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Engage students with the collaborative writing game that boosts creativity and critical thinking. We help middle school ELA teachers enhance literacy.

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I love Book Creator! You can use the free version with small groups of students. However, the paid version gives you so many more options. It is wonderful for setting up libraries for specific projects.

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Book Creator - Love Learning - Book Creator app

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Teachers love it. Students love it. Book Creator is the simplest, most inclusive way to create content in the classroom.

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These are informational narratives created using Book Creator. We were able to print the books and glue them into our bare books so we had an online and print copy of each book. Using Google sites is a great way to share their writing with parents and other students.

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In writing class, third-graders have been reviewing informational and narrative writing to create picture books. We sincerely hope you will enjoy reading what we've created.

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This is a short tutorial on how to make a burrito book. This is a great trick for those days when the power (or internet) goes out and you need something to fill in. Students will only need a couple of pieces of paper and scissors to make the book. A great book to have on hand with this activity is Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk.

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This is the website I use to purchase our bare books for the year.

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Whether you are planning ahead for your next classroom project, or you are looking for something new to spice up your homeschooling, we are currently open and shipping product. If you have any questions, please email or call us, and we will be happy to help!
If you just happened upon us, you're in luck!

Bare Books and other "Bare" educational products are unique and some of the most inspiring you'll find. Bare Books give students a creative canvas for their writing, and become a cherished keepsake for parents! Bare Game Boards, Bare Puzzles, Bare Calendars, and the rest, offer a fun twist on learning and provide the resources for a truly memorable project.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions or comments about anything on the site. We'd love to hear from you!

E-Gift Cards can be purchased here!

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Projects For Students | Blank Storybooks, Puzzles & Games | Bare Books

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Whether you are planning ahead for your next classroom project, or you are looking for something new to spice up your homeschooling, we are currently open and shipping product. If you have any questions, please email or call us, and we will be happy to help!

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This is a google slide template that I have used for students to create their bare book.

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This is a fun website (and book) to use to find great words to talk about with your students.

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List of 500+ Fun, Cool and Interesting Words

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All writers love language. And we especially love fun, amazing words, don't we? Some have funky spellings, tongue-twisting turns, a satisfying "ooh"...and some sound too hilar...

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AFMAT Electric Pencil Sharpener for Colored Pencils, Fully Automatic Pencil Sharpener, Auto in & Out, Rechargeable Hands-Free Pencil Sharpener for 7-11.5mm Jumbo Pencils, Graphite/Skectch Pencils

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Amazon.com : AFMAT Electric Pencil Sharpener for Colored Pencils, Fully Automatic Pencil Sharpener, Auto in & Out, Rechargeable Hands-Free Pencil Sharpener for 7-11.5mm Jumbo Pencils, Graphite/Skectch Pencils : Office Products

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Instructional Technology Coach at Watskea School District

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amber.findlay@watsekaschools.com

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Paladone Super Mario Bros Mushroom Light with Sound, Nintendo Collectible Figure Lamp Gift for Fans, Themed Decor for Bedrooms or Gaming Rooms
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Paladone Super Mario Bros Mushroom Light with Sound, Nintendo Collectible Figure Lamp Gift for Fans, Themed Decor for Bedrooms or Gaming Rooms

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Level-up and illuminate your desk or shelves with this super-cute Super Mario Mushroom Light. This instantly recognizable Mushroom design makes a great present for lovers of the Super Mario franchise as well as fans of retro gaming in general. As you switch on the Mushroom Light it makes the offi...

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The students at the desks have a list of vocabulary words. The students that are up and moving around are "it, " meaning they have the list of words and definitions. They give the student sitting the definition, and the student identifies the word. If they are incorrect, they are it. They now have the list of words and meanings and begin finding someone to try to tag. Students at desks have three boxes. Every time they get an answer correct, they mark a box. This prevents the same students from being asked again and again. If the students see they already have two boxes marked, they will try to tag someone else. Once they earn three checkmarks, they've won the game.

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This is a video of students (and adults) explaining where they found their words. We would collect words for one month and then celebrate by dressing up as a word on Halloween. This encouraged students to become more curious about the vocabulary around them in their daily lives.

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3rd Grade Writing Teacher at Eastland Elementary School

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kfoltz@eastland308.com

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Copy of Informational Narrative Bookshelf

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This is a video of how students dressed up as words for an end of October activity. Students could dress up as any word collected; it did not need to be the word they personally added to the word jar.

There are a few great books to read that help students think about collecting words: Donovan's Word Jar by Monalisa DeGross, The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds, Max's Words by Kate Banks, and Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster by Debra Fraiser.

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It helps to have students plan out their story ahead of time by using a storyboard. This is the template I used that will match the bare book template.

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Copy of Copy of Copy of Compare and Contrast Bookshelf

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Here are a few sites that Ralph Fletcher, author and photographer, recommends to find photos to use in class.

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We also had a raccoon, who would help us to sniff out some great words around the community.

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There are many process charts out there. This is a pdf of one created by Jennifer Serravallo. It is from her book Teaching Writing in Small Groups.

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MOTIVATING PRIMARY EDUCATORS TO BREAK OUT OF THE BOX with fresh and innovative teaching ideas MEET LANESHA LaNesha Tabb JOIN THE LIST Join our email newsletter to download your FREE Writing Workshop Support Resource! JOIN Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates. latest on the blog READ MORE POSTS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LaNesha specializes ...

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Let's try it out!

RHDZCD9

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Web-based app for making ebooks in the classroom. Teachers can get started for free and invite students to join their library. Add text, images, audio and video and easily publish your books online.

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Writer of children's picture books, young adult fiction, and poetry.

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Ralph Fletcher has been a mentor to teachers and young writers everywhere. He has helped hundreds of thousands of teachers understand the importance of letting go and trusting their writers. Ralph's professional books are part of this tradition.

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LaNesha has a simpler version that would work great for younger writers, or it could be used to introduce the writing process to older students.

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If you're looking for great read alouds that the kids will love, this is the site to use.

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READ ALOUDS - STORYTIME WITH RYAN & CRAIG

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A research-based approach to literacy development

As educators, we work persistently to meet the needs of every student.

Our efforts toward this goal can be impacted by countless factors-our students' strengths and needs, our school environment and resources, state and federal standards, the input from countless invested community voices, time limitations, and more.

Hi, I'm Jennifer Serravallo

educator, author, speaker, and founder of Literacy Strategies Consulting, LLC.

I work worldwide alongside K-8 educators like you to develop proficient, enthusiastic readers and writers using research and practical strategies.

My model for supporting both students and adult learners is based on continuous data collection, intentional goal-setting, explicit strategy instruction, and responsive feedback.

With 20+ years of teaching experience, 15 books and teaching resources published, and an incredible consulting team by my side, I'd be honored to join the work in your district, as we collaborate to build knowledge, skills, confidence, and excitement around literacy learning and instruction.

personalize your literacy learning to match your interests, goals, and how you learn best.

From best-selling books to customizable professional development, you can personalize your literacy learning to match your interests, goals, and how you learn best. No matter how you choose to work with me, you'll get practical, timely strategies for learning and teaching, driven by needs-based assessments and backed by current research.

Professional Development

Collaborate with us for customized professional learning experiences based in your classroom, school, and district; or choose online workshops or webinar series.

Printable Resources

Download ready-to-use resources, including writing templates, assessments, study guides, and resources in Spanish.

Podcast

Keep up to date with current research and get realistic ideas and solutions for your classroom. Listen in as I interview researchers and scholars and have post-interview discussions with colleagues about practical takeaways.

Read about research-driven best practices using my best-selling books such as The Reading Strategies Book 2.0 (new 2023 edition!), The Writing Strategies Book, my comprehension assessment and teaching resource Complete Comprehension, and more.

"Our day with Jennifer was just amazing! Everyone was so engaged, enthusiastic, excited and on board, and I know we all found the strategies and resources to be so valuable. We got a ton of feedback on how people loved the day, and we are thrilled with everything."

- Lisa Thomas, Program Manager & Teacher Consultant, POPEY Conference

"I have so much more confidence in the journey I'm responsible for guiding readers through. I have read many books that leave me inspired to teach reading, but this is the best book I've read in terms of feeling equipped to decide on goals and strategies. It's amazing how much valuable information is packed into a surprisingly quick read. This will live right next to my plan book - I will refer to it constantly."

- Reader review for Understanding Texts and Readers, Goodreads

"The skills and strategies we are learning make teaching writing more manageable, through the use of small groups. Creating goal oriented groups have focused our teaching. We feel rejuvenated as teachers of writing."

- Shannon Ticali, 2nd Grade Teacher

"On behalf of all of us at 826 National-and also very much personally from me-thank you so much for joining us for the 826 Summer Learning Session. It was an incredible few days of learning together, with so much thanks to your participation. We are tremendously grateful for your time and shared expertise, and we look forward to continuing discussions from your session and applying this learning to our work in the year ahead."

- Kait Steele, Director of Field Operations, 826 Summer Learning Conference

"Jen knocked it out of the park today in her session with Oregon educators."

- Penny Plavala, Oregon State Literacy Association

"You did an absolutely outstanding job today. Your energy and enthusiasm are contagious! I was blown away by your ability to personally connect with people via chat and the Q and A section. Did I hear right... you answered over 40 questions during one of our work sessions this afternoon?! Wow! Today was the type of motivation and guidance our teachers needed to push through the next few months."

- Ryan Nevius, Executive Director, IL ASCD

learn more about customized professional learning.

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Practical, research-based strategies for learning & teaching literacy. Develop proficient readers & writers with Jennifer Serravallo, best-selling author.

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without quick writes!

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This can be a shelf of books, student work, photos, movies, games... anything you can fit on a shelf!

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Students pass the beginner level of typing.com to earn their driver's license.

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1st Grade Teacher at West Carroll School District

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ccurley@wc314.org

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5Rocky- we need your help 4 mins!_WMV V9.wmv

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3Mrs. Prins's Class meets Rocky3 minutes_WMV V9.wmv

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These pages have been put together in order to help you get the very most out of the visit you have planned with author, Sarah Weeks. If you've had authors come to your school before, then you know that every author visit is different. We encourage you to print out and share this information with teachers, PTO coordinators, staff and tech support. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact Sarah directly at: heysarahweeks@gmail.com.

On these pages you'll find helpful information about:

PREPARING FOR THE VISIT

Use the weeks, or better yet months preceding the visit to focus on the author's work. Make sure that a good selection of Sarah's books is available in the library. In addition, pre-ordering books is an excellent way to help build interest in an upcoming visit. Providing enough books for classroom read alouds and encouraging teachers to include the books in classroom art and curriculum lessons is a wonderful way to help engage students as they anticipate the visit.

(You will find a list at the end of this document suggesting titles appropriate for each grade level. See FAQ for some suggestions for art projects, etc.)

SCHEDULING THE DAY

Every school has things that need to be planned around. It may be that the room where the author is presenting, doubles as the cafeteria, music room or the gym. Or your students may have "specials" that need to be worked around. Here is some information that will help you plan your schedule for the day...

The length of the program varies depending on the age group and attention span of the students. Students should be grouped together by grade. For elementary schools: K-1, 2-3, 4-5 for intermediate schools groups can be mixed, or grouped by grade.

Please allow:
30 minutes for K-1 programs 45 minutes for 2nd-3rd programs 45-60 minutes for grades 4 and up
Every presentation includes a brief Q&A.

Autographing will take place after the presentations
Making the schedule.
In planning a schedule for your day, please keep in mind the following things:

The author does THREE presentations

Whenever possible it's best to schedule presentations back-to-back in the morning with autographing to follow. Allow 15 minutes between presentations to move kids in and out of the venue. Please avoid long periods of down time between programs.
Sample schedule: 8:45am-9:15am: K-1 9:30-10:15: 2-3 10:30- 11:15: 4-5
Having trouble finding a schedule that works? Consider some of these solutions other schools have come up with:

Smaller bodies fit in smaller spaces! Host K-1 in a smaller more intimate setting, like the library or music room. Schedule them for the third presentation to free up the multi-purpose room for lunch.

Have a picnic! Ask the lunchroom to provide bag lunches on the day of Sarah's visit and have kids eat in their classrooms.

Consider rescheduling "specials".

SETTING UP FOR THE VISIT
When setting up for the visit, keep in mind that the author will need the following:

LCD PROJECTOR

SCREEN

MICROPHONE AND PA SYSTEM (this is a must no matter how large the venue is!)

A ROOM WHICH CAN BE DARKENED

BOTTLE OF WATER

IF YOUR SCHOOL HAS A TECH PERSON ON STAFF, PLEASE HAVE THAT PERSON AVAILABLE DURING THE INITIAL SET-UP.

Sarah travels with a laptop (Macbook Pro) and both VGA and HDMI adapters, sometimes called "pig-tails", which work with all LCD projectors and SmartBoards. She does not bring her own projector or screen with her.

Sarah's programs cannot be transferred onto a school computer with a flash drive, as the formatting may be compromised.

Please be sure that the space where the presentations will take place is set up before her arrival with the following things:

LCD PROJECTOR ceiling mounted or on a cart with power cord, VGA cord (Sarah will bring the adapter, but not the cord) and extension cords if necessary. The newer the bulb in the projector, the better!

SCREEN, which has already been pulled down or set up. Paper or fabric taped to the wall will not produce a clear image for the audience.

Regardless of the size of the room, the author will need a microphone. A wireless hand-held mic or a hand-held mic with cord is preferred, but a body/lapel mic, which can be clipped on is fine if that is what's available. Test the equipment before the day of the visit to make sure everything is working. Use fresh batteries, and have spare batteries on hand, just in case.
TROUBLE-SHOOTING:

Please check before the day of the visit to make sure that the projected images can be easily seen by the audience in the room where the presentation will be taking place. If the projector needs to be elevated so that the image is centered on the screen, please do it in advance.

If the space has windows, please make sure that they are covered. If you don't have blinds or curtains, you can tape construction paper over them to block out the light.

Some auditoriums and gyms have time-delayed LIGHTS, which make it difficult to adjust lighting during presentations. Please make sure that there is someone who is familiar with the lighting available to help- especially if it requires a key.

The author will stand at the front of the room and use a remote control clicker during her presentations. She does not need a table, chair or lectern but she would appreciate it if you could provide a bottle of water. Ideally students will be sitting on the floor, or in fixed auditorium seating. Teachers should sit near their students.

If you do not have a ceiling mounted projector, please leave enough space around the cart so that there will be no risk of the equipment being jostled by the audience. A few small plastic traffic cones can help protect equipment and keep students safe.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Sort of Program Does The Author Do?

Sarah designs her programs to fit each grade level. For grades K-1 she focuses on her many picture books and talks about her life as an author. For grades 2-3 she focuses on her chapter books and shares writing tips. For grades 4 and up she focuses on her novels as well as the writing and editing process. Every program includes a PowerPoint presentation followed by Q&A.

Do we need to prepare students for the Q&A?

You can help students prepare by explaining what an appropriate question for an author might be. Sarah prefers that students NOT come with questions already written down as chances are that many of those questions will have already been answered during the presentation.

What do we do about lunch for the author?

If all three presentations take place in the morning, there is no need to provide lunch for the author. If your schedule requires that the author stay past noon, or if you have a particularly large number of books for the author to sign (more than 100) after she finishes presenting, Sarah will be happy to bring her own lunch, or a simple salad or sandwich can be brought in from a local deli.

It's important to provide a quiet space for the author to eat her lunch. It is not necessary to plan anything fancy, in fact Sarah prefers to have her lunch time to herself or with a few members of the library staff. If your school would like to plan an author lunch with kids or teachers present, this is something you need to discuss with the author before the visit.

How do we go about ordering books?

There are several options:

For easy one-stop shopping, you can contact my wonderful booking agent, Allyson Hickey at allyson@bookedauthors.com who will handle your book orders.

You can contact your local bookstore. Inquire as to whether they offer a discount for large book orders, many do.

You can order from AMAZON.com which carries a good selection of my books. Note: The popular Regular Guy series for middle grade readers is ONLY available through Amazon.

You can contact the publishers of the books you are interested in ordering.

Scholastic - 1-800-SCHOLASTIC

To pre-order books at a 40% discounted rate please contact Scholastic Customer Service in

Jefferson City, Missouri via PHONE 1-888-724-1872 x 8015 or via

EMAIL egoporders@scholastic.com.

HarperCollins: 1-800 242-7737

Simon and Schuster - 1-800-976-1726

HarperCollins: 1-800 242-7737

Simon and Schuster - 1-800-976-1726
BOOK LIST
Grade levels are only suggestions, many books are appropriate for more than one grade level.
Books for Pre-K, Kindergarten and First grade: From Scholastic: From HarperCollins:

Lizzy McTizzy and the Busy Dizzy Day

McNosh Hangs up Her Wash

McNosh and the Great Big Squash

Oh My Gosh Mrs. McNosh

Woof, A Love Story

Mac and Cheese (I Can Read Book)

Mac and Cheese and the Perfect Plan (I Can Read Book)

Drip Drop (I Can Read Book)

Pip Squeak (I Can Read Book)

Splish Splash (I Can Read Book)

Baa-Choo! (I Can Read Book)

From Simon & Schuster: Books for Second Grade From Scholastic:
(paperback repackaging of OGGIE COODER which includes both books in the series)
From HarperCollins: From Simon and Schuster

Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth
Books for Third and Fourth Grade From Scholastic:
( paperback combining both books in the Oggie Cooder series)
From Amazon.com (print on demand) From HarperCollins:

So B. It (best for 4th)

As Simple As It Seems (best for 4th)

Books for Fifth Grade and Up From Scholastic: From HarperCollins:

So B. It

Jumping The Scratch

As Simple As It Seems

Up All Night (short stories appropriate for mature readers)

HOW DO WE GET BOOKS READY FOR AUTOGRAPHING?

The more organized you are, the more quickly and smoothly things will go. Here is the method Sarah prefers:

Place a post-it note on the front cover of each book with the FIRST NAME ONLY of the person the book is to be autographed for. Make sure that the name is PRINTED clearly by an adult with good handwriting. Please do not let children write their own names on the post it notes.

(You can put the full name of the person, or a classroom number at the bottom of the post-it to make it easier to deliver the books later)

If a child has purchased more than one book, please put a
SEPARATE POST-IT NOTE ON EACH BOOK.
IMPORTANT!! PLEASE DO NOT USE RUBBER BANDS to group books

together!!! This slows the process down and may result in damaged books.

Organize the books by classroom/teacher in order to speed up the process of getting autographed books back to the classrooms after the visit. Some schools use paper shopping bags with classroom numbers printed on them to make this process easier.

If there are a large number of books to be autographed (more than 100) whenever possible, have a volunteer available to work with Sarah while she signs.

Provide a comfortable adult-sized chair and a sturdy table in a quiet, private area for autographing.

Sarah is happy to sign library copies, classroom copies and copies brought from home in addition to pre-ordered books. Every book will be signed before the end of the day!
IDEAS FOR ENRICHMENT
Encourage students to visit www.sarahweeks.com. Explore the ABOUT ME page, and the READER'S THEATRE page, where you can download free pdf's of Readers Theatre scripts to use in the classroom.

Get the art teacher involved! You'll find some suggestions for art projects based on Sarah's books on Sarah's BLOG. Go to the post called SOME COOL IDEAS! at www.sarahweeks.com.

Reading LIZZY McTIZZY? - Consider having students wear two different shoes to school.

Reading GLAMOURPUSS? Consider having a special "BE GLAMOURUSS" dress up day.

Reading HONEY? Host a nail polish party. (Make sure to invite the boys too- you may be surprised how many of them want to try it!) Inexpensive "quick dry polish" is available in lots of colors. For the more adventurous, try making your own. You'll find instructions galore on the Internet. Or you can order a DIY kit.

Warning: have plenty of nail polish remover on hand....

Reading PIE? Host a pie party in your classroom or library using the easy recipes in the book. Students may also enjoy reading this interview with Sarah: http://bookboxdaily.scholastic.com/2011/09/27/pie-a-delicious-interview-with-sarah-weeks/

Reading CHEESE? Try charving with your students. Visit the BLOG at www.sarahweeks.com and look for the post called "SOME COOL IDEAS?" for a creative alternative to using cheese.

Reading SO B IT? Consider showing students the movie, which is now available on DVD and Pay per view. You might also want to recommend students read SOOF, the companion book for So B It.
Sarah Weeks looks forward to her visit with you!
An author visit can be a wonderfully enriching experience for your students and teachers. These suggestions are offered in order to help you plan the most successful visit possible for your school. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact Sarah directly at: sweeksny@gmail.com

Thanks for reading and please don't hesitate to get in touch with Sarah if you have questions or concerns. Here's to a wonderful visit!
Sarah Weeks looks forward to her visit with you!
An author visit can be a wonderfully enriching experience for your students and teachers. These suggestions are offered in order to help you plan the most successful visit possible for your school. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact Sarah directly at: sweeksny@gmail.com. Thanks for reading and please don't hesitate to get in touch with Sarah if you have questions or concerns. Here's to a wonderful visit!

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Sarah Weeks is coming to visit your school! These pages have been put together in order to help you get the very most out of the visit you have planned with author, Sarah Weeks. If you've had authors come to...

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photo of rubric - descriptive paragraph.PNG

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student friendly compare and contrast writing rubric.pdf