As a former middle school teacher and author, Ann brings energy and an inspiring message of student empowerment and empathy to every school visit.
Aligning with CASEL’s Social and Emotional Learning standards, Ann’s presentation draws on her books to help students develop healthy identities, build supportive relationships, and manage emotions to achieve their goals. Kids often feel powerless to change their circumstances. Ann helps them recognize the power they already have: the power of inner strength, the power of connection, the power of a question, the power to live fully, and ultimately, the power to ask for help.
What Students Will Experience
Ann opens by sharing her own story, writing was once on her list of “Things I Can’t Do,” until she found her voice.
From there, she draws on her books to bring each power to life: Zoey’s journey in The Benefits of Being an Octopus shows students that facing obstacles is how we grow, not proof we’re behind (students take the Team Octopus pledge). Flight of the Puffin explores how one small act of kindness can connect kids who feel completely alone. Opinions and Opossums show how asking questions can cut through emotional paralysis. Into the Rapids follows a mother and daughter learning to move through grief together and begin to live life fully.
In her newest book, Hijacked by Goats, Josie faces OCD, a bully in her own brain, and shows students what it looks like to ask for help, build healthy relationships, and reclaim her own voice.
Ann closes by returning to her own journey as a writer, showing students how each of these powers helped shape her path, and can shape theirs too.
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Ann offers up to 3 large presentations per school visit, plus an optional small group lunch session with students.