EDUCATION BLOG

World renowned children’s author, Patricia McKissack, teaches students how to write over distance learning. During hands-on and highly interactive videoconference sessions, participating students discuss plot, themes, character development and more. Patricia will also post to her blog and answer students questions during her series. Next up on her three part writing series: Winter Holidays Around the World.

In the first videoconference, the author meets with the teachers to discuss the goals of the author visit and refers them to the book she will be discussing, Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters. In the second, the author dialogs with students, discussing winter holiday traditions and how she wrote her book about Christmas on a Virginia plantation in 1859. In the third videoconference, she gives feedback to students about the writing and illustrations the students have done. Past winter holidays students have written on include Chinese New Year, Ramadan, and Kwanzaa.

We hope to see you this holiday session! Here are the dates:
Teacher Session: Thursday, November 5 at 4 pm CT
First Student Session: Tuesday, November 24 at 11 am CT
Second Student Session: Tuesday, December 15 at 11 am CT

In a separate, 1 hour, offering, Patricia will read her story The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll. On December 15, 2009 at 2:30 pm CT, Pat will read from The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll. This book is for students 5-8; “It is Christmas, and Nella is beside herself with excitement! She and her sisters have been given a real gift – a beautiful Baby Betty doll. But it’s hard to share something you’ve waited your whole seven-year-old life for, and Nella grabs the doll for herself. It isn’t long before she discovers that a doll can’t do the fun things she and her sisters do together. So, as Christmas day fades, Nella shares it with her sisters. Set in the Depression era South, here’s a heartwarming story that captures the essence of the holiday.” (Amazon.com)

To sign up for any of these videoconferences, contact Rebecca Morrison at Cooperating School Districts.

To sign up for either Winter Holidays Around the World or for the Story Hour on The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll, contact Rebecca Morrison at Cooperating School Districts.