Joan Marie Galat

Readings

Kindergarten – Grade 2: Pictures in the Sky
Joan Marie Galat introduces astronomy using storytelling to share ancient myths, interspersed with astronomy facts. The positions of celestial objects are shown with magnetic stars on a whiteboard. Her enthusiasm for stargazing is contagious and leaves children interested in independently exploring the mysteries of the night sky. The grand finale of each visit includes a brief demonstration of juggling star-shaped beanbags. This reinforces the importance of reading…once Joan explains she learned to juggle from reading a book!

Grades 3 – 6: Write and Explore the Night
Joan Marie Galat introduces astronomy using storytelling to share ancient myths, interspersed with astronomy facts. The positions of celestial objects are shown with magnetic stars on a whiteboard. Her contagious enthusiasm for sky science leaves children ready to explore the mysteries of the night sky on their own. Joan’s presentation also encompasses her life as an author. Her first encounter with publishing at the age of 13 intrigues aspiring writers. Encouraging children in their own writing endeavors has a strong focus in this presentation. The need for revision is stressed, and the message reinforced when Joan shows rough copies of Stories in the Stars and elaborates on the writing process. Joan shares techniques on finding story ideas. School visits include a package for the teacher containing activity sheets, as well as a list of publishers who will consider submissions by young people.

Grades 7 – 8: Password to Publishing
This presentation encompasses information on the writing life and the path Joan followed to become an author. An early experience with publishing at the age of 13 intrigues aspiring writers. Her personal stories reveal how she learned the craft and made writing her career, persevering through numerous rejections. Joan enjoys encouraging students in their own writing endeavors. She stresses the need for revision by showing rough copies of Stories in the Stars and elaborating on the writing process. She also talks about the process of getting published and creates parallels that will be of interest to any student thinking ahead to what he or she might choose for a career. Joan also talks to students about how effective writing is important no matter what profession a student wishes to pursue. Her examples will motivate students to give writing their best effort.

Grades 9 – 12: Writing as a Career
Joan Marie Galat connects with junior high students in a presentation that encompasses discussion on writing as a career. As well as being an author, Joan has written newspaper and magazine articles; speeches; exhibit text; websites; and radio, video, and multi-media scripts, including animation. An early encounter with publishing at the age of 13 intrigues aspiring writers. Joan enjoys sharing her experiences and encouraging students in their own writing endeavors. She stresses the need for revision and elaborates on the writing process. Joan talks about finding story ideas and shows how she has applied her techniques to write about sky science and mythology. She uses storytelling to share ancient myths, interspersed with related astronomical facts.

Special Equipment:

Tripod to hold a magnetic whiteboard and a table to hold materials. Book Sales: Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Workshops

Students develop effective ways of expressing their creativity by building effective writing skills. Residencies focus on producing finished projects and generating excitement about writing. Workshop choices include fiction and non-fiction, a classroom newspaper, or a live, scripted radio show!

Practice, self-editing, and revision are emphasized. Workshops encourage students to develop and recognize their creative abilities. Confidence and self-esteem result.

• Kindergarten: oral storytelling activities
• Grades 1 and 2: Make a Fiction/Non-fiction Classroom Book
• Grades 3: Build a Story Bit by Bit
• Grades 4, 5, and 6: Publish a Classroom Newspaper!
• Junior or Senior High Residency: Grades 7 –12: Begin a Non-fiction Book
• Junior or Senior High Residency: Grades 7 –12: Run an In-School Radio Station
• Senior High Residency: Grades 10, 11, and 12: Write and Submit an Article
• Grades 4-12: Confidence and Creativity Building (how to juggle; creativity games)

Grades 1 and 2: Make a Fiction/Non-fiction Classroom Book
Fiction:

• discuss the factors required to make a story interesting
• show the process of developing ideas into stories
• create a story with the children by incorporating their ideas
• practice checking story for mistakes
• discuss how pictures help tell a story
• separate the story into pages the children will illustrate
• compile the drawings and story into a new book for the classroom or library

Non-fiction:

• discuss factors needed to make a non-fiction book interesting
• choose a non-fiction topic to develop
• show how to develop ideas into a book
• practice checking story for mistakes
• discuss how pictures help illustrate information
• separate the content into pages the children will illustrate
• compile the drawings and story into a new book for the classroom or library

Grade 3: Build a Story Bit by Bit
Project: Complete a variety of writing assignments to ultimately build an original story.

• discuss how to generate ideas
• discuss the elements of a story
• explain techniques for better writing
• practice writing through a variety of fun writing exercises that will spark imaginations and make writing fun (paragraphs written throughout residency)
• use the elements from the exercises to write a one and a half page story where the main character solves a problem
• discuss and practice self-editing
• the quantity and style of writing in this session will result in greater ease, comfort, and enthusiasm in tackling writing assignments

Grades 4, 5, and 6: Publish a Classroom Newspaper!
Project: Write content for compilation in a classroom newspaper.

• discuss what makes a story newsworthy
• discuss the elements of a news story
• discuss the inverted pyramid
• play a creativity game to lead groups into brainstorming
• discuss/practice writing and editing processes
• lead writing/editing of newspaper contents
• lead newspaper compilation

Book Sales:

Copies of books can be brought to be sold and autographed.

Biography

Joan Marie Galat lives near Edmonton, Alberta, where she operates MoonDot Media, a communications business offering writing and editing solutions in broadcast, print, and multi-media. A frequent presenter on astronomy, writing, and creativity, a focal point in Joan’s career was attending an international book festival in Seoul, where she gave presentations highlighting the Korean translations of Dot to Dot in the Sky.

Born in Washington D.C., Joan Marie Galat lived in Virginia, Alaska, and Maryland before her family settled in the Edmonton suburb of Sherwood Park when she was eight. As a child, she spent hours gazing at the night sky from her snow fort, and through car windows on long road trips.

Joan received an Ecology/Biological Sciences diploma from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She took English and psychology courses through Athabasca University, and creative writing through the University of Alberta Faculty of Extension. She worked in radio as an announcer, eventually turning to freelance projects. This encompassed CBC Radio reporting and writing multi-media and animation scripts, speeches for government officials, and exhibit text. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers.

Joan often visits schools, where she enjoys using storytelling to share her knowledge of the night sky. Her website at www.joangalat.com contains additional author information.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS:
Joan Marie Galat is a professional speech writer and public speaker accustomed to addressing groups of all sizes. She has conducted interactive presentations throughout Alberta, as well as in Vancouver, Toronto, and Seoul.

Content and length can be modified to suit your needs. Please inquire about booking a key-note speech or presentation on one of the following topics: