INK Sisters Write

Dear Kim (and friends), This morning I put away my rainbow superhero mask, gold top hat, and banana-on-a-stick. Few things are sadder than closing your banana-on-a-stick into a dark closet. But, I guess it will rise again next month for my next school visit. Oh, you thought my collection was somehow Halloween related? No, no. Just part of the workshop portion of my school visits. For the past two weeks I had the privilege of speaking to, and then with, students from one of our nearby districts. Mr. Dwight Smith Dwight Smith, the founder of My Special Word , joined me for the assembly portion of the event. We were able to share with the children Dwight's vision for the program, as well as my process for writing the books for him. There was music. Lots of it. Some singing. ( Would you expect any less? ) And shouting! (Mostly the kids, but I got a few words in too.) We met with over 800 kids during the assemblies and got a sense for how the school district plan...

Dear Kim (and friends!), Yikes. Oh boy. Holy moly. I am not ready for THIS... I should clarify. The visit. The actual school visit. I AM SO READY FOR THAT. As a former classroom teacher, literacy coach, and school director, this is my dream, baby. Taking a book that I wrote and using all of the teachery wonderfulness from my years in the classroom- yes and YES! Sign me up. (No, really, sign me up .) I've made teacher guides. Book-pairing lists. (Thanks, Bookish Ambition for getting me started.) I have a flyer detailing the assembly and workshops. I've painted thousands of rocks for the pre-k to grade 2 art projects and bound hundreds of journals for the grades 3-5 book making. Kids have even practiced the activities. All is good, right? Until the first phone call with a PTA president. And she says, "How much do you charge?" Pause. Pause. Sweaty. Pause. "Hello, Ms. Green Myers. Are you there?" I'm here, but bar...