Bring Robert Pottle to Your School!

Robert Pottle is a former teacher turned full-time poet living in Levant, ME. His funny poetry appears in five Meadowbrook Press anthologies and an anthology by Scholastic. He has authored four books of his own poetry including Moxie Day and Family and MAINE: The Way Wildlife Should Be published by Blue Lobster Press. He also co-authored Tinkle, Tinkle, Little Tot. Robert begins his school visits with a large assembly with electrifying poetry performances. Then he visits your classrooms to inspire each and every student to read and write poetry.

Home: Levant, ME

Travels to: Robert travels anywhere he’s invited.

Booking: Click here to contact Robert Pottle about a visit to your school. 

Robert has written: MAINE: The Way Life Is, Moxie Day and Family, Moxie Day the Prankster, and MAINE: The Way Wildelife Should Be

Poems appear in: Miles of Smiles, If Kids Ruled the School, Rolling in the Aisles, Tinkle, Tinkle, Little Tot, Oh My Darling, Porcupine, The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Kids Vol II, If I Ran the School, and My Teacher's in Detention.

Learn More about Robert's School Visits at: www.robertpottle.com/visits

Contact Robert: Contact Info
 

Rates for Schools in Maine

Half-Day Visit: $250 plus travel and other expenses
One-Day Visit: $450 plus travel and other expenses
Two-Day Residency: $800 plus travel and other expenses
One-Week Residency: $1,800 plus travel and other expenses
Evening Event: $200 (available only when you book a school visit)

Rates for Schools Outside of Maine

Half-Day Visit: $500 plus travel and other expenses
One-Day Visit: $950 plus travel and other expenses
Two-Day Residency: $1,500 plus travel and other expenses
One-Week Residency: $3,400 plus travel and other expenses
Evening Event: $200 (available only when you book a school visit)

Biography

Robert Pottle is the author of four books of hilarious children's poetry, and his poems appear in Miles of Smiles, If Kids Ruled the School, Rolling in the Aisles, Tinkle, Tinkle, Little Tot , Oh My Darling, Porcupine, If I Ran the School, and My Teacher's in Detention. Robert spent ten years as a first-grade teacher and now shares his passion and enthusiasm for learning in schools everywhere. Robert lives in Levant, ME, with his wife and two children. He enjoys camping and other outdoor activities. He also enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for poetry with children.

Learn More about Robert's School Visits at: www.robertpottle.com/visits
Contact Robert: Contact Info

Event Descriptions

Performances

Laugh Along Poetry (pre K-6th, 45 min.) Given to large groups, frequently at schools, libraries, and festivals. Robert dramatically performs his hilarious poetry and stories.

Wicked Good Poetry (pre K-6th, 45 min.) Given to large groups, frequently at schools, libraries, and festivals. Similar to the Laugh Along Poetry performance, but with more of a Maine focus.Classroom Presentations

The Bus (grades 3rd-6th, 20 min.) Ride along and watch the creation of a poem through many revisions to finished poem. Students will learn about Robert’s creative process and the revision process.

Small Group Performance (K-6th, 20 min.) Poems are preformed in a small-group setting, allowing for more interaction and questions.

Act Along (K-3rd, 20 min.) Group participation poetry. Students will have fun acting out poems as Robert reads.

Acting Out (4th-6th grades, 20 min.) Group participation poetry. Students will learn about volume, speaking speed, and movement as they perform various poems.

Behind the Poems (4th-6th grades, 20 min.) Stories about events that inspired the poems. This presentation assumes that students are familiar with Robert’s poetry either through his books or through a poetry performance.

Question and Answer (3rd-6th grades, 20 min.) Students decide the direction of the presentation. If the class has worked in advance to come up with some creative questions, this open format is very memorable and educational for the students.

Write with Robert (2nd-6th grades, 40 min.) Students help Robert write his next poem. Students will be guided through the early stages of idea development for a poem. Students will pick a topic and research it before Robert’s visit. Robert will then rely on his class of experts to help him brainstorm ideas, generate rhymes, and begin a new poem. Robert will keep the class posted on any progress of the poem after his visit.

Writing Workshops

Crazy Farm (K-1st grade, 20 min.) Children will participate in a rhyming exercise that enhances phonemic awareness. The rhymes students think up will then be used to create a funny fill-in-the-blank rhyming poem.

Haiku (2nd-6th grades, 20 min.) Students will learn how to write a haiku through an animated digital presentation. Robert will then assist the students in writing their own haikus. Students will learn about revision, counting syllables, and the difference between haikus and senryus.

Cinquain (3rd-6th grades, 20 min.) Students will learn how to write a cinquain through an animated digital presentation. Robert will then assist the students in writing their own cinquain. Students will learn about the revision process, counting syllables, and mathematical patterns found in a cinquain.

Clerihew (4th-6th grades, 20 min.) Students will learn how to write a clerihew through an animated digital presentation. Robert will then assist the students in writing their own clerihew. Students will learn about revision, rhyming, and the appropriate use of humor.

Limerick (5th-6th grades, 20 min.) Students will learn how to write a limerick through an animated digital presentation. Robert will then assist the students in writing their own limericks. Students will learn about revision, metrical feet, and stressed syllables.

Poetry Publisher

(Prices may vary; ask for details.)

This is an exciting new program. Students learn about the publishing process by doing it! From writing to revising to editing to printing, students learn by taking part in the process. In the end, students will have a professionally typeset and bound book of their own poetry.

First, students get pumped up about poetry through poetry performances. Next, students learn how to write various forms of poetry through animated digital presentations (see above for details). Students then learn about and practice the process of revision. When the poems are complete, they are entered into an easy to use on-line form. The school will then get a printed “dummy” copy of the book for editing. When the book has been edited, it is sent to Blue Lobster Press, who has the book printed and bound.

Workshops for Educators

Crazy about Poetry demonstrates how to get students excited about poetry and explains the benefits of doing so.

Keynote Speeches

Do It Now—The Power of Words: A motivational speech to inspire writers both young and old.

Learn More about Robert's School Visits at: www.robertpottle.com/visits
Contact Robert: Contact Info

Testimonials

"Robert Pottle's presentation and style were wonderful. He had the children engaged and laughing with his enthusiasm and animation. All kids and teachers can relate to his poems."
—Jackie Boothby, second-grade teacher, Ella Lewis School

"My kindergarten children really enjoyed Mr. Pottle's visit to our school. His funny rhyming poetry is something we share everyday. It's wonderful how one author can really get kids fired up. They've all decided to be poets when they grow up!"
—Joy Rancourt, kindergarten teacher, Leroy H. Smith School

"Robert Pottle is an entertaining and informative speaker. The love of his craft and knowledge of the writing process are amply apparent. A real pleasure to have him in the classroom and school."
—Scott A. Johnson, seventh grade teacher, Eastport Elementary School

"Robert Pottle came to visit Our school. He is the Best poet we Ever met. We Really liked The big blue hat and the Poems he has written. Our favorites are The one about being embarrassed and The one about Captain Cootie underwear. Little does he know how much Everyone enjoyed his visit!"
—Mr. Leighton's first-grade class, Searsport Elementary School

"Mr. Pottle's presentation was joyous! He brought poetry to life for my students. It is important that first graders see that authors are real people and not just another picture in their story books. Mr. Pottle's presentation was so alive and real that one of my students wanted to finish a 'book' he was writing, so he could sit in 'the teacher's chair' and read it like Mr. Pottle did. The first graders chatted about Mr. Pottle, his poems, and personal experiences the poems reminded them of, long after he was gone."
—Joanne Beal, first-grade teacher, Ella Lewis School

"No Foolin'
His April first visit was such a blast!
We wanted his visit to last and last.
His poems and hats we found quite funny;
We giggled a lot and had a sore tummy."
—Mrs. Yeaton and her third-grade class, Cape Cod Hill School

"Being a teacher himself, Robert Pottle certainly knows how to hold the attention of his audience (the kids). He makes poetry understandable and fun for 'kids' of all ages. My students were all ready to participate and 'act out' a poem during the workshop session by grade level."
—Steven F Douglas, fifth-grade teacher, Leroy H. Smith School

"Mr. Pottle was very engaging for all classes from K-6. He presented wonderful poetry for sharing. Then in separate workshops was able to show students how a poem was thought of, worked through, and developed. He was inspiring to students and teachers alike!"
—Myrna J. Robinson, writing teacher, 4-6 grades, Cape Cod Hill School

"Robert Pottle presented his poetry in a lively and entertaining manner. His poems were well-suited for all ages, from kindergarteners to teachers in our school. We would be happy to have him come back." (In fact, Ella Lewis School did have Robert return for another visit the very next year.)
—Darlene Dowling, Ella Lewis School

"Mr. Pottle,
I had to take just a moment of your time to say thank you. I have twin daughters, and one of my daughters has learning disabilities (ADHD, LD, and OCD) and reading is very hard and frustrating for her. Last month she brought home your book Maine: The Way Life Is, and she read the book over and over. Today she came home from school and told me she got to meet you, and she had a copy of Moxie Day and Family. Keep in mind that when my daughter normally reads she will pick up a book, any book, read 1-5 pages, then put the book down, but not with your books. My 10-year-old read me EVERY poem in Moxie Day and Family today and wanted to do it again, but it was bed time. Again, thank you for your wonderfully entertaining books. You are so keyed in to what keeps the attention and imagination of children. I hope to see more books in the future. Thank you again for taking the time for the children."
—C. MacLeod, parent

Learn More about Robert's School Visits at: www.robertpottle.com/visits
Contact Robert: Contact Info

Sample Poem

I Ripped My Pants at School Today

I ripped my pants at school today
while going down the slide.
It wasn't just a little tear
I ripped 'em open wide,

Now everyone at school can see
my purple underwear.
Although the sight makes people laugh
I'm glad I've got them there.

© 2004 by Robert Pottle. Reprinted from If Kids Ruled the School (Meadowbrook Press).