tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post6313377370167392913..comments2024-03-17T12:30:03.009-05:00Comments on Teaching Authors--6 Children's Authors Who Also Teach Writing: Two Villages, One Book---One Happy AuthorCarmela Martinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543808551988338496noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-30986323517795731002010-05-18T22:20:33.412-05:002010-05-18T22:20:33.412-05:00Yay for Yankee Girl and our very own Mary Ann!!!!!...Yay for Yankee Girl and our very own Mary Ann!!!!!!April Halprin Waylandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10760393691320267240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-90999634786033778822010-05-18T12:46:51.371-05:002010-05-18T12:46:51.371-05:00Esther...no apologies necessary for the "Yank...Esther...no apologies necessary for the "Yankee cold" air. The day in question I had just finished the adult luncheon and was wrapped in the afterglow of the experience. Again, these adults, mostly moms of the students I had already addressed, had read YANKEE GRIL. It is such a gift to be to talk about your book when the audience has already read it! (An experience that has happened maybe two or three other times in six years!)<br /><br />Stable Granny--I just finished reading Elizabeth Bluemle's SLJ blog about passionate teaching, and how much passion goes out of the experience when teacher's are required to "teach to the test." I AM passionate about sharing books and writing with students, but it is also good that the topics of my middle grade novels are included in the middle grade curriculum (Civil Rights Era and WWII).) <br /> I have sometimes encountered teachers who were just itching to get bak to class, because the kids weren't "learning" anything" by listening to me (aka..My book wasn't in the bibliography in their social studies book). What made this school visit so special is that the through the efforts and enthusiasm of the teachers and librarians those students were pumped to the max abut YG before I ever set foot in Illinois.<br /> Their excitement encouraged me to give even more in the presentations and Q & A. Those were some smart teachers who saw an opportunity to enrich their curriculum as well as encourage their students to delve deeper into history NOT in the curriculum. Those students were reading on, not because of a test, or extra-credit for reading X number of books for X number of grade points, but because passion for a book or subject can do nothing but build. <br /> There is no review, no award, that will drive a kid to a book faster than the words "My friend said this was the best book ever!"mary ann rodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13639787144894232298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-29304302066755409382010-05-18T05:53:06.480-05:002010-05-18T05:53:06.480-05:00It sounded like you had a great time. Love to be ...It sounded like you had a great time. Love to be with young writers and reads that know what a book is about and are reading for enjoyment not because they're forced to to make a grade.Patricia J. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06044354515656710902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-9898717164862482782010-05-17T22:30:51.576-05:002010-05-17T22:30:51.576-05:00I second Marti's comment: it was great catchin...I second Marti's comment: it was great catching up with you in person, learning about your writing projects and your swell visit, despite the Yankee-cold temperatures.<br />Thanks for sharing the photos and the experience.Esther Hershenhornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12016897434029543881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-31259115486886012092010-05-17T16:05:48.125-05:002010-05-17T16:05:48.125-05:00What a lovely report, Mary Ann. I'm glad they ...What a lovely report, Mary Ann. I'm glad they treated you so well in Winnetcka--YANKEE GIRL is a marvelous book.<br />It was great catching up with you in person!Carmela Martinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15543808551988338496noreply@blogger.com