For Teachers
What will inspire your students to find the words to tell their stories?
Jen loves to talk about three key ways to become a better storyteller: imagining, noticing, and editing.
She loves to celebrate reading and writing with students and teaches aspiring adult writers through The Highlights Foundation.
To request an interview, schedule an appearance, or invite to your school, library, or book club, contact the author.
Jen loves to talk about three key ways to become a better storyteller: imagining, noticing, and editing.
She loves to celebrate reading and writing with students and teaches aspiring adult writers through The Highlights Foundation.
To request an interview, schedule an appearance, or invite to your school, library, or book club, contact the author.
Virtual And in-person Workshops
Before Jen became an author, she worked as an editor and a reporter, gaining skills that are vital to writing. She loves to share tips with students! These 40-60-minute classroom workshops begin with a 20-minute presentation on one of the focused topics below, leaving time for questions and sharing. Jen’s workshops are best for grades 3-5, and can be in person or virtually. Click here for current rates.
Be a Reporter: Notice, Ask, Listen – Jen will introduce three reporting skills to spark creativity. She will ask students to notice what’s around them and take notes about those telling details; ask questions about things that make them curious; and listen to what people share.
Be an Editor: Read, Replace, Describe – Jen will introduce three editing tools to improve student writing. She will show how to replace plain verbs with strong action; to add comparisons to deepen understanding; and to find missing words and fix long sentences by reading aloud.
Design Your Own – Attributes of the above workshops can be mixed and matched. Please contact Jen to discuss what your young writers need!
Be a Reporter: Notice, Ask, Listen – Jen will introduce three reporting skills to spark creativity. She will ask students to notice what’s around them and take notes about those telling details; ask questions about things that make them curious; and listen to what people share.
Be an Editor: Read, Replace, Describe – Jen will introduce three editing tools to improve student writing. She will show how to replace plain verbs with strong action; to add comparisons to deepen understanding; and to find missing words and fix long sentences by reading aloud.
Design Your Own – Attributes of the above workshops can be mixed and matched. Please contact Jen to discuss what your young writers need!
Testimonials
"Fourth and fifth graders enjoyed an amazing virtual author visit with Jennifer Gennari. She shared thoughts on reading and writing as only a seasoned author with a background in both journalism and fiction writing can provide!"
— Teresa Gallo-Toth, Librarian, John D. Runkle School
"Thank you for visiting our school and for teaching such a relevant and smooth lesson; you were a pro!"
— Rebecca Peterson, 4/5 teacher, Perkins School, Seattle, WA
"Jennifer Gennari actively engaged our sixth graders throughout the presentation of her writing process. Her hands-on writers workshop gave students a chance to share their ideas and discuss their own creative process. She inspired many of our young writers to take some creative risks."
— Julia Bourland Chambers, Librarian, Athenian School, Danville, CA
— Teresa Gallo-Toth, Librarian, John D. Runkle School
"Thank you for visiting our school and for teaching such a relevant and smooth lesson; you were a pro!"
— Rebecca Peterson, 4/5 teacher, Perkins School, Seattle, WA
"Jennifer Gennari actively engaged our sixth graders throughout the presentation of her writing process. Her hands-on writers workshop gave students a chance to share their ideas and discuss their own creative process. She inspired many of our young writers to take some creative risks."
— Julia Bourland Chambers, Librarian, Athenian School, Danville, CA