An interview is one of the best ways to get information about the subject of a biography. During the second part of our presentation we challenge students to come up with probing interview questions. Then we pair them off and allow time for them to practice interviewing one another. Afterward, volunteers demonstrate their interviewing skills for the group.

If time allows, we discuss possible ways to begin a biography (for example, with an anecdote). Afterward, we encourage the students to practice writing an opening paragraph and to read their work aloud.

If requested, we will consult with teachers to adapt our presentation to their curriculum needs.

• Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, National Science Teachers Association, 2009

• Science Books & Films Best Book for Children, 2008

• 2009 Baker's Dozen: The 13 Best Books for Family Literacy,  Pennsylvania Center for the Book

• ReadBoston's Best Read Aloud Book Award finalist, 2009

• Cybils Award finalist, 2008

• Curators' Choice, Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, 2008

• 28th Society of Illustrators Original Art 2008 Exhibition and Original Art 2008-2009 Traveling Exhibition selection

Carry Me! Animal Babies on the Move

• Parents' Choice Approved Award, 2005

• Society of Illustrator's Original Art 2005 Exhibition

• National Science Teachers Association Recommends, 2005

• Best Children's Book of the Year, Bank Street College of Education, 2005

Nature's Paintbrush

• Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, National Science Teachers Association, 2000

• Georgia Author of the Year Award Nominee, 2000

• Best Children's Book of the Year, Bank Street College of Education, 2000

• Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor, 1999

1. Minerva Louise stars in the original program, aimed at K through 2nd graders. Ms. Stoeke reads from some of the books, pointing out the events in her life that prompted her to think them up. Then, asking open-ended questions, the author elicits a character, a plot (beginning, middle and end) and plenty of hilarious twists and turns from the students. Sketching quick and lively images on the board, the author pulls together their ideas, having them vote on the best ones, and tugging them toward a satisfying conclusion. In the end, they have made a story. The students see first hand that they can do it! Creating a book is not only possible, but great fun. Questions about authoring round out the session. 45 minutes.

    

2. The new program, aimed at fifth and sixth graders, focuses on writing from personal experience. It features the author's latest book, Waiting for May, her son's story about anticipating the adoption of his sister. Using the book as an example, Ms. Stoeke helps the students search for which events from their lives might be story-worthy. The focus is on the emotion the event elicits. Students are reminded to write the whole piece with that feeling in mind. Life happens in a random sort of way, but stories need some structure. I will show the students how to rethink the event and find the inherent structure, building on their central feeling throughout. Teachers can refer to this streamlined writing tactic again and again throughout the year. 45 minutes.

Love, Ruby lavendar, Harcourt Brace, Spring 2001. Novel for elementary-age readers. Nine-year-old Ruby and her grandmother, Miss Eula, survive a summer apart where Ruby raises her unruly chickens, defends herself against the snooty Melba Jane, befriends the new girl, Dove (junior-anthropologist-in-training), saves the town Operetta, and learns to let go of her guilt over her grandfather's death. An ALA Notable book, NCTE Notable book, Parent's Choice Children's Media Award winner, Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children.

One Wide Sky, Harcourt Brace, Spring 2003. Bedtime lullaby and counting book in rhymed couplets, about a family's day spent outdoors in the natural world together.

Hang The Moon, Harcourt Brace, Spring 2003. Novel for older elementary/middle school readers about two cousins who travel from Mississippi to Memphis in 1966, to find Elvis Presley.

• Author-in-the-Schools Assembly Program: - "Write for Your Life! Tell Your Story!" Participating in a presentation of slides, artifacts, anecdotes, laughs, and lots of questions, students discover how pieces of Debbie's life story are captured in her books. Students should be able to carry away a sense of how they can do this, too, along with a feeling that their stories and what they have to say are important. Suitable for all ages and tailored to all age groups
• Creative Writing Program: Using Freedom Summer or Love, Ruby Lavender as a model, students explore the writing process by writing from their lives. Grades 2 and up, tailored to grade level. Students discover the power of words, selection of telling details, story structure, characterization, translation of an idea into story, and revision.
• Poetry Program: Using One Wide Sky as a model, students learn how to use brainstorming, metaphor and simile, the senses, and emotions, to create poetry of their own, to tell their stories. Suitable for all grades. Older students work with poetry forms as well.
• Customized Presentations: Teacher in-service and conference speaking on several themes, including the value of incorporating life stories and oral history into your classroom, how it reaches across the curriculum, and strategies for teaching students to "Write for your Life!" using poetry, essays, fiction, and oral history. Interactive teacher programs, parent and family programs, and other customized presentations on tools for teaching creative writing, raising life-long readers, and advice on choosing and using children's books, all illuminated by stories, slides, and props.