School Visits and Page Turns

School visits are such fun. I get to watch children’s reactions as I read Winnie Acts Up, especially, when I turn the pages. Certain page turns are priceless! That is why I pay attention to them when I write. Though not every page turn needs to be “special,” enough of them do so children are pulled into the story. When students are engaged, they try to predict what will happen next. If they guess right, they are ecstatic; but when they guess wrong, I can see the wheels turning in their brains to make sense of the twist.

Every classroom is different. I can quickly tell whether a class is engaged in the story or whether they are just listening attentively as expected by the teacher. I like to read with emphasis on the important words or throw in a question or two to find out whether the goal of the page is resonating with them. There are always a few children who are with me from the start, but I like to find those who may not be as focused on the story and capture their attention. At the end of the reading, it is heartwarming to have a student say, “Will you come back and read it again?”