Transcript Welcome to the World of: Andrew Clements

Welcome to the World of:
Andrew Clements
Dion Stocks
More than an Author
• "… I loved reading good books with kids — the
kids at school and also the four boys my wife
and I had at home. As a teacher, it was a thrill to
read a book aloud, and see a whole class listen
so carefully to every word, dying to know what
would happen next. And I was amazed at the
wonderful discussions a good book can spark.
Good books make good things happen in real
life. They can make a big difference. So when I
was given the chance to start writing for children,
I jumped at it."
Frindle-n. a device used to write or make
marks with ink
• Teacher in Chicago
Public schools
• Worked for publishing
company after
teaching- invited by a
friend to join Picture
Book Studio
• Currently focuses on
writing books full time
• Earliest works were
picture books.
And now a word from our Author:
• Before Frindle, I had only written picture
books. I love the compactness of the
picture book form and the discipline
required to write one--like pouring ten
gallons of ideas into a teacup. The
transition to longer fiction didn't come
easily. In fact, I first wrote Frindle as a
picture book--the entire plot and all the
characters compressed into a three-page
story called 'Nick's New Word.'
Chapter Book Themes
• Sticks with the school scene!
• Storylines follow a conflict between
student and teacher.
• Thought about varying from this format but
decide why- it works!
• Realistic Fiction
His Selections
• Frindle- A terrific twist on how words are a
powerful part of our everyday world
• Report Card- A true statement of the effect
of grades and how even our students
wonder what they really mean.
• A Week in the Woods- the tale of a battle
between a student and his teacher
Classroom Study
Theme- SCHOOL
1- Create your own story book based upon a
new word/object.
2-Artistic Representation of your report cardhow does it make you feel, consequences,
gratification?
3-Landary News- Create your own
newspaper that illustrates characters,
events from the book- predict if the story
were to continue
Class Study- Cont.
• 4- Research an interesting scientific
moment- create a Power Point that gives
the history, the scientific connection and if
possible a small (safe) experiment to help
illustrate what happened.
• 5-Create a cartoon strip about an event
that happened to you in school that was
funny, exciting or scary.
As we close…
“Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write
so many books. The answer is simple: one word
at a time. Which is another good lesson, I think.
You don't have to do everything at once. You
don't have to know how every story is going to
end. You just have to take that next step, look for
that next idea, write that next word. And growing
up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that
next class, read that next chapter, help that next
person. You simply have to do that next good
thing, and before you know it, you're living a
good life.”
Sources
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/clem
ents.html
http://www2.scholastic.com/teachers/authors
andbooks/authorstudies/authorhome.jhtml
?authorID=2227&collateralID=10917.
http://www.edupaperback.org/showauth.cfm
?authid=48