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In 2008 Walnut Grove Elementary School in Franklin, Tennessee held their annual Rock-N-Roll Read-A-Thon on February 29th. Leap Day! The 650+ students were dressed for a sock hop in 1950’s costumes, and I was deeply impressed with the artwork on display by students. In fact, much of the artwork from Walnut Grove has found its … Continue reading
On February 20th my husband and I visited Willowbrook Elementary in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Willowbrook Library Media Specialist Danna Caudill (left) and Author/Illustrator Tammy Carter Bronson.
It was a great treat to visit a school so close to home, and I must thank the Library Media Specialist, Mrs. Danna Caudill, for making this visit possible. Her passion for literacy and exceptional organizational skills created an event that made a lasting impact not only on the students but on the community as well.
From left to right: Willowbrook Principal Cynthia Dewey, Author Tammy Carter Bronson, and Librarian Danna Caudill.
I met Mrs. Caudill at Oak Elementary in Bartlett, Tennessee during an author visit in November 2008. My program at Oak Elementary was a great success, and when Mrs. Caudill moved to Bentonville and took a position at Willowbrook, she encouraged the Principal, Cynthia Dewey, to choose Tiny Snail for the One School, One Book program which is designed to create a shared reading experience within a single elementary school community. In January every child at Willowbrook received a copy of Tiny Snail, and over the course of a month teachers integrated the book into the curriculum.
Author’s Tea and Breakfast at Willowbrook Elementary.
Our visit began bright and early at 7:00 am on February 20th with an “Author’s Tea.” Teachers, staff and community leaders were on hand to meet and greet my husband and I in the school library.
From left to right: Author Tammy Carter Bronson, Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin, Cave Springs Mayor Larry Smith, and Author Matthew Shane Bronson.
The mayors of Bentonville and Cave Springs attended, as well as members of the Bentonville school board and the children’s librarian at the Bentonville Public Library.
Author Tammy Carter Bronson and the children’s librarian at the Bentonville Public Library, Sue Ann Pekel.
We set up for our program in the music room where we spoke to students one grade level at a time.
8:10 – 9:00 Fourth Grade
9:00 – 9:50 Third Grade
9:50 – 10:40 First Grade
10:40 – 11:30 Lunch in the Library
11:30 – 12:20 Kindergarten
12:20 – 1:10 Kindergarten
1:10 – 2:00 Second Grade
Around midday it started to snow, but thankfully the precipitation quickly melted from the sidewalks and roads.
At 2:00 o’clock we toured the school. Nearly every hallway in the school was covered with student projects relating to Tiny Snail, and I took so many pictures (over 160) that I can’t share everything in one blog post. More pictures of student art and activities are forthcoming in the following posts:
Student Art at Willowbrook
Kindergarten Projects at Willowbrook
1st Grade Projects at Willowbrook
2nd Grade Projects at Willowbrook
3rd and 4th Grade Projects at Willowbrook
More related posts include:
Mrs. Caudill at Oak Elementary
Using Kaleidonotes in the Classroom
Translating Polliwog Into Spanish
Every student at Willowbrook is an author and illustrator. Congratulations Willowbrook students, and Happy Author Celebration Day!
Willowbrook Elementary: Where Every Student is an Author!
Shiloh’s Librarian, Melissa Merrifield (left) and Tammy (right).
On January 25, 2012 I spoke to all the students in Kindergarten through 5th grade at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, Arkansas. This was a special visit because Shiloh is a local Arkansas school, and I’ve visited them twice before: first on March 11, 2002 and again on February 26, 2004. Mrs. Merrifield has been the librarian at Shiloh for many years, and we are grateful that she has invited us to her school three times!
Shiloh Kindergarten Hallway
8:30 – 9:00 Kindergarten
9:15 – 10:00 2nd Grade
10:15- 11:00 3rd Grade
12:00- 12:30 1st Grade
12:45- 1:30 4th Grade
1:45 – 2:30 5th Grade
After our last visit, nearly every student in the school sent us thank you notes. They arrived in a large box.
I read ALL of my fan mail. I keep my fan mail, but there is so much that most of it is stored in a drawer. I loved the letter pictured below so much that I keep it on the shelf in my office (right above my computer) where I can see it everyday.
Mrs. Merrifield was kind enough to include a note that interpreted the letter. It reads:
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Dear Mr. and Mrs. Bronson,
I love your books. I think your next book will be a big success. Remember never give up. Be courageous even if there’s pressure…Just close your eyes and pray. No matter what happens, you can never give up on your goal.
From Quinn
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With all my heart, thank you, Quinn! Your message means the world to me. I will treasure your excellent advice.
Tammy Carter Bronson 