Writing and Publishing Your Own Picture
Book
Grades 4-6
In
some schools the author’s creative writing residency guides students through the
process of writing, editing, illustrating and publishing their own hard bound
books! Dr. O’Connor typically works a total of six days with each class.
Assignments help students make connections to their lives as readers and
writers, offer opportunities to practice what is taught and use it in an
independent context, and to share something they have learned. This approach
increases the likelihood that students will use what they learn in their own
reading and writing, and includes engaging students with read aloud, group
discussion, guided writing activities, and the independent work of publishing
their own books.
This
is a wonderful preparation for schools interested in moving toward
the exemplary writing status. It offers the added bonus of involving parents in
the process of helping student’s edit their stories.
Some districts prefer sustained
professional development opportunities over the course of the year by hosting
the author in the fall, and again in spring to work with the same students and
teachers. Staffs implement the standards based writing and enrichment
opportunities presented by the author in the fall, and students anticipate the
return of the author to examine and strengthen writing samples and to celebrate
their accomplishments.
Crystal O’Connor’s
Books
Dr.
O’Connor’s visits center around her children’s books which received the highest
rating by the National Study of Children’s Literature. The Monarch Publishers
web site and teaching resources received the National Award of Excellence by
Teachers’ Corner. The South Carolina State Department of Education selected
Jake and the Migration of the Monarch for its Reading First Training, and
this book is part of the Anderson Five Curriculum the Fairfield County Schools
Curriculum, the Florence 3 curriculum, the Sumter 17 Curriculum, the Georgetown
County Science Kits, and others. The author’s award winning professional
development and writing programs, and teaching resources are currently part of
the Exemplary Writing Initiative at Heath Springs Elementary in Lancaster
County.
Purchasing Books
Most
districts and schools purchase classroom sets and expect that teachers will
continue with enrichment activities throughout the year. Children also are
given the opportunity to purchase their own copies and to have an autograph and
photo session with the author.
