First Trip to Delaware...
for school visits! Although it was a three hour drive, it was an easy I-did-not-get-lost- drive! Yea!
I visited Nellie Stokes and Simpson Schools. Here's the very enthusiastic media specialist at Stokes, Laura Wright, and her adorable kids that she had visit in the afternoon. What cuties!
Laura had everyone dress up in beach clothes and gave everyone leis. Here's the kindergarten class I met with. A fun group of kids! See that chair I'm sitting in? They asked me to sign in. But...I forgot! Sure enough, when I was at Simpson the next day, Laura brought this massive rocker over for me to autograph. (All visiting authors/illustrators are asked to sign it. A cool idea!)
Here's Laura with her principal, Christine Alois. As soon as I met her, I knew Christine was a dynamic principal. Very hands on and very proud of her students and staff. What my dad would call a "mover and a shaker." She was warm and "real" and adored by her staff. Although I only spent the day (and dinner and an evening event) with her, I was thoroughly impressed with her on so many levels. Not surprisingly, the day I left, she was named Delaware's Principal of the Year. Well-deserved. CONGRATS, Christine!
Dover Air Force Base was across the street from my hotel. It seemed like everyone I met was from a military family. Walking through the school, I saw lots of areas like this:
These areas are used for kids who need a mentor in their lives. They meet here and talk several times throughout the year. The connections made are strong and powerful. Many of the mentors throughout the years have been volunteers from the base. However, since September 11th, the teachers have been taking over the mentor roles since many of the former mentors have been called to active duty.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jane Stewart, the media specialist at Simpson. It was a treat to finally meet the person I had been emailing back and forth with for months. When I have a few minutes, it's always fun to look through the library and discover new books. Jane had been working on processing book fair materials so I got to see what was "hot" at the fair. Always a good way to add to my reading list! (Lots of graphic novels and The 39 Steps seemed in demand.)
Look what caught my eye as soon as I stepped into Laura's library:
Staff members pose with their favorite books. Of course they end up being the most circulated books in the library. If I were still in the library, I would "borrow" this fantastic idea.
Here's another idea I'd want to implement in school: all teachers who retire make a stepping stone for the garden. Lovely!
One of my favorite parts of visiting schools is getting to read the letters/cards kids write. Often, it's in conjunction with a contest to have a 20-minute Q&A Dessert Time with me. With permission from Mya, here's her letter (love the comment about my website) that made me smile:
Dear Lisa Mullarkey,
It would be an honor if you would spend twenty minutes with me so we could chat and talk face to face. I have read your fantastic books. Another little thing I would like share with you is that I think you are a very talented person because your books are so wonderful. I have been on your website. It was a very fine piece of grateful work. And the pictures are just magnificent. One of your magnificent pictures that was very sweet to me was Sharkey Mullarkey. It was just so kind of your class to give him to you. And don't get me started on the awesome recipes! We'll I just can't! The Moon Rock Pizza one is so cool. How did you come up with those lovely recipes? Well, that's all I can say in twenty minutes. Thank you for taking the time to read my message/letter. Tick,Tock. Ding Dong Man. Gotta go! READING TIME!!!
Stoke Colt,
Mya
Thanks, Mya! And thanks to all of the students and staff members who made my visit so special. Delaware rocks!
I visited Nellie Stokes and Simpson Schools. Here's the very enthusiastic media specialist at Stokes, Laura Wright, and her adorable kids that she had visit in the afternoon. What cuties!
Laura had everyone dress up in beach clothes and gave everyone leis. Here's the kindergarten class I met with. A fun group of kids! See that chair I'm sitting in? They asked me to sign in. But...I forgot! Sure enough, when I was at Simpson the next day, Laura brought this massive rocker over for me to autograph. (All visiting authors/illustrators are asked to sign it. A cool idea!)
Here's Laura with her principal, Christine Alois. As soon as I met her, I knew Christine was a dynamic principal. Very hands on and very proud of her students and staff. What my dad would call a "mover and a shaker." She was warm and "real" and adored by her staff. Although I only spent the day (and dinner and an evening event) with her, I was thoroughly impressed with her on so many levels. Not surprisingly, the day I left, she was named Delaware's Principal of the Year. Well-deserved. CONGRATS, Christine!
Dover Air Force Base was across the street from my hotel. It seemed like everyone I met was from a military family. Walking through the school, I saw lots of areas like this:
These areas are used for kids who need a mentor in their lives. They meet here and talk several times throughout the year. The connections made are strong and powerful. Many of the mentors throughout the years have been volunteers from the base. However, since September 11th, the teachers have been taking over the mentor roles since many of the former mentors have been called to active duty.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jane Stewart, the media specialist at Simpson. It was a treat to finally meet the person I had been emailing back and forth with for months. When I have a few minutes, it's always fun to look through the library and discover new books. Jane had been working on processing book fair materials so I got to see what was "hot" at the fair. Always a good way to add to my reading list! (Lots of graphic novels and The 39 Steps seemed in demand.)
Look what caught my eye as soon as I stepped into Laura's library:
Staff members pose with their favorite books. Of course they end up being the most circulated books in the library. If I were still in the library, I would "borrow" this fantastic idea.
Here's another idea I'd want to implement in school: all teachers who retire make a stepping stone for the garden. Lovely!
One of my favorite parts of visiting schools is getting to read the letters/cards kids write. Often, it's in conjunction with a contest to have a 20-minute Q&A Dessert Time with me. With permission from Mya, here's her letter (love the comment about my website) that made me smile:
Dear Lisa Mullarkey,
It would be an honor if you would spend twenty minutes with me so we could chat and talk face to face. I have read your fantastic books. Another little thing I would like share with you is that I think you are a very talented person because your books are so wonderful. I have been on your website. It was a very fine piece of grateful work. And the pictures are just magnificent. One of your magnificent pictures that was very sweet to me was Sharkey Mullarkey. It was just so kind of your class to give him to you. And don't get me started on the awesome recipes! We'll I just can't! The Moon Rock Pizza one is so cool. How did you come up with those lovely recipes? Well, that's all I can say in twenty minutes. Thank you for taking the time to read my message/letter. Tick,Tock. Ding Dong Man. Gotta go! READING TIME!!!
Stoke Colt,
Mya
Thanks, Mya! And thanks to all of the students and staff members who made my visit so special. Delaware rocks!