Conferences
One of the best parts of the authoring world is being able to network and share with other authors, illustrators, teachers, parents, media specialists, librarians, and literary professionals – to take the knowledge and experience one has accrued in this field of work and apply it to a methodology that can be shared with other adults to further the literacy and creativity of children.
Current Conference Sessions Available
Ryan has developed a few seminars based on detailed research, experience, and personal insight from his education and career. Below you will find detailed descriptions of Ryan's different programs for educators and other grown-ups, offering a few choices of different areas of interest:
Importance of Creativity in Education
A seminar for helping teachers, parents, and grown-ups help foster creativity in kids. (55 min. or 80 min. Perfect for teachers, parents, and media specialists)
Ryan is available to come to your conference or event for a practical and informative refresher for teachers, educators, and parents on how to identify when we are not fostering creativity in our students and tips on how to correct that. In this day and age, with curriculums getting tighter and tighter, we often, without realizing it, subconsciously ask children to put their creativity on the shelf. Its Ryan’s goal to remind educators how to break this cycle thru better examples. Ryan will discuss the benefits of fostering creativity in children – not only in art studies, but in regular curriculum as well. Using facts and research, examples will be shared of common misconceptions, and how to identify when we are inhibiting creativity & free expression and not even realizing it – and most importantly, how to break the chain to positively reinforce our students’ creative sparks. Recommended for Elementary Teachers.
Teaching with Comics and also Comics in Your Library
Using comic books and graphic novels as a beginning for reading, writing, and creativity. (55 min. or 80 min; or a full-content 3 hour preconference session. Perfect for retailers, teachers, parents, and media specialists)
"Comic books – they'll rot your brain!" Not likely! In fact, the fundamentals and dynamics found in comics can enhance a child's ability to perceive things visually. The format has proven to enhance a child's vocabulary & reading-comprehension and opens the door to advanced reading. So why do some consider them "taboo" or "less-than-literature"? There is a stigma that Ryan will seek to relieve. What really is a comic? How do I read them? "there aren't comics for me!" Ryan has answers! Sequential art? Graphic storytelling? Trade paperback? Ryan will talk about the differentiations between all these terms!
Ryan will present on dispelling the myths behind comics to help teachers, parents, and media specialists better understand them. Ryan will share how he fell in love with comics at an early age; and how that directly correlated to his pursuing a career in children's literature and all things creative. Ryan will talk about the history of comics, share great examples of comics that are perfect for kids of all ages, and how comics have greatly influenced other notable art forms.
Ryan wants to show adults how comics can be a wonderful resource; with a vast knowledge and experience with the genre, and proven track record on using them as educational tools, Ryan will present comics as a respected amalgam of art and literature. A fun experience full of facts and great visuals - for those who want to learn more, and for those that have reservations; Ryan's presentation hopes to enlighten, and open eyes to the wonder of comics!
