Visiting Authors 2011-2012
Jewell Parker Rhodes befriends the 7th graders
What a treat it was to have Ms. Rhodes back at Taylor on Monday, February 6th. This time all the students had read her book and studied it in English class with teachers, Cheryl Bordelon and Lisa Valence. She opened by explaining the magic of getting the opportunity to talk with her readers. She explained that the students' insights bring a new understanding of the story for her. One of the students opened the discussion by asking if the water at the end of the book was a symbol for rebirth. "Yes," Ms. Rhodes said "it does." She originally had ended the book with Lanesha evacuating to Houston and starting a new school, but she realized it was better to leave a more open-ended
conclusion.
Find more info about her visit on Ms. Kahn's blog.
Watch a video of the conversation between the author and two students.
conclusion.
Find more info about her visit on Ms. Kahn's blog.
Watch a video of the conversation between the author and two students.
Wolf lover, Andrea Cremer, speaks to 9th and 10th grade
On January 20th, Andrea Cremer, author and history professor, visited PFTSTA to talk about her fantasy trilogy, that begins with the book Nightshade. The 9th and 10th graders were riveted as she spoke about how she came to write and get published, how she related the fantasy in her stories to the early modern history that she loves, and about what kinds of books we can expect from her next.
Find more info about her visit on Ms. Kahn's blog.
Two eighth graders sat down with Ms. Cremer after the presentation to interview her. If you want to hear what she had to tell our students, open the video here.
Thank you Penguin and Octavia Books, this event would not be possible without you.
Find more info about her visit on Ms. Kahn's blog.
Two eighth graders sat down with Ms. Cremer after the presentation to interview her. If you want to hear what she had to tell our students, open the video here.
Thank you Penguin and Octavia Books, this event would not be possible without you.
Webcast with Jeff Kinney
The 6th graders joined 800 schools across the USA to watch Jeff Kinney launch his newest book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever. He was in New York at the Banks Street School, and we sat in the comfort of a classroom. He spoke to us about the books and the movies.
Click here for more photos.
Click here for more photos.
Greg Heffley stuck inside.
He doesn't look too happy.
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The students watched the presentation on the big screen.
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Webinar with James Patterson
The 7th graders joined thousands of students around the world to hear James Patterson speak about his new book and reading on Thursday, October 13th. You can read more about it here on Ms. Kahn's blog.
Some 8th grade minions got Auntie Heather to autograph their arms. There may be some kids who avoid bathing for awhile.
Heather Brewer wows the 8th and 9th Graders!
Check out the interview with author here
Wednesday, September 28th is going down as the "best author visit ever," according to 8th grader, Brandon LeFort. Heather Brewer explained to the crowd of 100 students that she was unpopular at school. Not only with the other kids in her Michigan school, but with the adults, too. She understands the power that bullies have, and she has made a commitment to try and help end bully behavior. She feels that with "world domination," she and all her minions (fans and readers of her books) can persevere to change the world to be a better place where all of us treat each other respectfully.
She also explained that she always wanted to be an author but was told by her parents and teachers that it would never happen for her. She perservered, and though her first manuscript was rejected many times, she found a publisher for Eighth Grade Bites. The rest is history. Check out First Kill , the first book in the Slayer Chronicles.
By the way, Heather also told us that she has been a big fan of vampires ever since she read Bram Stoker's Dracula as a teen. Just so you know, her interest came way before the Twilight phenomenon.
(Thank you Penguin and Octavia Books for making this visit possible.)
She also explained that she always wanted to be an author but was told by her parents and teachers that it would never happen for her. She perservered, and though her first manuscript was rejected many times, she found a publisher for Eighth Grade Bites. The rest is history. Check out First Kill , the first book in the Slayer Chronicles.
By the way, Heather also told us that she has been a big fan of vampires ever since she read Bram Stoker's Dracula as a teen. Just so you know, her interest came way before the Twilight phenomenon.
(Thank you Penguin and Octavia Books for making this visit possible.)
Two students stayed behind to ask Whitney questions.
They loved all her ideas of where they could go to seek information.
Local author, Whitney Stewart
On Thursday, September 22nd, the 7th graders were treated to a visit by New Orleans author, Whitney Stewart. She writes mostly non-fiction books, including a handful of biographies. The students have just started the research process for the social studies fair, so we asked if she would share her research process that she uses before writing her books. She explained that she often has little knowledge beforehand when she begins to write. She likes to get primary sources. If possible she interviews the subject of a biography like she did with Edmund Hillary and the Dalai Lama. She also will interview people who knew them or worked with them. She said that even the person she writes about may remember a story wrong. So she finds as many people as she can who were there. She also likes to go to museums and archives and look at artifacts, photos and letters. As far as secondary sources, she will often try to interview the author of a secondary source as well as watch documentaries or television shows about the subject.
Ms. Stewart also asked some of the students to tell her about their selected topics for the social studies fair. She gave these students some ideas of where they could go for specific information. It was an hour well spent. We want to thank Ms. Stewart for giving us some of her wisdom on research.
Ms. Stewart also asked some of the students to tell her about their selected topics for the social studies fair. She gave these students some ideas of where they could go for specific information. It was an hour well spent. We want to thank Ms. Stewart for giving us some of her wisdom on research.
