Publicizing David Schwartz's Visit to Your School

The attached press release can be sent to local media to publicize David’s upcoming visit.   Before sending, replace the highlighted text with the appropriate information for your school or library.   Remember to remove both the highlighting and the underlining before printing or saving.

It is presented in the traditional format for press releases (e.g., no paragraph indents, three number signs (###) at the end).

DISTRIBUTION TIPS:

  • Send out 3 to 4 weeks in advance of David’s scheduled appearance.
  • Send your release to only one person per news outlet.
  • Identify the best person to receive the press release by calling weekly and daily newspapers in your area. Try to learn their deadlines and how they prefer to receive press releases (snail mail, fax or email). Be sure to get the correct spelling of the person’s name and email address. If the newspaper has a standing section that covers school-related news, ask for the name of the editor for that section. Another possibility is a feature article. You might look in the paper for similar features and contact the reporter.
  • Additional places to send the press release:
    • Radio stations
    • Television stations
    • Public relations specialist at the school or district office
    • Funding agencies or local foundations involved in funding this event, or who might potentially be interested in funding future events at the school
    • Newsletter of the local librarian’s association
    • School superintendent’s office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

(Name)

(Street Address)

(City, State, Zip)

(Phone number)

(Email address)

Note to Photographers:  The most photogenic part of the program is near the end.

AUTHOR MAKES MATH MEANINGFUL-AND FUN-FOR CHILDREN

(Date, CITY, STATE) — Award-winning children’s author David M. Schwartz will speak at (School or Library name), located at (Address and City) on (Date), at (Time).

Schwartz is the author of How Much is a Million? and almost 50 other books, including If You Made a Million, G is for Googol, Q Is for Quark, If You Hopped Like a Frog, and the “Look Once, Look Again” science series. His latest book is Where In the Wild? A popular speaker for children and educators, Schwartz emphasizes the importance of mathematics in everyone’s life, and the many connections between math, science and literacy.

“Children love numbers,” Schwartz says, “and when they see how numbers connect to their everyday lives, they can get really excited about math.” At schools, he uses amusing props to make mathematical concepts come alive as he leads his audience on a fascinating journey through a world where mathematics opens doors to understanding the world.

In his presentations, as in his books, Schwartz is both entertaining and educational. His assembly programs often leave children laughing, even screaming, with excitement. Teachers comment that students are inspired in both math and writing. With his insights on linking math and science with literature, Schwartz has often been invited to be a keynote speaker at conferences for teachers, librarians and other educators all over the United States. He has spoken at hundreds of schools around the world.

Since its publication in 1985, Schwartz’s first book, How Much Is A Million?, has become a classic of children’s mathematical literature. Illustrated by Steven Kellogg, it has won many awards and was featured on Public Television’s “Reading Rainbow.”  It was a main selection of the Children’s Book of the Month Club.  Inspired by Schwartz’s book, children in hundreds of schools have undertaken projects based on the number 1,000,000 (one million). At some schools and public libraries, children have attempted to read a million pages and have gained local or national fame along the way. Other schools have collected a million pennies and used the money to buy books for the school library.

A New York native and a graduate of Cornell University, Schwartz now lives in Oakland, CA.

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