WHAT YOUR VISIT WILL INCLUDE!

Mrs. Aviles' school presentation on the Orphan Train Movement of 1854-1929 is best suited for 4th through 8th graders.  Each presentation takes approximately one hour with time given for Q&A from students and teachers. 

The presentation begins with an age appropriate, interactive discussion of the history of immigration to America from European countries, along with the history and reasons for the Orphan Train Movement.  Students will experience what it was like to be placed on an orphan train and sent west to find a home.  Excerpts of Oliver's oral history, telling of his ride on the train, will be shared, along with an excerpt of what it was like to live in a sod house on the Kansas prairie - complete with rats nibbling on his toes at night!  Students will have the opportunity to view lots of photographs of Oliver and his family, as well as places and people from the books.  The presentation concludes with a discussion of the importance of journaling one's own story, and the story of family members as a way of preserving social history.  Q&A is encouraged throughout the presentation as well as at the end. 

Older students will also enjoy hearing about the process of writing and publishing the books,  along with how to take a personal narrative or oral history.

To read what TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS & STUDENTS are saying about Mrs. Aviles' presentation, visit the REVIEWS page of this website!

 

 

 

SCHEDULING A SCHOOL VISIT

Thank you for your interest in having Mrs. Aviles come to visit your school!  Below are some guidelines to help make the visit a fun and educational experience for your students and staff alike.

1)  Send an email to daviles@comcast.net to check on the availability of the day you have in mind for your school visit.

2)  It is recommended that the students read at least a portion of either book prior to the visit.  This can be done as a "read aloud" in class or during Library time.  This way students will have some background on the story as well as have an opportunity to think about any questions they might like to ask during the visit.

3)  Send home a letter and order form to parents with a return date at least 5 days before the scheduled visit.  A sample is given here:

Dear Parent,

I am very pleased to inform you that a published author will be visiting us here at _________School on __________________. Donna Nordmark Aviles has written two books based upon her grandfather's experience with the Orphan Train.  Between 1854 and 1929, over 250,000 children were sent, on trains, to farming communities in the Midwest.  The children were then taken into the families of farmers, and in return would supply labor on their farm.  You may learn more about the Orphan Train Movement and Donna's two books, Fly Little Bird, Fly! and Beyond the Orphan Train, by visiting her website at www.orphantrainbook.com .

 

To provide your child with some background knowledge, we have been reading Fly, Little Bird, Fly! in class.  The students are surprised to hear of the challenges and uncertainties created by the Orphan Trains.  The rights to these books are already under contract with a screenwriter, so a movie may be pending!

 

If your child is interested in purchasing one or both of these books, we are pre-selling them to be delivered on the day of Donna's visit.  She will also sign each book for your child.  Please fill out the bottom of this letter, and return it with your payment by___________. Mark the book or books you desire and the number of copies you'd like.  Donna will accept cash and checks made payable to: Donna Aviles.

Thank you,

_______________

 

Order Form      Child's Name __________________   

 

Fly, Little Bird, Fly!        #of copies____ @$9 Total $_____

 

Beyond the Orphan Train  #of copies___ @$9 Total$_____

 

Total payment $_________  (Cash or check made payable to: Donna Aviles)

Books signed to___________________________   OR

Leave unsigned __________

 

4)  When forms are collected, contact Mrs. Aviles with a list of students names and she will have the books signed and ready for delivery on the day of the presentation. 

5)  Please allow 50 minutes to an hour for each presentation with as many as three presentations on any one day.  It is recommended that group size stay under 50 students.

6) The fee for local visits (Delaware and Southern Chester Co.) is $75.00 for the first presentation and $25.00 for each additional presentation on the same day.  Schools in NJ, Suburban Philadelphia and Maryland would have transportation costs added to the above fees.  If schools prefer not to have a pre-sale of the books, the author visit fees are $250.00 for the first presentation and $75.00 for each additional presentation on the same day.  For schools outside of the tri-state region, please contact Mrs. Aviles at daviles@comcast.net  

Thank you for your interest in a School Presentation on the Orphan Train Movement!

Student Artwork on Display Prior to Author Visit