tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1755502616289652010.post5063885398125746129..comments2024-03-07T04:13:36.330-06:00Comments on The Storyteller's Inkpot: Time Away/What Do Kids ThinkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1755502616289652010.post-54312313241189559132010-02-20T12:30:11.067-06:002010-02-20T12:30:11.067-06:00Good point, Jason. Wish I lived nearby so that I c...Good point, Jason. Wish I lived nearby so that I could come visit with your students. <br /><br />Skate skiing is my thing from the Alaska days. But classic is mellower and I could use some of that. Bode Miller uncovered his mellow factor, didn't he?Claire Rudolf Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11520445613916601377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1755502616289652010.post-51215805213903675512010-02-19T11:42:24.490-06:002010-02-19T11:42:24.490-06:00I am looking forward to my "desk side chat&qu...I am looking forward to my "desk side chat" today, where I have students come to my desk (in my personal space) in their reading groups of 2-4 students and talk to me about their books. Normally I go to their groups, but I find a change of pace is nice. I have some amazing students right now, and they have blown past the minimum requirements for reading (2 books of their choice per quarter). I have a boy who has been turned on to Michael Crichton and is reading A BOOK A NIGHT! Anyway, as I looked out across my class yesterday, and noted the variety of titles in actual YA readers' hands, and thought about this exact idea. How many authors get to see this in action? Or get to walk into a classroom on a Friday and discuss books? <br /><br />My wife has done that in the past, just came and visited with some lit circle groups while I visited with others, and took that experience back to the practicum teachers that she is teaching at the university level. It is a rare kid that doesn't want to talk to adults about what they are reading, because for some, they just like to chat, but for others they want to share the accomplishment of reading a book.<br /><br />I think it is VERY important to talk to the people you are writing for, and not just in an "official paid capacity". Have an "off the cuff" visit and see what happens. Anyone is free to come visit my classes in good ol' South Dakota! ;PJason Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05671347398990738757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1755502616289652010.post-79732310630332800002010-02-19T10:31:11.750-06:002010-02-19T10:31:11.750-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jason Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05671347398990738757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1755502616289652010.post-59725273795137914502010-02-18T23:27:11.912-06:002010-02-18T23:27:11.912-06:00Wow--sounds like a great get-away, Claire. Skate o...Wow--sounds like a great get-away, Claire. Skate or classic skiing?<br /><br />Connecting with young readers is always illuminating. I feel lucky to still get a fair amount of email, though my most recent book is not recent at all. I'm also lucky to have a local high school librarian who is top notch and when I can talk to her about what her kids are reading (it's a large high school and she reaches out to all sorts of kids) I feel like I'm really getting a good picture. Problem with many such connections, however, is the sampling is often fairly small and the teen participants somewhat self-selecting and of a type. I've always been a bit of two minds about the weight adult sometimes give to teen reader panels for that reason. A lot of other readers slide under the radar and don't get heard.Marsha Qualeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02506544531376399293noreply@blogger.com