Kim Palmer has dedicated most of her life to helping children. After finding her passion for teaching children in her teens through teaching a CanSkate program, she pursued an education degree at the University of Calgary. She specialized in the elementary route with a major in language arts and a minor in social studies. Kim spent two years teaching in an elementary school in the public system before returning to University to complete her Master’s Degree in Education, with a specialization in curriculum and instruction, with a focus on literacy learning.

While attending University, Kim worked for the Calgary Learning Centre, where she tutored children in the subjects of language arts, math, social studies and study skills. As a result of her own struggles with learning throughout her school years, she spent hours seeking and developing strategies to assist students with learning disabilities and differences. Kim also spent time discussing learning strategies with parents so they could help their children learn in the home environment.

While working at the Calgary Learning Centre, Kim also facilitated a parent preschool program in which she pursued her desire to teach literacy to preschool children and their parents. Kim planned and implemented literary activities that would help preschool children prepare for the important task of learning how to read and write. As a result of working with young children, Kim was inspired to write her first children’s picture book, Tammy and her Jammies. Kim is now working on her second children’s picture book, Tammy and her Messy Hair.

Kim is the founder of Learning for Success, which is a company that offers tutoring, writing workshops and consultations for students, parents and teachers. After many years of tutoring students herself, Kim now spends time training tutors to implement effective learning strategies for children with and without learning disabilities. She also facilitates writing workshops in community centres, schools and through correspondence courses. The writing workshops are called Children Can Be Authors Too! These workshops teach students how to work through the writing process to write a short story. Since it is important that children have a real audience for their writing, students also learn how to write a cover letter and approach publishing houses with their stories. Over sixty-five students have had their stories successfully published to date.

Kim has published many materials that help parents and teachers teach literacy skills to children both at home and at school. These publications include a self-help book called, Let the Children be Heard: Helping Children find voice through Reading, Writing and Dialogue. Kim facilitates many workshops and seminars in homes, schools, conferences and community centres. Through her published materials she is able to share her love of reading and writing with others, and help teach and inspire parents and teachers to help children be successful in their learning.

Kim Palmer is available to teach groups of students, parents, children or teachers in the form of workshops on any of the above published materials. She as also available for children’s picture book author readings for preschool and elementary students.

For further information call Kim at (403) 807-7502 or e-mail kimpalmer@telus.net.