School Visits

All programs can be customized to the appropriate grade level. Teachers guides aligned with the Common Core are available for some of Fern's books. Many of Fern’s programs fulfill state requirements to teach the Holocaust and moral education. 

Featured Programs

Online Presentations

With schools transitioning to remote learning, Fern offers her various programs as Zoom events for individual classes at reduced rates. Fern can accommodate as many as 20 classes on a Zoom call or she will happily serve an individual class and alter her presentations to meet students’ needs.

Timely presentation on issues of historical responsibility

By focusing on one German town’s wrenching reconsideration of its involvement in national crimes, Stumbling on History: An Art Project Compels a Small German Town to Face its Past serves as a springboard to discuss questions of historical responsibility, inspiring students to develop an energetic, empathetic sense of citizenship.

Understanding Family Trauma: The Legacy of the Holocaust

During this difficult time, young people often struggle with anxiety, depression and other serious mental health issues. Many are unaware that their issues may be rooted in inherited, intergenerational trauma that can define the lives of family members for generations.

In this program, the author explores how her mother's Holocaust history shaped her life. Based upon the book, Motherland, the program explores the transmission of trauma in families. This program, in part a primer on trauma, offers understanding, insights, and ways to cope with this overwhelming, but common problem. 

View All Programs

Previous Visits

Fern Schumer Chapman has spoken at the following schools:

Peotone High School, Peotone, IL
Johnsburg Middle School, Johnsburg, IL
North Prairie Junior High School, Winthrop Harbor,
Edison Elementary School, Macomb, IL
VIT Elementary School, Table Grove, IL
Wheaton Warrenville South High School, Warrenville, IL
Hubble Middle School, Warrenville, IL
Jane Addams Junior High School, Schaumburg, IL
Vernon Hills High School, Vernon Hills, IL
Gompers Middle School, Joliet, IL
Unity Middle School, Cicero, IL
Northwood Middle School, Woodstock, IL
Westview Hills Middle School, Willowbrook, IL
Highlands Junior High School, LaGrange, IL
Algonquin Middle School, Des Plaines, IL

Park View Elementary School, Morton Grove, IL
Marquardt Middle School, Glendale Heights, IL
Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center, Bourbonnais, IL
Bradley Central Middle School, Bradley, IL
Manteno Middle School, Manteno, IL
Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL
Manchester Township Middle School, Manchester, NJ
Lake Forest Country Day School, Lake Forest, IL
Zion Central Middle School, Zion, IL
School of St. Mary, Lake Forest, IL
Jerling Junior High School, Orland Park, IL
Orland Junior High School, Orland Park, IL
Glenside Middle School, Glendale Heights IL
Tinley Park Junior High School, Tinley Park, IL
Woodland Middle School, Gurnee, IL

Gymnasium Gernheim, Germany
Schillerschule Gymnasium, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Prälat-Diehl-Schule Gymnasium Groß-Gerau, Germany
National Louis University, Skokie, IL
Albert-Einstein-Schule Schwalbach, Gymnasium, Germany
Big Hollow Middle School, Ingleside, IL
Central Middle School, Burlington, IL
Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL
Lincoln Middle School, Berwyn, IL
Shepherd Middle School, Ottawa, IL
Gavin South Junior High School, Ingleside, IL
Attea Middle School, Glenview, IL
Gower Middle School, Burr Ridge, IL
Fremont Middle School, Mundelein, IL
Kaneland Junior High School, Sugar Grove, IL

St. Scholastica School and St Joan of Arc School at St. Scholastica, Woodridge, IL
Morton West High School, Cicero, IL
Thompson Middle School, St. Charles, IL
Norton Middle School, Norton, MA (all-school reads program)
Madison Junior High School, Naperville, IL
Manchester Township High School, Manchester, NJ
Hardin High School, Hardin, TX
Hardin Junior High School, Hardin, TX
Tarkington High School, Cleveland, TX
Tarkington Middle School, Cleveland, TX
College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL
DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Northwood Junior High School, Highwood, IL
Elm School, Highland Park, IL
St. Valentine Catholic School, Redford, MI

Woods School, Lake Geneva, WI
Epiphany Cathedral School, Venice, FL
Waseca Junior High School, Waseca, MN (all-school reads program)
Highland Middle School, Libertyville, IL
Sonora Middle School, Sonora, TX
Fredericksburg Middle School, Fredericksburg, TX
Waterloo Middle School, Waterloo, WI
Weatherford ISD Ninth Grade Center, Weatherford, TX
Oak Lawn – Hometown Middle School, Oak Lawn, IL
Harvard Junior High School, Harvard, IL
Oak Prairie Middle School, Homer Glen, IL
Valencia Community College, Orlando, FL
Woodlands Academy, Lake Forest, IL
Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL
Newark Junior High School, Newark, CA

Deerfield High School, Deerfield, IL
Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, IL
The Haverford School for Boys, Haverford, PA
Downers Grove Elementary School, Downers Grove, IL
Highland Park High School, Highland Park, IL
Waubonsee College, Sugar Loaf, IL
Cedar Grove High School, Cedar Grove, WI
Naperville High School, Naperville, IL
Kennedy Junior High School, Naperville, IL
Matthews Junior High School, Wauconda, IL
Oswego High School, Oswego, IL
Traughber Junior High School, Oswego, IL
Marian Catholic High School, Woodstock, IL
Lake Bluff Middle School, Lake Bluff, IL
Butler Junior High School, Oak Brook, IL

A. C. Davis High School, Yakima, WA
Palos South Middle School, Palos Park, IL
Deerpath Middle School, Lake Forest, IL
Morton Freshman Center, Cicero, IL
Century Junior High School, Orland Park, IL

Testimonials

"I have witnessed many author presentations, and I have never seen students so engaged." ~ Patricia Stacey, Thompson Middle School, St. Charles, Illinois

"We have been hosting Fern at our school for 8+ years. Everytime has been an unforgettable experience. Her message of educating students about the effects of hatred and her family's personal experience resonates with our students and reinforces the importance of combatting anti-Semitism. Many of our students and their families are first generation immigrants and Edith's (Fern's mother) story of an  unaccompanied minor immigrating to the U.S. brings history alive. We look forward to this visit every year! " - Sia Paganis, Glenside Middle School, Glendale Heights, Illinois

"Fern's ability to connect with students on poignant topic of identity, struggle, and perseverance makes her a can't-miss opportunity for your school."  ~ David Lopez, Morton High School, Cicero Illinois

"There were only a few dry eyes in the audience. Fern held everyone's attention -- from 10-year olds to the elderly." ~ Debbie Colodny, Cook Memorial Public Library, Libertyvillle, Illinois

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