Nonfiction and fiction author Kate Hannigan will visit OMS on the morning of January 23!
There is still time to order an autographed copy of Ms. Hannigan's books. To do so, click on the Book Stall icon below. It will lead you to an online order form. The Book Stall, a local indie bookstore, provides a 10% discount. This discount is already built into their online pricing! Ms. Hannigan will sign the books, but she won't be able to address any of them personally now that her visit date has passed.
Deadline to order: Friday, January 26 Books will be delivered to OMS some time in the near future and sent home with students. After her visit: The students were so engaged during author Kate Hannigan’s visit! Ms. Hannigan encouraged students to think about answers to the questions of who, what, where, why, and how when they write stories of their own. Participating in the presentation, students read aloud words from her slides as a big group and even came to the stage in small groups to act out some scenes. Audience members were amazed when she rolled out her “Scroll of Doom”, a long, laminated collection of all of her rejection letters from publishers. Her message to students was to keep trying even if they fail at first.
Ms. Hannigan provided writing workshops to large groups of fourth graders to help them to learn how to write graphic novels of their own. It was amazing to discover how she creates her historical graphic novels by first doing research and becoming an expert on the event or time period that she plans to cover for her book. The next step is to write specific directions for what the illustrator should add to each panel on each page. Students were excited to try their hand at sketching and planning their own graphic novels. |
poet/Author Michelle Shaub teaches students how to find ideas for poetry
Illinois poet, Michelle Schaub, shared ideas about how to think of ideas to include in our poetry writing. We can get ideas from questions, observations, memories, and feelings.
Students participated in the presentation by using their “thumb meters” to pick out statements as fact or fiction and to guess what type of unusual fruits and vegetables Ms. Schaub showed on her slideshow. OMS teachers (Mrs. Christoforou and Mrs. Morris) and students read aloud a poem for two voices and wore animal masks to act out the poem.
Before the visit, students learned about Ms. Shaub's picture book poetry collections during their LMC lessons. Her books were focused on a visit to a farmer's market and on collecting things. Students were excited to hear Ms. Shaub read aloud several of the poems that they had studied in class.
Students participated in the presentation by using their “thumb meters” to pick out statements as fact or fiction and to guess what type of unusual fruits and vegetables Ms. Schaub showed on her slideshow. OMS teachers (Mrs. Christoforou and Mrs. Morris) and students read aloud a poem for two voices and wore animal masks to act out the poem.
Before the visit, students learned about Ms. Shaub's picture book poetry collections during their LMC lessons. Her books were focused on a visit to a farmer's market and on collecting things. Students were excited to hear Ms. Shaub read aloud several of the poems that they had studied in class.
Author CANDACE Fleming inspires students to be curious
The students were so engaged with author Candace Fleming’s visit on May 19! They were fascinated with stories of how she researches her nonfiction books and how she gathers “seeds” of ideas for her fiction books. We heard how she had an opportunity to try on a lucky bracelet that was worn by Amelia Earhart and how her friend video-recorded giant squid in the deep ocean. Ms. Fleming turned both of those ideas into nonfiction books. Ms. Fleming encouraged students to be curious and to seek out information about what interests them. During LMC lessons, students listened to the read aloud of Candace's Honeybee book. It was fun to hear how she came up with the idea to research ideas for the book after watching a honeybee buzz around her one day while she sat outside. In working on that book, Ms. Fleming collaborated with her husband, Eric Rohmann, who drew the illustrations.
As a special treat, Ms. Fleming visited Ms. Tinaglia’s fourth grade class for a writing workshop lesson. She gave them 3-minute writing prompts. First, they described a beautiful sunrise for the point of view of a poet. Next, they wrote about the same event from the point of view of a vampire.
As a special treat, Ms. Fleming visited Ms. Tinaglia’s fourth grade class for a writing workshop lesson. She gave them 3-minute writing prompts. First, they described a beautiful sunrise for the point of view of a poet. Next, they wrote about the same event from the point of view of a vampire.
Virtual Author visits inspire students in grades K, 1, 2
Students in grades K, 1, and 2 had several opportunities to connect with children’s book authors through Zoom presentations. Former OMS teacher, Melissa Tumpane, shared her children’s book, Gingerbread Cone Under Construction, with students. Also, the Arlington Heights Memorial Library sponsored a visit by Andrea Wang, author of Magic Ramen, a book on the 2022 Monarch award list. Students were excited to hear how the authors got started writing by just jotting down ideas in notebooks. In both presentations, students had opportunities to ask direct questions to the authors. The hope is that these special visits will inspire budding authors at OMS!
Gingerbread Cone Under Construction is former teacher, Melissa Tumpane's very first book. She showed us her rough drafts, the illustrator's drafts and then read aloud the final book! The students were able to ask her questions about the process and of course one student wanted to find out what was her favorite cookie-sugar cookies with sprinkles!
Andrea Wang, author of Magic Ramen, a book on the 2022 Monarch award list, joined first and second graders to tell them that it’s ok to fail. Her message fit well with the theme of her book about Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant ramen noodles. It took him a full year of trial and error to create the best recipe for this invention. Ms. Wang also showed the students some of her earliest writing from when she was an elementary student. The audience enjoyed seeing all of the fun ramen-themed gifts Ms. Wang has received from friends such as ramen stuffies, pillows, erasers, t-shirts, and more!
Gingerbread Cone Under Construction is former teacher, Melissa Tumpane's very first book. She showed us her rough drafts, the illustrator's drafts and then read aloud the final book! The students were able to ask her questions about the process and of course one student wanted to find out what was her favorite cookie-sugar cookies with sprinkles!
Andrea Wang, author of Magic Ramen, a book on the 2022 Monarch award list, joined first and second graders to tell them that it’s ok to fail. Her message fit well with the theme of her book about Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant ramen noodles. It took him a full year of trial and error to create the best recipe for this invention. Ms. Wang also showed the students some of her earliest writing from when she was an elementary student. The audience enjoyed seeing all of the fun ramen-themed gifts Ms. Wang has received from friends such as ramen stuffies, pillows, erasers, t-shirts, and more!
One book one school author sundee Frazier zooms in with olive students
Students at OMS and Patton schools were excited to meet Cleo Edison Oliver author, Sundee Frazier. She visited both schools virtually through a Zoom call on April 30. About 20 students had an opportunity to ask Ms. Frazier questions during the call. They had been chosen ahead of time based on the thoughtful questions they submitted. Some of those questions were as follows:
- What motivates you to keep writing?
- What is it like to be chosen for our One Book One School program?
- What is the hardest part of writing?
- How long did it take to write this book?
Author Saadia Faruqi Comes to OMS to share her Yasmin series with students
Author Saadia Faruqi connected with OMS students by sharing her background and her writing process. After growing up in Karachi, Pakistan, she emigrated to the United States in her early 20’s. Students were excited to learn more about her creative process for writing her Yasmin books which are based on the experiences of her own children at school.
Ms. Faruqi shared ideas about how to show instead of tell when writing a story. Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 practiced this skill by offering suggestions for how to show a character’s emotions. Both of her presentations included plenty of time for students to ask questions. We look forward to her new middle grade novel, A Place At the Table, which will be coming out in May. The OMS staff and students are thankful to our PTA for sponsoring author Saadia Faruqi's visit! |