I am still in contact with many of my former students. Those kindergarten and first and second graders are now in their fifties! The other day one of them wrote me about the books we used to publish. She recalls her delight in picking the cover she wanted for her story from a sample wallpaper book.
I remember those book making days—before standardized testing and prescribed curriculum. Our job as elementary school teachers was to help our students read and write and ‘do’ math—and to love learning (my own). A book making day went like this. Usually, on my short drive to school I would decide that it would b e a book making day. The procedure was simple and offered success for everyone: write a rough draft; rewrite it (edit) on about four separate pages. Copy the final draft on special white paper that had lines on one half and a space for an illustration on the other. Illustrate. Next we worked on a title page, with author and illustrator., publishing company, and copyright. Then, came the wall paper to create the cover!
This general format offered new and numerous learning possibilities—development of characters and plot and so on, and opportunities for success and growth for everyone. Without question they were some of the best teaching and learning days of my career. I recall a parent telling me that their child came home after one of those book making days to report, “We didn’t do any work today.” I’m pretty sure that student was the one who contacted me.
I remember those book making days—before standardized testing and prescribed curriculum. Our job as elementary school teachers was to help our students read and write and ‘do’ math—and to love learning (my own). A book making day went like this. Usually, on my short drive to school I would decide that it would b e a book making day. The procedure was simple and offered success for everyone: write a rough draft; rewrite it (edit) on about four separate pages. Copy the final draft on special white paper that had lines on one half and a space for an illustration on the other. Illustrate. Next we worked on a title page, with author and illustrator., publishing company, and copyright. Then, came the wall paper to create the cover!
This general format offered new and numerous learning possibilities—development of characters and plot and so on, and opportunities for success and growth for everyone. Without question they were some of the best teaching and learning days of my career. I recall a parent telling me that their child came home after one of those book making days to report, “We didn’t do any work today.” I’m pretty sure that student was the one who contacted me.