Thank you, Hampden Meadows - Part 1

Last week, I had one of the most amazing author visit EVER!

Hampden Meadows School in Barrington, Rhode Island, knows how to do it right.

Talk about preparation!

Talk about excitement!

Every fourth grade class had read my books, discussed my books, and made fantastic projects based on my books.

It was an author's dream come true, that's for sure.

When you're greeted by this, you know you're in for a great day.

Me with school librarian, Melanie Roy (right), who is smart, kind, funny, enthusiastic and passionate about books and reading. The energy in her library is amazing.

Mrs. Carroll's students interviewing me for Kids' Corner.

Melanie Roy (left), me, and reading specialist Cara Sanchez (right).

Tomorrow I'm going to share the amazing projects the students worked on.

And here they are: the 4th grade students of Hampden Meadows 

Mrs. Waring's class

Mrs. Burrows' class

Mrs. Ginalski's class

Mr. Farley's class

Ms. Wilson's class

Mrs. Carroll's class

Mrs. Theroux's class

Mrs. Gluek's class

Mrs. Mitchell's class

Mrs. Bailey's class

Mrs. Clegg's and Mrs. Ingram's class

 

Things I Love Thursday

I love when I get such a good "report card" from students I've spoken to!

(Thank you, Hampden Meadows)

 

Two Things on Tuesday

Thing One

I am so looking forward to going to one of my MOST favorite schools tomorrow. And how can I not love seeing this as the students prepare?

Thing Two

Don’t sit down in the middle of the woods. If you’re lost in the plot or blocked, retrace your steps to where you went wrong.

—Margaret Atwood 

 

Arkansas Part 6

My last day in Bentonville.

Me with Centerton Gamble librarian, Renee Wall

Centerton Gamble with a book cake!

The cake

Centerton Gamble Elementary

Elm Tree Elementary

Arkansas Part 5

One of the highlights of my trip to Bentonville was seeing the play of The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester performed by the Bentonville High School drama students.

Thank you to Fine Arts Chair, Justin Scheuer, for this great honor.

Owen with Tooley

Owen and Earlene

Viola and Owen in the submarine

Viola lecturing Stumpy, Travis and Owen

Travis and Stumpy with Tooley in his cage

Me with the cast and crew. They rocked it.

Things I Love Thursday

I love students letting me know I did a good job.

(Here they are saying, "Oh, you did a great job!")

Great students 2 from Barbara O'Connor on Vimeo.

(They are saying, "You're great!)

Great students 1 from Barbara O'Connor on Vimeo.

Arkansas Part 4

Day 3 in Bentonville (continued)

Central Park Elementary

Central Park Elementary

 Central Park Elementary made frog traps!! 

Check 'em out.

Thomas Jefferson Elementary

Arkansas Part 3

Day 2 in Bentonville 

Cooper Elementary School

Sugar Creek Elementary

Mary May Jones Elementary School

Day 3 in Bentonville

A nice welcome from Willowbrook Elementary

They made an amazing submarine!

Willowbrook Elementary

They gave me a T-shirt and an elephant (their mascot)!

Arkansas Part 2

My first school day in Bentonville in pictures:

Speaking to grades 2-4 at Apple Glen Elementary School

Speaking to K-1 students at Apple Glen

Thanks for the greeting, Baker!

Speaking to Baker students

Cool submarine, Baker!!

Speaking to homeschoolers at the public library

Bentonville Public Library (Thank you, Sue!)

I am a frog.