Joan Marie Galat

Consider inviting best selling and award winning Dot to Dot in the Sky author Joan Marie Galat to deliver author presentations, writing workshops, and career presentations at your school or library. You students will discover the excitement of astronomy and mythology, as well as helpful story writing and self-editing techniques. 

First published at the age of 13, Joan encourages students to realize their writing dreams and points out the importance of being a good writer in all careers. Suitable for different grade levels, Joan's presentations are especially relevant to science and social studies curriculums that explore the night sky, Greek history, and mythology from around the world.  

Students come away from Joan’s presentations excited about writing and ready to explore the night sky on their own. They develop a greater awareness of how myths and legends have been used to explain the mysteries of the universe.

Schools are welcome to invite parents to Joan’s presentations. 

RATES 

Joan would love to visit your school. Her rates are: 

• $500.00 for 2 one-hour sessions, plus GST and $150.00 toward expenses (total=$675.00/half day) 
  
• $1000.00 for 4 one-hour sessions, plus GST and $150.00 toward expenses (total=$1205.00/day) 
  

Savings: Find another school to host Joan to receive a discount. 
 

TEACHER AND LIBRARIAN COMMENTS 

The grade 4/5 students from Manor Park School who attended Joan's presentation at St-Laurent really enjoyed it. The combination of factual information, storytelling, background on Joan's childhood, writing process, and participatory activities was really effective. She had the young audience's full attention.
                                                                     Megan Clare, St. Laurent Library                                                                                                                                                          

Joan Marie Galat captivated the students with her informative yet entertaining description of the stars and mythological stories.  She is a gifted presenter.
 
                                                Lori Fielding, Carp Branch, Ottawa Public Library 

Joan is a great storyteller. She held all 75 kids attention as she told ancient tales of the stars and moon. She brought out the curiosity of the audience, as they asked thoughtful questions about her works. The teachers were thrilled that Joan's talk and her books were curriculum related for grades 4 and 5. I personally bought three of Joan's books and one teacher bought four titles. I would have Joan again.
                                                             Sandra Burke, Ruth E. Dickinson Library

Joan Galat, author of Dot to Dot in the Sky gave an outstanding set of presentations to Ecole Meridian Heights School. This versatile author was able to connect with each of her four diverse audiences (K-9). As well as talking about her book with regard to stars, constellations, and mythology, she shared secrets of publishing which captured their attention-especially of the division 3 students. We highly recommend this author to your school or classroom.

                                                                              École Meridian Heights School 

Joan Galat held everyone’s attention for a full hour, changing the topic, changing the pace, and involving the students. Dot to Dot in the Sky keeps appearing during independent reading times. Students are really interested in the stars and the stories.

                                                                                     Norwood Elementary School

ASTRONAUT COMMENTS  

“Looking up at the Moon has inspired explorers and dreamers for eons, floating as a beacon of endless mystery. It lured me into space. The largest Dot in the night sky is the Moon, and its facts and mysteries are beautifully connected in Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Moon.” 

Chris Hadfield, astronaut 

“This is an excellent book. It’s very interesting to read about the mythological stories behind the names of the planets of our solar system, as well as the planetary facts. I appreciate that Joan Marie Galat is very careful in making the important distinction between the myths and the facts of what we know today. I believe that star gazers of all ages will be fascinated by these stories.”

Julie Payette, astronaut 

As a Sagittarian, was I predestined to coach university archery and to be launched like an arrow into the sky? Mythology and astronomy will always connect ancient lives to ours and Dot to Dot in the Sky is a remarkable story of how and why.                                                 

Roberta Bondar
scientist, physician, astronaut, photographer

 
PUBLISHED BOOKS

 
Whitecap Books

• Day Trips From Edmonton, 2009
• Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Zodiac, 2007

• Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Moon, 2004

• Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Planets, 2003
• Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Star, 2001        

 
Scholastic Canada, Markham

Literacy Place for the Early Years—Children’s educational, info-fiction fantasy:

• Dr. Bufflehead Explores Energy, 2006, 20 pages
• Dr. Bufflehead Explores Dirt, 2006, 16 pages

HONOURS AND AWARDS 

Day Trips from Edmonton

• Six weeks on the Edmonton Journal bestseller list, including one week as number one 
  

Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Zodiac

• Gold Moonbeam Award (science/activity category)
• Canadian Authors Association Exporting Alberta Award
• Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award nomination (winner to be announced)
• semi-finalist in the Calgary Public Library Foundation Literary Awards
• Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens
• Edmonton Public School Board recommended title 
  

Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Moon

• Winner of the Writers Guild of Alberta R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature
• Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice selection
• Edmonton Public School Board recommended title  
  

Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories of the Planets

• Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice selection
• shortlisted for 2004 Rocky Mountain Book Award
• Edmonton Public School Board recommended title  
  

Dot to Dot in the Sky, Stories in the Stars

• Bestseller
• Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice selection
• Edmonton Public School Board recommended title

 
 
PRESENTATIONS 
 
Maximum size: 75 students

Length: one hour

Requirements:

• table to put materials on
• magnetic whiteboard
• markers

Grades K-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 exploring the mysteries of the night sky on their own.  

Joan's presentation also includes reading from Dr. Bufflehead Explores Energy or Dr. Bufflehead Explores Dirt, with discussion on the differences between fact and fiction. She talks about how to find ideas to write and tell stories, and asks for audience interaction when telling a final story, developed using the tips described. A question and answer period follows. 

The grand finale 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!  

An activity sheet is provided. 
 

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 enthusiasm for sky science is contagious and leaves audiences 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 reinforced when Joan shows rough copies of Stories in the Stars and elaborates on the writing process. Joan shares techniques on finding story ideas and includes time for a question and answer period. 

The grand finale 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!  

School visits include a package for the teacher containing activity sheets, as well as a list of publishers who consider submissions by young people.  
 

Grades 7-9: Password to Publishing 

This junior high presentation is launched with celestial storytelling—aimed at captivating the audience with the wonder of words. It expands to tell the personal story of a junior high student who wanted to be a writer and came to be published at the age of 13. This presentation explores the challenges, joys, and surprises of the writing life, as well as the path Joan followed to become an author. 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 pursuing a dream. Joan elaborates on the importance of effective writing, no matter what profession a student wishes to pursue. A question and answer period follows the presentation. 
 
 
Grades 10-12: Writing as a Career 

In this presentation for senior high students, Joan Marie Galat expands on the junior high content described above. She discusses writing as a career, sharing her experience writing newspaper and magazine articles; speeches; exhibit text; websites; and radio, video, and multi-media scripts; animation, and corporate content.  

Joan talks about finding story ideas and shows how she applies these techniques. She uses storytelling to demonstrate the power of stories for communication, then encourages students to consider the importance of the various forms stories take in their own culture. Discussion addresses how students can learn to listen, react, and create their own personal stories for entertainment or persuasion. A question and answer period follows.

 
 
Family Audience 

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 attendees interested in exploring the mysteries of the night sky on their own. 
 

WRITING WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS 

Maximum size: one class

Length: up to two hours

Fee: $400.00 plus GST and $150.00 toward expenses

Savings: Find another school to host Joan to receive a discount. 

 
Storytelling (grades K-2)

Oral storytelling is the first step to story writing. This workshop explores the differences between stories that are true and those that are make-believe.  
 
Every student is invited to tell a personal memory and participate as the class makes up a story together. 
 

Write an Alphabet Book (grades 1-3)

A good alphabet book is more than just a list of letters and words. Elementary students explore the A to Z of following a theme to write an alphabet book, as we create a fun alphabet-based story together. Dictionaries and imaginations required. 
 

What’s the Big Idea? (grades 3-6) 

How do you help students write a story when they don’t know how to begin? And once they start, how should they end the thing?  

This workshop helps students think of ideas, overcome the first blocks to writing, and get thoughts organized. Students discover how to create an idea list, outline their choice, and get started with a powerful first sentence. The session begins with a fun creativity game that sets the mood for muse!  
 

Create a Myth (grades 3-6)

Ancient myths were first told to explain things people did not understand. Students discover how to use their own curiosity to  
write a story that makes sense of a mysterious occurrence. 
 

Write a Newspaper Article (grades 3-6)

Reporters get to ask all the nosy questions they want! In Write a Newspaper Article, students learn how to ask the best questions, write headlines, sequence information, and hook readers with news that interests their audience.

This workshop provides participants with the opportunity to find out the answers to: Why isn't recess longer? How can students organize a ski trip? Who decides what will be on the hot lunch menu?

Write an Editorial (grades 7-9) 

Junior high students learn how to defend their opinions through editorial writing that reacts to a timely news event or expresses an opinion. Students may discover how to persuade readers to accept their points of view or they may write to inform, promote, entertain, or offer praise on a subject of personal interest. 
 

WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS

 
Maximum size: 20

Length: varies

Fee: 
- up to two hours: $300.00 plus GST and $150.00 toward expenses 
- four hours or longer: price/person depends on number of participants (plus GST and $150.00 toward expenses) 
Savings: Find another venue to host Joan to receive a discount. 

Consider these workshops or request a topic specific to your needs.

Write Effective Email (75 minutes) 
 
Email can take up more time than you have to give. Discover easy-to-incorporate tips for effective email use and reduce the clutter in your Inbox.  
 
Topics include how to: 
 - choose when email is the best communication tool 
 - ensure your tone is not misunderstood 
 - encourage action 
 - discourage unnecessary email

 
 
Plain Language Writing: Say What You Mean (four hours)

 
Learn how to communicate in language your readers understand. Topics covered include defining and targeting your audience, clear and concise writing, editing for style, and evaluating your own work. This interactive writing workshop includes practical exercises that reinforce writing techniques.  
 

Use Stories to Teach Science (75 minutes)

 
Using astronomy as an example, Joan Marie Galat discusses the power of storytelling and how you can use it to gain and hold your students’ interest in scientific topics. Both an entertaining and thought provoking method for transferring facts and ideas, storytelling stimulates discussion, as well as enabling students to retain greater amounts of information. Discover how to make it work for you. 
 

Use Stories to Make a Point (75 minutes) 

Using stories to communicate is a timely and relevant topic to those who care about leadership, as well as anyone interested in a refreshing approach to improving communication. Storytelling provides an affable method of transferring facts and ideas, and enables audiences to retain greater amounts of information.  

This engaging keynote illustrates the value of using particular styles of stories to deliberately and effectively make a point and persuade students, colleagues, and others to take appropriate action. 
 

Release Your Creativity (75 minutes) 

What if you don’t have to be born creative? Is it possible you only need to develop and practice certain habits that lead to creative thinking? This talk offers insights on enhancing your ability to develop creative and effective solutions to problems—both in personal and workplace settings. Expressing your creativity is more than fun, it is essential to success. 
 

Juggle in an Hour and Pass it On (60 minutes) 

Why juggle? It's a confidence builder because anyone can learn to do it, providing you come to the workshop expecting that you really can juggle. Learn to juggle three beanbags, believe in your potential, and pass this confidence on to your students.