- At Long Beach Elementary School
Yesterday was fun! fun! fun! for me. Between 8:10 and 11:05 a.m. I had the privilege of meeting with every one of the classes at Long Beach Elementary School and collaborating with each of them on a book. That was 270 kids, give or take a few, in eleven classes, Kindergarten through sixth grades.
We met in the school library, one or sometimes two classes every twenty minutes. The kids were polite and enthusiastic – the perfect co-authors! We talked a little bit about writing books (I was introduced as a real, live, local author!), about writing fiction versus non-fiction and how to choose a subject (something you know a lot about), and about effective ways to convey your information to an audience (how about am ABC book?)
And we talked about how to choose the most important things concerning our subject. For the youngest authors, I read a few pages from Margaret Wise Brown’s The Important Book. It’s a book I love and it never fails to get kids thinking about the big ideas.
Because I used to teach at Long Beach and they are now students at Long Beach, we concluded that a book about Long Beach Elementary School was what we should write. And, because they had some familiarity with my Mrs. Stevens’ ABCs series, we determined that we should write a book called L is for Long Beach Elementary School.
We brainstormed ideas: “R is for reading;” “T is for teachers;” “C is for cafeteria;” “M is for math” and on and on. We talked about elaborating on our ideas, researching our facts, kinds of resources we could use (“Mr. Carper would know! He’s our principal.”) We discussed illustrations and double-paged spreads and letters that are hard (Q and X and Z).
Each group headed back to the classroom bubbling with ideas, ready to get to work on their book. I felt a little sorry for the teachers – most of whom I had worked with and one who had actually been my student in first, second, and third grades. This is a tough time in the school year to face a brand new project. But all promised to let me know when their book was complete. I’m looking forward to seeing their finished projects!
This sounds great, Sydney. I wish I could fly you up to Briarcrest Elementary for a session with my kids. I’m going to see if I can find “The Important Book” this morning.
A new book to put on my list for the next trip to our local bookseller. Don’t know about “The Important Book” but I am intrigued. Let us all know when the book is completed and available.
To clarify: I met with eleven classes and each will be doing their own version of “L is for Long Beach School.” Some teachers will probably handle it as a total class project generating a single book. Others may let each child do his/her own, individual book. “Publication” will mean putting the pages together in some way (stapling, comb binding) so that it can be shared with others — perhaps their classmates or other classes, or visitors to the classroom. It is a classroom writing project only — no commercial intent in mind.
What a great idea! What a fun way for the school community to use your talent and a fun way for you to share! Kudos to everyone on this project!
Okay Sydney… you did inspire great thoughts in Joe Doupe’s class of students. They were working on writing their ABC’s of Long Beach School when Jon and I arrived to work on Math. The students were doing a most excellent job and enjoying the project. Thanks for the inspiration for all the studnets and our grandson.
Clearly you haven’t lost your magic touch to inspire children and nuture their creativity! How lucky those children are to have had to come to visit.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! The kids loved meeting you and starting a fun ABC book about their school. Yes, Mr. Doupe’s 4/5 class completed a book. I also heard that Mrs. Strom’s 4th grade class made a book using PowerPoint! Mrs. Clarke would like to do this project for next year, have a publishing party and have you visit again! This was a great way for our students to conclude their school year productively and creatively!
You also inspired this “tired” teacher to start writing again for pleasure! 🙂