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Teacher Tuesday by Kirby Larson
Last summer, when I took a hiatus from blogging I vowed to start up again only if I could figure out a really good reason for doing so– other than posting photos of the most adorable granddaughter in the entire universe.
I perused other author’s blogs and websites for ideas. Barbara O’Connor generously shares writing tips, including the greatest pieces about revising I’ve ever read (plus the on-going saga of Ruby and her enthusiasm for just about anything but doggy obedience is worth following); Cynthia Lord nourishes the writing spirit with inspiration and warmth (bonus: her husband’s amazing photos) and Cynthia Letitch Smith provides just about every bit of essential information any writer could ever want or need. So what could I possibly offer that would be different?
While pondering this question, I heard from Mr. Craig. Steve Craig, my sixth grade teacher. THE teacher who changed the way I saw myself. We have stayed in touch all these years (I won’t mention how many) and doggone it if he isn’t just as proud of me now as he was when I tried to do my very best work for him back then. That got me to thinking about all Mr. Craigs in this big country and how they work so hard to inspire kids and help them blossom.
And that’s how Teacher Tuesday came to be. I decided that each week during the school year, I would interview one teacher or librarian on any topic of their choosing but anchored by the notion of how they connect kids and books. My goal was to shine a spotlight on teachers and librarians from each of the fifty states (didn’t quite make it: 19 states, plus D.C. plus Berlin, Germany!) and perhaps provide a place for these caring professionals to connect, so they could share their great ideas and inspiring stories with one another.
My first interviewee was Colby Sharp (Michigan), about his favorite read-aloud, Fig Pudding, by Ralph Fletcher. The final 2012-2013 interviewee was Jannie Des Rosiers-Berman (Connecticut), with a fun piece on using toys to get kids more into books. In between I met amazing people like Vida Zuljevic (Washington), who is passionate about poetry and whose story of surviving the war in Bosnia brought me to tears; and Alyson Beecher (California) who serves up books and bites in her Literacy Cafes; and Tony Keefer (Ohio) who leverages his passion for sports as a way to get kids to read more.
This ended up being a lot of work.
This ended up being one of the best things I’ve done in a long, long time.
And I want to keep doing it! Which is why I twisted my Nerdy Book Club friends’ arms to ask if I could use this space to make a plea. I want more than anything to continue Teacher Tuesday next school year. And, fellow Nerdy Book Club member, here is where you come in: are there at least forty of you out there who are teachers/librarians who would be willing to write one guest post next school year? I need forty folks to commit to get us through the school year. And I need guest posts because I can’t maintain that commitment to generating interview questions.
Are you in? Do you want to join me in celebrating the amazing things that are happening in your classrooms and schools each and every day? Things that make a difference for kids? Things that create life-long readers? If so, post a comment (in the Google Form below) to let me know!
Kirby Larson blogs at Kirby’s Lane, when she is not revising her current work-in- progress, a companion novel to DUKE (September 2013).
Nerdy Book Club 
Kirby: I would love to do this. Let me get into the school year a little bit. We are doing something that I think is kind of neat, pairing ELI THE GOOD with THE CRUCIBLE which would essentially bring together a book about our country (pre-establishment) with one that celebrates its bicentennial. We are using Jim Burke’s WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA as an anchor text for this approach.
Yay, Paul! And, as one of the first ten to sign up, you get a free audio of Hattie Ever After! Email me (kirby@kirbylarson.com) your snail mail address and the CD’s on the way.
I signed up and would love to participate!
Thank you, Holly! I can’t wait. And as one of the first ten to sign up, you win a free audio copy of HATTIE EVER AFTER. Send me your snail mail address (kirby@kirbylarson.com) and the CD will be on its way.
Kirby, what a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Jone. It’s been a terrific experience. I am so proud of all the ways creative teachers and librarians work to build life long readers.
I signed up, too. Hope I’m chosen!
You’re in, Sue! I sent everyone a separate email. Will get a schedule together asap.
I have to comment that your granddaughter is 100% adorable and that pictures of her would be, in my opinion, reason enough to blog! I filled out the form and would be willing to give this a try as long as I was scheduled for March or after. This is a neat idea and a great way to help people like me get started. Thanks for the motivation.
She is pretty danged adorable, isn’t she? And her favorite thing: books! Be still my heart.
I love this idea! I just signed up! I love reading your Teacher Tuesday posts but can understand how labour intensive they are! Some of my favourite blogposts to read are about the variety of wonderful things teachers do to promote reading in their classrooms and schools. Always exciting to get a sense of other classrooms full of inspiring ideas.
Carrie, so glad you are willing to participate! Can’t wait to get this kicked off come fall.
HI Kirby!
I’m Jennifer Ochoa. I would love to write about some of the reading world in my 8th grade NYC classroom! I filled out the form above. Is that ok?
Definitely okay, Jennifer. More info to come!
I would love to contribute for Arkansas, if it hasn’t already been claimed. Love your blog!
Amy Wilhelm
5th-6th grade literacy coach, NBCT
Bentonville, AR
Arkansas absolutely needs to be represented! Please fill out the form if you haven’t already!
I would love to do a guest post! 🙂 I love your Teacher Tuesday posts! So inspiring!!
Can’t wait to read your guest blog, Niki. Scheduling info, etc. to come soon.
I would love to write a guest post for you!! 🙂
Shannon
http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com
Shannon, did you sign up via the form? I would love to have you participate!
I’d love to write and just filled out the form, Kirby. I love your teacher posts and am excited to share about the reading work we do at school. (I am a literacy coach!) Thanks!
I would love to share on your Teacher Tuesday posts. It’s so fun to see how teachers are connecting kids and books.
Yay! Can’t wait.
Kirby, I loved Hattie Ever After ALMOST as much as I loved Hattie Big Sky. I would love to do a guest blog. I teach 8th grade in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We are READERS!!
The world needs to hear from Hot Spring, Arkansas! So glad you signed up. More information to come.
Kirby, I’ve never written a blog post, but would be happy to give it a go!! I teach 5th grade in Michigan!
Amy I would love to host you as a guest blogger — sign up on the form and we’ll be on our way! More information to come.
Kirby, I’m a little late to the party but would love to assist if you need someone from Georgia. I just submitted my information on the form and can certainly go into more detail if and when you need me. Thanks!
You’re in, Tim! More info to come.
Hey! If you need a veteran teacher from Utah who is becoming a school librarian this year, I’m your girl. I only ask that you give me a couple of months to settle into my new role. I have posted a Nerdy review in the past and loved the writing. Let me know if I can help!
Pam, I was overwhelmed with eager teachers/librarians — over 80 folks signed up! So I am full up right now, but your situation sounds so interesting. Let me make a note to get in touch early in 2014 and we’ll see if we can make a slot for your insights. If you can, please email me at kirby@kirbylarson.com so I’ll have you’re email address.
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