One Lesson Led to Something Much Bigger

Have you ever had a lesson just go so-so and after some reflective thought had a brainstorm and the next lesson was WoW?

Check out this podcast I made for Mouse Squad.org and let me know if you've ever had a lesson or classroom experience go from just ok to awesome!  

Click here to hear the Mouse Makes Podcast.

March is Reading Month Author Visits

Once the holiday season is over and the decorations have all come down, it's time to put the plans for March is Reading Month into action.  This month-long event of promoting reading almost requires the same amount of planning for a wedding.  Long, long ago in a month faraway....like September, we started thinking about who our school should host for an author or illustrator visit.  Now this is no ordinary wishlist.  Some of the outstanding authors and illustrators we have hosted of the past have been, Laurie Keller, Trinka Hakes Noble, Cyd Moore, Kevin Kammeraad. Ruth McNally Barshaw and Steven Kellogg.  It is with great pride and joy that my copy of The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash boasts both, the author (Trinka Hakes Noble) and the illustrator (Steven Kellogg's) signatures.  

Every author or illustrator has been a wonderful event at our school but every time I have to choose someone, it makes me stressed beyond compare.  Questions abound: Will this author relate to our students? Will our students have time to read all the books ahead of the author visit? Will the author arrive on time? Will we have a snow day? (Yes, living in Michigan makes this fear real!) Will the students be engaged with what the author says or draws?  Will the students ask engaging questions? Will my principal feel he got "his money's worth" in this author event? Will the teachers be impressed?  As the weeks and then days get closer to the author visit, my stress level rises.  Part of me thinks that I am being ridiculous since we have never, ever had a "bad" author visit, but what if....this time something goes wrong?  Finally the other rational part of me takes over and I realize that these incredibly talented authors and illustrators don't just sign up to visit schools unless they actually like to and are really good at it.  So now the day has come.  Tomorrow is author day and we are ready.  Books have been ordered, students and teachers have read all the author's books and the forecast looks sunny with not a snowflake in sight. 

So now the next big question... next week is Book Character Day and what am I going to wear?!