Welcome to the World of: Andrew Clements

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Welcome to the World ofAndrew Clements

• Dion Stocks

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More than an Author

• " I loved reading good books with kids the
  kids at school and also the four boys my wife and
  I had at home. As a teacher, it was a thrill to
  read a book aloud, and see a whole class listen
  so carefully to every word, dying to know what
  would happen next. And I was amazed at the
  wonderful discussions a good book can spark. Good
  books make good things happen in real life. They
  can make a big difference. So when I was given
  the chance to start writing for children, I
  jumped at it."

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Frindle-n. a device used to write or make marks
with ink

• Teacher in Chicago Public schools
• Worked for publishing company after teaching-
  invited by a friend to join Picture Book Studio
• Currently focuses on writing books full time
• Earliest works were picture books.

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And now a word from our Author

• Before Frindle, I had only written picture books.
  I love the compactness of the picture book form
  and the discipline required to write one--like
  pouring ten gallons of ideas into a teacup. The
  transition to longer fiction didn't come easily.
  In fact, I first wrote Frindle as a picture
  book--the entire plot and all the characters
  compressed into a three-page story called 'Nick's
  New Word.'

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Chapter Book Themes

• Sticks with the school scene!
• Storylines follow a conflict between student and
  teacher.
• Thought about varying from this format but decide
  why- it works!
• Realistic Fiction

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His Selections

• Frindle- A terrific twist on how words are a
  powerful part of our everyday world
• Report Card- A true statement of the effect of
  grades and how even our students wonder what they
  really mean.
• A Week in the Woods- the tale of a battle between
  a student and his teacher

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Classroom Study

• Theme- SCHOOL
• 1- Create your own story book based upon a new
  word/object.
• 2-Artistic Representation of your report card-
  how does it make you feel, consequences,
  gratification?
• 3-Landary News- Create your own newspaper that
  illustrates characters, events from the book-
  predict if the story were to continue

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Class Study- Cont.

• 4- Research an interesting scientific moment-
  create a Power Point that gives the history, the
  scientific connection and if possible a small
  (safe) experiment to help illustrate what
  happened.
• 5-Create a cartoon strip about an event that
  happened to you in school that was funny,
  exciting or scary.

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As we close

• Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to
  write so many books. The answer is simple one
  word at a time. Which is another good lesson, I
  think. You don't have to do everything at once.
  You don't have to know how every story is going
  to end. You just have to take that next step,
  look for that next idea, write that next word.
  And growing up, it's the same way. We just have
  to go to that next class, read that next chapter,
  help that next person. You simply have to do that
  next good thing, and before you know it, you're
  living a good life.

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Sources

• http//www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/clements.htm
  l
• http//www2.scholastic.com/teachers/authorsandbook
  s/authorstudies/authorhome.jhtml?authorID2227col
  lateralID10917.
• http//www.edupaperback.org/showauth.cfm?authid48