School Visits
My favorite part of being an author is meeting readers! I would love to come to your school and talk to your students and inspire them to read and write. Here is a one-pager with an overview about my speaking services.
The Impact of Author Visits:
A nation-wide survey of 600 educators who hosted an author at their school reported these benefits:
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91% reported the author visit motivated students to read more
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75% reported the author visit inspired creativity and expression
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70% reported the author visit motivated students to write more
What's your presentation like?
I try my best to make my presentations as engaging and interactive as possible. Besides being educational, I want my presentations to be fun and inspiring.
What do you talk about?
I have three presentations: "Read, Write, Dream Big", "Language Arts Live!", and "How to Be an Author". Learn more here. I can also tweak my presentation to meet the school's needs. For example, incorporating PBIS values or the school motto (kindness, responsibility, etc.).
Who is it for?
The Waldameer Mystery Files series is for readers 8-12, so I typically speak at elementary schools to 2nd-5th grade students. I like speaking to adults too and would love to present at your teacher conference or community group!
Do you travel?
Absolutely! I live in Richmond, Virginia, but I often travel for school visits.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the event you have in mind and where you're located. Contact me and we can discuss more. But here is a one-pager with an overview of pricing options. If you're an Erie school looking to cut costs, try booking me when I am already in Erie to avoid paying a travel fee. Or team up with a second school and split my travel fee. Contact me about my current travel schedule or my Upcoming Events page.
Do you do virtual visits?
Yep! I even offer free 15-minute virtual classroom visits. Click here to request one.
Do you have any teacher resources?
Yes. Each book has a Discussion Guide printed in the back for easy lesson planning. Each presentation comes with worksheets for teachers to use if they want to continue their students' learning. I also have comprehension tests. for libraries, free writing prompts to download, and an audiobook of my first book for teachers who want to use it for read-alouds!
Praise for David Gorman's School Visits
"David was quick to respond to emails and requests, making planning a breeze. On the day of his visit, David presented to our 2nd-5th grade classes as part of our Title 1 Family Involvement initiative. David accepted pre-orders for his books AND he personalized/signed each book ordered. Finally, David presented after school in a community-wide event that gathered over 100 attendants (mostly students and their families)! During the event, David sold and signed many more of his books (so many, in fact, that there was literally a line out of the door). The feedback from the community was amazing!"
- Katie Goodwill, 4th Grade Title 1, Corry Intermediate School
"The Harbor Creek School District was excited to have author David Gorman join us for an entire day. He traveled to Klein, Clark, and Rolling Ridge Elementary to talk with hundreds of excited kids. The students learned so much...Mr. Gorman played a fun game with them and answered all of their questions. He was our guest speaker that same night for the 4th grade student author celebration where he discussed overcoming obstacles to pursue your passions to over 300 students and families."
- Mr. Young, Elementary Library & Technology Teacher, Clark, Klein, & Rolling Ridge Elementary
"Grandview Elementary School loved having David Gorman visit on March 2nd- Read Across America Day! Mr. Gorman arrived early so he could set up and greet the children as they entered the building. He spoke to our primary and intermediate students separately with two interactive presentations. The students loved learning about Mr. Gorman’s amazing books...playing a Waldameer guessing game, and asking their own questions at the end! During that same evening, Mr. Gorman came to Grandview’s Barnes & Noble Bookfair and got to have a meet and greet with our students. He signed books for them and interacted with families."
- Mrs. Burdick, Title 1 Reading Specialist, Grandview ES
"My second-grade class loves reading The Waldameer Mystery Series. We just started the 3rd book. Mr. Gorman's visit was the highlight of our year! We can't wait for our field trip to Waldameer in the spring!"
- Mrs. Goss, 2nd Grade Teacher, St. Jude School
"I checked out Mr. Gorman's first novel from the local library, and it was our family read-aloud before bedtime. We moved quickly through the chapters because my son was always eager to move through the twisting plot to get to the exciting resolution. Having this personal experience with my own child led me to reach out to Mr. Gorman about planning a district-wide Title I event where our students would be offered a copy of his novel. Mr. Gorman put together a video for our students and families that brought his book together with the other components of our event. We have heard nothing except compliments about the event."
- Ms. DeFrances, Reading Teacher, Cambridge Springs ES
