Posts Tagged “PTO”

It takes a community

I know there are some who feel that idea was made popular and also coined by the wrong people, however, the truth the words themselves hold is strong for me. In the face of mass school closings, teacher lay-offs, whole staff firings and the current negative aura that surrounds education, I was brightened by our community this week when the PTO and local businesses paid to have an author come to our school and spend the day. School budgets are tight, there is no doubt about that, and our district would not have been able to have Shelley Gill inspire and teach our students about reading and writing without the support of our local community.

But it was not just the financial support that was evident; parents came to see and hear her speak as well. Like us, the teachers and students, they were enchanted by Shelley as she told tales of how her books came into being. It became immediately clear that these stories were not only entertaining, but connected all of us to the world community as well. Her unique experiences in the world at large are amazing to hear, but they also reflected on the smaller world of our rural Midwest town. This author said things in her speech that I say daily to my students. Using “juicy details”, reading to expand your word selection, that a book is like an onion, use your senses when you read and write……Shelley said all of those things as she spoke, just from a different perspective. Hearing this from a “real” person (one who writes really good books even), not just your teacher….well that’s powerful! Just as compelling were her messages about environmental responsibility, respect for other cultures and independent thinking.

This was a super presentation to have on a Friday. Instead of feeling wiped out from the long week, I left feeling at least mentally re-energized. Not because I was completely entertained all day by this engaging author, but because of the connections I made to myself, my curriculum, my students and the world in general. In order to produce wonderful, active learners it does take a community, small, medium and worldwide to share their generosity, their support, and their experiences. If one of those goes missing, the lesson is diminished in some way, and we have shortchanged not only our students, but all of us.

I want to thank Shelley Gill for her energy, enthusiasm, compassion and time. This is a great lady who could easily be spending her time on another adventure, instead of spending it in an elementary school. If you would like more information on Shelley Gill, her books and adventures you can check her out at http://shelleygill.com . You can find out about author visits, her books as well as teacher resources.