A Letter For Chicago Elementary & Middle School Media Specialists

Dear Media Specialist,

Is reading the most valuable skill a person can master? 

I would argue YES. Every other educational topic has some degree of reading involved. But how does a magic assembly about STEM concepts lead students back to the library?

Connecting Magic To… Well, Everything

I earned my law degree from the University of Illinois in 2009 and passed the Bar, but never worked as an attorney. But I feel the things I learned in law school—the lessons about the law, but also the way lawyers THINK—every day in my life.

Maybe I’m reviewing a contract sent by a client. Maybe I’m reading a news story about the Supreme Court. Maybe I’m analyzing the pros and cons of which contractor to hire to build a new deck on the back of my house.

Knowledge radiates out in so many directions. From my legal education, I see effects every day in so many places. And I’ve worked hard to generate that same sort of radiating knowledge in my school assembly shows.

“Engineering the Impossible” is about the nexus between magic and science, but there’s so many juicy, compelling threads that will lead students back to the library. Maybe they want to learn more about the story of how a 19th century magician prevented a war from occurring. They may ask to check out a biography of the magician, Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, or the later magician so inspired by Robert-Houdin he took Robert-Houdin’s name, Harry Houdini. Maybe they want to learn more about colonial Africa or modern day Algeria or the French King who sent Robert-Houdin on this mission. Maybe they want to learn about electromagnets, or even how to build their own magic tricks.

And that’s just one segment of one of my assemblies. Every other part of each assembly makes these kinds of connections as well. All that knowledge students crave is in books—they just often don’t know it yet.

Chicago’s Premier School Assembly Performer Is A Dad, Too

So when I hear kids say that reading doesn’t matter, that they’re going to become rich and famous as an athlete or YouTube star or whatever, I tell them that’s an exciting goal, but they’ll STILL give themselves a leg up by being voracious readers. And that’s one of the reasons I offer educational school assemblies for primary, elementary, and middle schools.

I’m a dad myself. I want my children to have the sorts of great educations that help them succeed in life. So I’ve made it my goal to reach and help as many children as possible. When they see my assemblies, they’ll have a great time, and to keep those great feelings going, they’ll feel compelled to explore those topics after my show.

Now that we have my passion out of the way, you may have logistical questions.

Why I’m The Easiest-To-Work-With School Assembly Performer Ever

“Is this guy going to hog our cafeteria for a long setup and breakdown?”

“Do we need to provide a PA system, mic, and dressing room?”

“Are his programs appropriate for different grade levels?”

First, my shows set up FAST, in fewer than 15 minutes. And they can break down in fewer than five minutes! So if you’re using the performing area for something else right after my educational school assembly program, I can turn the room over to you quickly.

Second, my goal is to be the easiest Chicago school assembly performer your school ever hosts. I don’t need any carts, microphones, or tables. I bring my own—everything I need to do my job.

Assembly Programs Perfect For Elementary Or Middle Schools

Finally, I have an immense feeling of pride knowing I can perform for any grade level from K-8. Many school assemblies are only appropriate for K-5 schools. But I love performing middle school assemblies and junior high assemblies. I alter how I relate to your students, based on their grade levels.

So you’ll never have to worry about whether I’m flying over the heads of the primary grades. Or if the middle schoolers are paying any attention to me. I’ll hold your students’ attention, guaranteed.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I respect what you do and do my best to fill your library with kids looking for books on my topics.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

—Scott