These fun, hands-on writing workshops have been kid-tested and teacher-approved. They take 45-60 minutes to teach, with one lesson (as noted) that takes 20-25 minutes to teach.  

For these hands-on writing workshops, Darleen likes to have a smaller group than her "author talks". She suggests two-four classes in one session at the most. (For her "author talks" she can speak to the entire school, if needed!) Darleen supplies the fun, the props and/or costumes and you supply the kids, paper, and pencils! Some lessons require food, as noted, which you will be expected to supply.

 NEW Fun Writing Workshops for 2024: 

Animal & Bug Poetry--Students have been doing this workshop with Darleen for years and years but she's recently updated this workshop with a new format, new PowerPoint, and it's a real hit with students once again. Based on the whimsical poetry of award-winning poet, Douglas Florian, students get a quick introduction to him and his poetry and then write their very own animal and bug poem using similes, metaphors, and descriptive writing techniques. Fun for all ages, especially 3rd-7th graders.

100-Word Micro-Memoir--Students are introduced to narrative writing skills with a discussion on the difference between biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, and micro-memoirs and will get the skills needed to write these fun 100-word jewels. Because of their short word length, students discover micro-memoirs are not intimidating to write, really fun, and a bit similar to Haiku. They'll read examples from student winners of an annual micro-memoir writing contest hosted by The New York Times and be informed of other student contests for micro-memoir writers. For students in 3rd - 12th grade. A full 50-60 minutes needed for this informative workshop that packs a powerful punch. 

 OKC Bombing--What Have We Learned? --connected to the statewide student essay writing contest, students will view a short video about the bombing, view newspaper clippings, discuss the problem of hate and violence, and write a persuasive essay about the positive things we can take away from this tragic event in Oklahoma history and what can be done to prevent future hate crimes. Details about how to enter their essay in the statewide writing contest will be provided. For students in 3rd-10th grades.   --Currently creating this workshop. Available after May 10th, 2024--

Diversity, Tolerance, & Acceptance--students will learn about the importance of diversity, tolerance, and acceptance of all people. They'll form their own opinions about creating a better world and write a persuasive essay about the importance of all races respecting one another and working together to make this world a better place.  For students in 3rd-10th grades.   --Currently creating this workshop. Available after May 17th, 2024--

 New Writing Workshops as of 2023: 

I HAVE A DREAM--Students will write a persuasive essay about their dream for the world after discussing and watching video portions of Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Fun for students in grades 3rd-12th. A very powerful and persuasive workshop that gets students thinking about their dreams, their hopes, their future. A perfect way to celebrate MLK Day.

POEMS OF PEACE--Students of all ages will write poems of peace based on the poetry book, Peaceful Pieces by award-winning author, Anna Grossnickle Hines. Students will discuss "peace" and what it means to them and to others, and then write persuasive poems about the peace they would like to see in the world and in their own lives. Perfect for students in grades 2nd-12th.  

TRIED-AND-TRUE HANDS-ON WRITING WORKSHOPS WHICH DARLEEN HAS DONE FOR YEARS COVERING NARRATIVE, DESCRIPTIVE, EXPOSITORY, and PERSUASIVE WRITING TECHNIQUES      

Nonfiction for Mummies-- Darleen shares a fun PowerPoint presentation about ancient Egyptian mummies. Then gives students a "fact sheet" with the actual facts they learned during the PowerPoint presentation.  Then students write a 5-paragraph, nonfiction essay about what they've learned. Emphasis will be on using research headings, the the three parts of an essay, and the "5Ws & H." For students in grades 4th-8th grades who are learning how to research and write informative/expository essays.  A full 60 minutes needed for this workshop.  

Music Music Montage -- This is Darleen’s MOST REQUESTED workshop. Students in 2nd through 12th grades explore the five senses and figurative language skills in this music-filled workshop where they interpret music in poetic montages. A feel-good, easy workshop that can be adjusted from 40 minutes to 60 minutes, depending on how many montages are written. A sure hit with students and teachers. Recently updated with a new PowerPoint that sets the mood for a toe-tapping good time.   

Famous Trees--Students will learn about Oklahoma's famous trees. Yes--Oklahoma has some famous trees worth writing about! Using "personification" students write a poem through a leaf's point of view using the 5-Senses and active verbs. This workshop has a quick, fun PowerPoint that goes along with it, showcasing Oklahoma's famous trees. Perfect for fall workshops when the trees are changing colors and vying for attention or for spring when trees are blooming and leafing out in all shades of green! For students in grades 3rd-6th, but can adapted for up to 12th grade.  Another hit with teachers and students!

Color Montage--similar to the above Music Montage, this workshop is based on the classic poetry book, Hailstones and Halibut Bones,by Mary O'Neill. Darleen leads students through a fun poetry workshop, using colors, the 5-Senses, similes, and metaphors. Perfect for most grade levels and a great tie-in for art and/or art appreciation. For students in 2-12 grades. Recently updated with a colorful PowerPoint that grabs students attention and pulls them into the workshop.

How to Eat an Oreo Cookie -- Students LOVE this "YOLO" workshop because let's face it:  "You Obviously Love Oreos!". In this delicious  workshop, students get to not only eat America's Favorite Cookie, but they also get to write an essay sequencing the steps they use to eat Oreos! Do they twist it? Lick it? Dunk it? Crunch it? You supply two Oreos per student and Darleen supplies the fun, the skills, and the Oreo costume. A tasty workshop which enforces the 5-Senses, sequencing, figurative language, expository writing, as well as five-paragraph essay writing. A MOST MOST REQUESTED workshop. 

Ready? Set? Write!—A Whole Slew of Essential Writing Skills Thrown into Five-Minute Timed Writings  --  By bringing up surprise objects from a ‘grab bag’, students in 3rd through 8th grades will have the opportunity to write in four different formats: Personal Narrative; Poetry; Character Sketches; & Personification. Mix in the five senses, similes, metaphors, dialogue, & characterization techniques and you have the recipe for creative writing success. This workshop can be adapted to fit the age level of the students. The older the students, the more skills introduced. VERY POPULAR WITH 5th GRADE UP! 

Mean, Screaming Machine -- Based on the roller coaster picture book, The Mean, Screaming Machine, by Joy Cowley, students in 3rd through 12th grades use the 5 Ws & H and the “Inverted Triangle” style of writing to write an article about a new amusement park coming to their town. Students will create and name their amusement parks, rides, daily entertainment, and delicious foods. You provide the cotton candy which makes this workshop even sweeter. Especially appropriate for older elementary and middle school students. High school students have also enjoyed this lesson. Perfect for MOST GRADE LEVELS!

When I was Young in (name of your town) – Based on the award-winning picture book, When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant, students in 3rd through 8th grades write a five-paragraph autobiography. For the younger students,  Darleen wears an old-fashioned dress & bonnet. Hands down A TEACHER’S FAVORITE.  Many teachers combine this workshop with an “All About Me” poster or sack. 

So You Want to be a Superhero? -- Students write a silly story about turning into a superhero using fun sound words and active verbs. Perfect for the kids who love Captain Underpants and Marvel superheros. Darleen provides the superhero music, while you provide the students who want to fight injustice of all kinds--like having to eat Brussels Sprouts, having to clean their bedrooms, and having to do yucky homework. For students in 3rd - 6th grades.  Kids LOVE the super hero music that goes with this workshop!

Yummy to my Tummy – Another MOST REQUESTED workshop that is perfectly suited for students in Kindergarten to 5th grades. Students celebrate the color of their skin, eyes, and hair by writing yummy poems where they turn themselves into food from their head to their toes.  Darleen supplies the Mr. Goodbar costume and you supply a bite-sized candy bar for each student. Fun, yummy, creative—you can’t go wrong with this student favorite. A special easy format provided just for K & 1st-grade writers. Another easy format provided for 2 & 3rd grade writers. Can do this workshop in 20-30 minutes, if needed, or can extend to 45-minutes by writing two poems. 

Amazing Places -- This workshop covers MANY writing techniques--based on the nostalgic picture book, In My Mama's Kitchen, by Jirdine Nolen, students write an essay about a special place they like to visit such as a secret hide-out, a vacation destination, a garden where they like to pick strawberries, a rock they like to sit on, etc. An all-inclusive workshop which covers narrative, descriptive, and even expository writing techniques, figurative language, and the five-senses. This workshop is perfect for ALL ages of students. Darleen has a special form for Pre-K & K student writers and another form for 1st & 2nd grade writers which will help them write their essays. A full 45-50 minutes required. One of Darleen’s favorite workshops. Recently updated with a beautiful PowerPoint that helps students to appreciate the special places in their lives.

Scared to Death – Based on Darleen’s picture book, Twister, students in 3rd through 12th grades write a first-person narrative story telling of a time they were ‘scared to death.’  Emphasis will be on students writing their own personal, true story written in first-person point of view and in sequence. This workshop generates LOTS of interesting stories and is the writing equivalent to sitting around the campfire sharing spooky tales. (Could be combined with making S’mores!) Perfect for ALMOST ALL GRADE LEVELS! One of Darleen's favorites. Recently updated with a PowerPoint that gets students talking about weather, natural disasters, and overcoming the things life throws in our paths. 

What If? – Based on the funny picture book, Imogene's  Antlers by  David Small, students in 3rd through 8th grades write a story about waking up to find they have grown an animal part during the night, such as a tail, wings, scales, etc. For younger students, Darleen wear’s rabbit ears. Emphasis is on sequential writing, descriptive techniques, and just having fun with language. A STUDENTS’ & TEACHERS’ FAVORITE. Darleen has probably taught this workshop at least a hundred times and it never gets old. It's still just as fun and informative today as it was 25 years ago! 

Almost Forgotten--In this workshop, based on the historical picture book, Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, students in 4th through 12th grades remember a special toy/stuffed animal/action figure that they used to love but no longer play with and write a narrative essay using personification to write from the toy's viewpoint.  NOTE: This workshop requires at least 50 minutes and preferably 60 minutes to teach. A long lesson BUT well worth it. Perfect for units on the Underground Railroad, too. 

Recipe for a Successful Story --  Darleen compares writing stories to cooking. Just like a recipe with specific ingredients, a story also has ingredients and if students follow the writing recipe they’re sure to have a successful story. By the end of this workshop, students will have completed a story outline and will be ready to write a story. By taking students, step-by-step, through this recipe, they are more able to approach writing as a process rather than one large, scary task. This workshop is especially appropriate for older students in middle school through high school, and/or gifted & talented students at the upper elementary level. A TEACHERS’ FAVORITE.  Darleen’s most in-depth workshop—requires a full 60-70 minutes. 

Monster Menu—This workshop is especially fun to do at Halloween time but is a TOTAL STUDENTS’ FAVORITE year round. Appropriate for 2nd through 6th grades, students use a creepy monster menu format to write menus for monsters. Students will feel like they’re getting away with something ‘naughty’ when creating such yucky foods as “Spaghetti and Eyeballs”, “Chocolate-covered Spiders”, and “Bloody Toenails” that they won’t realize they’re actually learning valuable writing skills. A fun workshop that wins hands-down for creativity and ability to excite students—especially reluctant boy writers. You provide the gummy worms and Darleen provides the fun dose of descriptive writing. This workshop wins the ‘Slightly Gross Stamp of Approval’ Award.

Creepy Crawly Poetry--Perfect for Halloween time. Based on Douglas Florian's picture book, Insectlopedia, students write poems using the 5-Senses, similes, metaphors and descriptive writing techniques. Kids love the colorful and sometimes even 'gross' bugs featured on her PowerPoint and you'll love the creative poems they produce! For 2nd-6th grades.

If I Were Green—Based on the picture book, Green as a Bean by Karla Kuskin, students write a poem about all the things they could be if they were something else.  Emphasis is on creativity and imagination. A fun lesson, appropriate for all ages from Kindergarten through 5th grades, with a special easy format just for K-2nd grade writers.

Something Beautiful -- Based on the poignant picture book, Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, students write a narrative essay describing the ‘something beautiful’ in their lives. Darleen brings show-and-tell items of her 'something beautifuls' to generate a discussion how everyone has something beautiful in their life. A gentle and touching lesson that reinforces the value of family relationships, love, and memories, while giving students a healthy dose of narrative writing skills. Darleen’s favorite workshop. A teachers' favorite workshop--hands down! Students love it, too! Recently updated with a touching PowerPoint that gets students thinking about the people in their lives and the things they leave behind. Perfect for students in 3rd through 12th grade. 

If I Had a Dragon – Based on the picture book by Tom & Amanda Ellery, students in Kindergarten through 6th grades write an essay of what would happen if they had an unusual pet.  Since most students love animals, this is the perfect lesson to capture their attention, spark their creativity, and show them that writing can be as fun as a barrel of monkeys—or any other animal they chose to write about! A special easy-to-write format provided just for K-2nd grade writers. 

So Long Summer – Perfect for fall writing workskhops--students in 2nd through 12th grades welcome the arrival of autumn with a goodbye poem to dear, old summer using rhyme and the 5-Senses to welcome autumn. Based on the poetry book, Summersaults, by Douglas Florian and other summertime poetry books, students focus on the 5-Senses AND creating rhyme. This workshop can be adjusted to fit the passing of other seasons and makes a great tie-in for changing of the seasons. See related workshops below . . . 

So Long Autumn –similar to the "So Long Summer" workshop above, but students write a goodbye poem to dear, old autumn, welcoming winter. 

So Long Winter—similar to the "So Long Summer" workshop above, but students write a goodbye poem to dear, old winter welcoming spring. 

So Long Spring--similar to the "So Long Summer" workshop above, but students write a goodbye poem to dear, old spring welcoming summer.

My Crazy Christmas –Students in 2nd through 6th grades write an extremely SILLY story about the customs surrounding Christmas, based on the popular picture book, The Dumb Bunnies Christmas by Dav Pilkey. This lesson can also be adjusted to fit almost any holiday. Students LOVE feeling like they’re ‘getting away with being super silly’ when teachers know what they’re really getting away with is essential writing skills. A definite crowd-pleaser, especially with younger boys who appreciate Dav Pilkey humor.

My Crazy Thanksgiving—see above

My Crazy Halloween—see above

My Crazy New Year’s Eve—see above

My Crazy Easter—see above

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! --  Students in 2nd through 8th grades write about a time they got into trouble for not cleaning their room, not walking the dog, not mowing the yard, etc. They'll use the 5Ws & H and the ‘Inverted Triangle’ form of writing to create funny but true articles telling off on themselves! They’ll create such headlines as: DYLAN  DIDN’T DO DISHES! SARA SENT TO ROOM FOR ARGUING! GREYSON GOES BANANAS OVER WALKING THE DOG! Just a fun, fun workshop that the students love.  

Gizmos & Gadgets -- students in 3rd through 12th grades become inventors and write a five-paragraph expository advertisement about a weird & wacky invention they would like to make--machines that do their homework, a tree that actually grows dollar bills, a magical closet that dresses them and fixes their hair in 2-minutes flat, a pencil that knows the correct answers for tests--explaining how they would make it, how it would work, and why a perspective customer would want to purchase it. Based on the nonfiction book, Mistakes that Worked, by Charlotte Foltz Jones, students are introduced to nonfiction writing skills with an ‘advertising’ twist! Fun for even the older students!

 Mr. Pusskins—Based on the picture book, Mr. Pusskins by Sam Lloyd, students in 2nd through 6th grades write a persuasive letter. A fun workshop students will enjoy which combines their love of animals (even animals who run away from home!) with a spoonful of tasty, essential writing skills. Younger students will also have the fun of drawing a “WANTED” poster to go with their letters.

I Refuse -- This workshop is based on a silly poem written by Shel Silverstein about a girl who refuses to do her chores. Students in 3rd through 8th grades write a similar rhyming poem about a chore they particularly hate doing, such as washing dishes, taking out the trash, mowing the yard, babysitting little brother, etc. While students air their dislike for chores, they’re actually learning to use strong verbs, adjectives, similes, and rhyming to create a silly poem that's extremely fun to read aloud. Recently updated with a fun, FUN PowerPoint that gets the students discussing all the chores they hate AND what might happen if they refuse to do that chore! 

Cute—Students write a fun story about an animal who wants to change his image. Emphasis will be on writing in sequence, using dialogue, and creating a twist or surprise ending. Based on the picture book, Cute. For students in 4-8th grades. Might work for older students, too, just haven't tried it out on high school students yet.

Recipe for an Unusual Sandwich – Students in 2nd through 6th grades write a wacky recipe based on a silly poem in Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. This is one of Darleen’s shortest workshops—can be taught in 20-25 minutes. If you want to make this a 50-60-minute workshop, it can be combined with an in-depth Q&A session or the Animal & Bug Poetry workshop listed above. Shortest Workshop Award!

Click, Clack, Moo – Based on the Caldecott Honor Book, Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, students write a descriptive story in sequence, showing what happens when their own pets go on strike.  A fun lesson your students in 4th through 6th grades will enjoy.