As both an author and a teacher, Monica feels right at home in the classroom. She is always happy to engage with her readers and help classroom teachers inspire their students in developing a passion for reading and/or creative writing.
In Grade 2 to 4 classes, students enjoy oral activities for collaborative story creation, as well as hearing Monica tell stories crafted just for their class. Her co-host Super Pickle is very popular! Sheep twins Leonard and Lisa may also make an appearance.

In Grade 4 to 7 classes, students enjoy hearing Monica read from her middle grade books, watching slide shows on topics from the books, and hearing her answer their questions about the book and/or the craft of writing. Creative writing activities are designed for inclusivity and fun!
In-Class Visits
My students were thrilled with the idea that we could invite a real 'author' to visit our classroom and talk to us about how she writes and polishes her work. None of them was expecting a bright-eyed, energetic teacher wearing a pig nose. I watched in delight as my diverse class (with several students dealing with learning, emotional and mental challenges) were spell-bound by Monica’s wit and off-beat charm.  Bums were bouncing in glee with her story-telling and eagerness to contribute to her 'what if…' activity.  Kids who were often disengaged gave Monica their rapt attention; kids with many different levels of academic ability were involved and thinking and learning. Monica’s visit was a highlight of our exploration of the craft of writing and one that I know has positively influenced every child in that room."  –Jean LeCheminant
Hi Monica, Thank you so much for the author visit yesterday. The Crystal Cave really enjoyed meeting you in person and hearing about life on Cortes Island. I appreciated how you acknowledged each student and spoke to them as you answered their individual questions. The signed copy of Full Moon Lagoon for the class was a wonderful touch. A lasting memory for the class. 
 
Here are some photos of your visit into our classroom. In the afternoon, I challenged the kids to create some computer pictures of your visit, so I included a few of these as well. Finally, here is the link to our class website again."
 
Sincerely,
Paul Jarvis & The Crystal Cave
Virtual Visits
I ordered a class set of  Full Moon Lagoon and read it with my Grade 7 students. They loved it! It also tied in well with our study in Social Studies of the World Wars. Monica was kind enough to arrange a video chat with my class where she was willing to answer questions about the book and the process of publishing. Thank you so much, Monica! We look forward to more books from you!" ​ –Leanne Van Bergen, Whitemouth, Manitoba
In May 2021, Monica 'visited' the Grade 4/5 class at Drinkwater Elementary School in Duncan, BC. The students read Full Moon Lagoon in concert with their social studies unit on discrimination, immigration, and the Japanese-Canadian internment. They even learnt how to create excellent questions, which they asked during the Zoom visit. Below is the class watching Monica's slideshow, as well as some comments from the class and their teachers." –Makiko Johnston and LeeAnn Smith, Duncan, BC
Student Feedback
Schedule a Classroom Visit with Monica