AUTHOR VISITS TO BRIER

Thanks to our wonderful PTA, Brier Elementary has been fortunate to have several authors visit our school. Below is a list of the authors. Click on the year for highlights of that visit. Click on the author's name to go to their official web page, if they have one.

2007-2008 - Cindy Lou Aillaud

Mrs. Aillaud visited our school on March 17. We had a great time. She held 2 assemblies (primary & intermediate) in our gym and then some multiple-class sessions in the library focused on writing. She also autographed copies of her book "Recess at 20 Below" for students and staff. The highlight of her visit was playing the game of Blizzard with the entire school. We learned a lot about Alaska and writing.

Photos coming soon!

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2006-2007 - Christine McCroskey

Christine visited Brier on November 20 and 21st (2006). She shared her life and work at 2 assemblies and then conducted art workshops with every class in the school. Students enjoyed creating artwork of teddy bears, cats, harbor seals, whales, and lighthouses. Some lesson included the use of charcoal.

Chris speaks to students at an intermediate assembly.

Chris share nautical artifacts with students.

Chris works with a primary group drawing a teddy bear with charcoal.

2nd & 3rd Graders working on harbor seal drawings.

Student working on a cat drawing using a charcoal eraser.

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2005-2006 - Teresa Bateman

Teresa came to our school on February 24, 2006. She did 5 presentations about writing and how to create a satisfying story. She is an incredible story teller and told many of her stories, some not yet published. She explained the process of getting a book published and how many times she revised (a lot!). She autographed books for students and staff.

Teresa talks about how writer's get ideas.

Teresa is a wonderful storyteller!

Autographing a teacher's book!

Teresa shares one of her wonderful hats.

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2004-2005 - Laura Kvasnosky

Laura came to Brier in June 2004. She did 2 student assemblies and 3 classroom workshops. She shared how her life stories inspired her Zelda & Ivy series, as well as, her other books. That evening she did taught a family story writing workshop. Participants worked together to create a story on butcher paper. It was a wonderful experience for those involved.

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2003-2004 - Andrea Helman

This was Andrea's first school visit. She shared slides by Art Wolfe of photographs that were used in her books "Northwest Animal Babies" and "1,2,3 Moose" to 3 groups throughout the day. She did a writer's workshop in 2 classrooms. She explained how she used research to find interesting facts about the animals and how she worked with words to come up with the right combination for the text.

Andy tells a folktale during the presentation.

Andy prepares to show slides of many animals as she talks about her research.

Working with students during a writer's workshop.

Autographing books.

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2003-2004 - Margaret Read McDonald

Margaret is an incredible story teller. She told stories from all over the world to 4 groups. She explained where her stories came from and how she adapted some of them. She autographed books for students and staff. After dinner with the school's Literacy Team, she presented a program at the Brier Public Library.

Margaret sharing one of her stories with a group.

Margaret tells wonderful stories.

Sharing a traditional skirt.

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2002-2003 - Greg Brown

Greg was our school's first visiting author. He shared how he used technology in his writing process along with many stories about the athletes he has written about. He had the students assist during his 4 presentations. He signed books for students and staff.

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Brier Elementary School Library - Dave Sonnen, Librarian - Updated Fall 2008

"The mission of the school library media program is to insure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information." -Information Power, 1998.