Visiting Artist & Author Creativity Workshops for Grades 1-4 Schools, Library, Home School & Youth Creativity, PTA, PTO Enrichment Programs
Now Scheduling for 2023-2024 School Year
Ron and Amy Schmidt have been sharing their love for creativity through art, storytelling, and creative writing elementary school students for over ten years. They do this through fun and interactive workshops that focus on exploring creativity and how it can inspire art and poetry.
Loose Leashes (Random House), Dog-Gone School (Random House), Back to Dog-Gone School (Random House)
Program Descriptions by Grade
For Grades 1, 2
Program Length Per Session: approx. 45 minutes
In these workshops, tailored by grade level, Ron and Amy share what it means to be creative thinkers, storytellers, and writers. By leading the students through an interactive idea-generating session, they use Ron's images and simple poetry written by Amy as examples. At the end of the session, students are gifted their own idea journals (from the Schmidts) to spark inspiration for creative drawing and writing.
For Grades 3, 4
Program Length Per Session: 45-60 minutes
Ron and Amy tailor their programs to a grade-appropriate discussion of what it means to be creative. The Schmidt's share their creative process by leading the students in an inactive brainstorming, idea-generating session that covers the sparking of ideas, character creation, storytelling, through using different poetry styles as a form of creative writing. Ron leads a discussion of his artistic process and Amy shares her process for creative writing using several different poetic forms as examples. At the end of the session, students are gifted their own idea journals (from the Schmidts) to spark inspiration for creative drawing and writing.
* Please note: Due to the interactive nature of our presentations, our workshops are best presented to one entire grade (vs a school wide presentation), delivered to up two classes at a time (about 40 students).
Rave Reviews
We had so much fun! We know and appreciate how much work went into the prep and the presentations. Thank you for bringing such a meaningful experience to our students--we are so grateful! – Grade 4 - Winthrop Elementary School, Ipswich MA
Each presentation is well-planned and age-appropriate! The students love the interactive work around the dog photographs that are presented and are inspired to write many different poems and create stories around the beautiful photographs. The students are left understanding the work of both the poet Amy and the photographer Ron. Every year our young writers' creativity is sparked and their understanding of the writing process is enhanced! - Grade 1 - Bedwell Elementary School, Bedminster NJ
We had such a wonderful time with you. The kids were left inspired and ready to create their own images, poetry, and ideas. Many have been seen throughout the school day at recess or lunch with the little journals you gifted them. Thank you! – Grades 1-3 - H.W. Mountz School, Spring Lake NJ
Pricing
Prices below can be adjusted to meet the needs of the school/class/program sizes. Amy and Ron typically meet with one entire grade vs a school wide presentation.
- 1/2 Day Sessions - usually comprising of two workshops starting at $850.00
- Full-Day Sessions with a break for lunch - usually comprising of 3-4 workshops starting at $1250.00
For information on virtual presentations and visits outside our travel area of Massachusetts, contact us at the e-mail below.
To Schedule a Visit or for any questions:
Please contact Amy Schmidt
Email: as@looseleashes.com
Tel: 732-737-4526
Giving Back
For every 5 schools that Amy & Ron visit, they donate a school visit to an elementary school in an under-served community.
Amy & Ron sharing their workshop with students at
Tembea School for Girls, in Kajiado Kenya
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Click here to learn more about Amy & Ron Schmidt