Want to know how to motivate grade 1-6 students to write?! Invite author, Jodi Carmichael into your school! On February 24th and 25th Elm Creek School had the pleasure of hosting Mrs. Carmichael and learning how to use our “Spy Like Skills,” to zero in on a detail and create a story about it. Over the two days students met altogether in an assembly to hear about Mrs. Carmichael’s book, Family Of Spies. We learned how she found a picture of her grandfather and had so many questions about him. Mrs. Carmichael researched his background and learned that he had been in the war and had a job so top secret that the army would not release his files. This mystery planted a “seed” or idea and she had to write a book about it!
After the assembly, Mrs. Carmichael met with grades 1 and 2 together, 3 and 4 together and 5 and 6 together to really dive into writing.
She taught us to use our “Spy Like Senses” by bringing in different foods for us to smell, touch, hear, see and sometimes taste! Did you know a marshmallow has a sound when you tear it apart? We also looked at pictures and came up with really great describing words, asked questions about them, and created our own stories! She showed us the power of asking, “What if?”
Mrs. Carmichael created a learning environment where students felt safe to share their ideas whether they were silly, scary, or funny! Students were so eager to share their ideas and stories with her! As a teacher this made my heart so happy that students COULD NOT WAIT to write! Many students came to school the next day with their own stories they had created at home!
Elm Creek staff would like to thank our PAC and our school for making this visit possible. Elm Creek School highly recommends inviting Jodi Carmichael into your school!