took German Swiss International School (Primary) by storm.  She is the whole package from K-12 and has written humorous picture books, nail biting novels, and mouth-watering cook books. Her presentations were totally engaging with our students. Everything was well prepared and she left us wanting more. The year 5 students just soaked up her words about her writing tips. We definitely want her back and wait for her next book.”
– Megan Lindsay, Teacher-Librarian, German Swiss International School

Presentations

Ying is happy to work with teachers to tailor her presentations. There is no limit to the number of students in a session; however, she prefers each session to include no more than two consecutive grades.  Presentations can be bilingual, in English and Chinese. There is a brief Q&A at the end of all of her presentations.
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Ying does not read her books during her sessions, but she often references them. For example, she might ask a younger class to do a tai-chi pose from Crouching Tiger or teach older grades about attention-grabbing hooks using the beginning of her fiction.
In a standard presentation, Ying shares her journey of how she writes her books and inspires students to create their own stories...
For Grades K-2, Ying covers:
  • The inspiration for her picture books.
  • Highlights of her life as a writer.
  • Her story growing up in China, emphasizing the rich culture and delicious food that are main themes in her work.
  • A short video that features The Runaway Rice Cake, or Boy Dumplings featuring making the recipes from the books.
  • Teach students how to use chopsticks and make dumplings.
For Older Grades, Ying covers:
  • Her journey writing her internationally acclaimed novel Revolution is Not a Dinner Party, based on her life growing up in China.
  • The process of publishing a book: developing ideas, researching, writing, working with an editor, editing and publishing.
  • The importance of rewriting, with examples of her revision process from A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts.
  • The bittersweet experience of co-authoring Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier with her high-school son, as well as their research process.

​Ying's Cooking Classes : She is passionate about promoting healthy cooking and eating. Many of her books center around food and have recipes in the back. After reading her books, the students can choose their favorite recipes and cook with Ying. ​She can conduct either cooking demonstrations for large groups or hands-on cooking classes for small groups. 

​The video to the right features Ying cooking with students at the Singapore American School.
Ying's Writer-in-Residence program is an in-depth, multiple-day writing workshop aimed to teach students about the basics of writing. By the end of the program, each student will have finished their own story! Click below for the Writer-in-Residence page.
Ying's Skype Sessions are very popular with teachers whose students have read Ying's books and would like to correspond directly with Ying. Students often prepare questions ahead of time and engage in inspirational conversations with her. In addition to answering their questions, Ying also shares her process for writing.
Ying's Adult Programs are a great way for schools to maximize Ying's visit and parent involvement. In these programs, Ying talks about the importance of healthy eating habits with children. She will share practical time-saving tips for choosing healthy ingredients and meal planning, and encourage children to participate in cooking healthy meals for the family.
Ying's Fundraising Events : Ying has done many successful fundraising events to help raise money for schools and libraries. Her cooking classes for adults and for students are very popular auction items at fundraising events. The ideal number for hands-on cooking classes is 12-14 people. Here is a slideshow from the Lafayette Fundraising Dinner, and here are pictures from a cooking class aboard ​Holland America!

No matter what the class size or age group, Ying's visits are fun, successful, lasting events!

What people have to say about Ying's School Visits...
To book a visit with me, you can use the form below or contact my booking agent, Colleen Osborne at Macmillan Speaker’s Bureau.
Ying Ying offers engaging school visits for students from elementary to high school. In addition, Ying has visited schools for fundraising events, cooking classes, and writer-in-residence programs. All events should be arranged 6 months in advance, but if Ying is already planning to be in the area, please reach out to see what can  be done.

For more information, including logistics, detailed information on topics and scheduling, equipment needed, working together to tailor a presentation to specific classes, and book ordering, please use the School Visit Contact form and include information you would like. The Preparing for a School Visit page also offers valuable information.

Feel free to contact us for any questions!
Don't forget to follow Ying on social media for updates!