Natalie Rompella taught elementary and middle school for ten years. She was also the curriculum coordinator for the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago. She is the author of eleven trade books and twenty-eight leveled readers and workbooks on a variety of topics, including nanotechnology, sled dog racing, and insects. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois and a Master of Education in Science Education from National Louis University. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family.
My programs are listed below. For a printable page Click here
If you are interested in scheduling a school or library visit, please contact info@natalierompella.com.
All programs can be done remotely.
A Recipe for Writing
(3rd – 6th grade) Maximum number of students: 100
Writing a story is a lot like baking cookies. Natalie will talk about her new book, Cookie Cutters & Sled Runners, and share the ingredients for concocting a delicious story, including voice, word choice, and sentence structure. Students will participate in a short activity at the end. This presentation also works for a Career Day.
Fulfills the following ELA Common Core State Standards: Reading: Literature/Informational Text, Writing, and Language. (Contact Natalie for more specific standards.)
The World of Insects
(kindergarten – 2nd grade) Maximum number of students: 100
In this interactive presentation, students will learn about insect body parts, adaptations, and the benefits of insects. While Natalie reads from her book The World Never Sleeps, students will view mounted insects and photographs of less-common insects. Students will be part of the presentation through props, such as wearing wings and antennae. This presentation also works for a school Reading Night.
Fulfills the following ELA Common Core State Standards: Reading: Informational Text, Speaking & Listening, and Language.
Writers’ Revision Workshop
(3rd – 6th grade) Maximum number of students: 35
Having a hard time getting your students to revise their work? This active workshop is designed for classes in the process of revising a writing piece—fiction or nonfiction. Natalie will talk about how she critiques and revises her own work. Students will find new techniques for revising as well as learn how to critique peers’ writing more effectively.
Fulfills the following ELA Common Core State Standards: Reading: Informational Text, Writing, Speaking & Listening, and Language.
Testimonials
As a kindergarten teacher I encourage every school to invite the author Natalie Rompella to present to the students. She visited our school recently and gave a presentation about one of her informational books Don’t Squash That Bug! The Curious Kid’s Guide to Insects. Besides the fact that common core standards is pushing toward students reading informational literacy, her presentation aligned with our school’s kindergarten language arts and science units that talked about amazing creatures and animals’ families. My students were amazed by the information. The author grabbed their attention to the end with the power point presentation, hands on manipulative, and students’ involvement in acting out some insects’ facts. I recommend it to every school to invite Ms. Rompella to present to their students.
–Kindergarten teacher
Natalie Rompella was a joy to have at our school! Her presentations were visual, interactive, and highly interesting. They exposed us to her works, gave us insight as to what the life and work of an author involves, and inspired us to continue reading and writing ourselves. Natalie’s delivery was engaging and appropriate for all age groups. Her warm personality and gentle spirit allowed the students to see her as a real person as well as a famous author. I can’t keep her books on the shelf in our classroom library!
–1st Grade Teacher
Natalie Rompella did such an outstanding job with my fifth grade class! She kept them so engaged throughout her presentation. They loved hearing about the books she’s written and the writing process, hearing excerpts, and experimenting with various objects from around the home. I appreciated her warmth toward students, her enthusiasm for trying new things, and her in-depth answers to children’s questions. She has encouraged me to write a book and to delve into the unknown. I think that everyone should jump at the chance to have Ms. Rompella visit their school! You will not want to miss the opportunity to see your students’ faces light up when they use their untapped imaginations.
–5th grade teacher
She read her books with expression and that made it really intriguing. It was cool how she brought stuff so we could make inventions.
–5th grade students
