My day began very early. I had to be at the hotel before 9:00 a.m. because the third graders were supposed to spend the day with me. I brought my computer downstairs because Pete did not get up to make breakfast. So rather than make my own breakfast, I instead went online and began reading the New York Times.

Folks, we are in deep do do. Trump and Company attacking Zelinsky. None of these individuals have what’s most needed at this point in history, political tact. I fear WW III. It doesn’t take a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. . .

I put all this on the back burner when the third graders finally arrived. There were, with parents, at least 20 people in the former banquet room of the historic Eagle Hotel. We began with them book cleaning. I did not go into great detail as to what to do because I feared that being young, the youngers would not listen. So I let them have at it. They did ask questions as things came up, and I think they did an amazingly good job. They, along with their parents, self-organized. They cleaned, sorted, and even categorized books. And we all got to know one another.

They ate lunch companionably. Then the fun really began. I read them a book about the various types of dinosaurs, and after, Clyde, who came to give an assist, asked them questions from a true/false dinosaur book. These kids were smart, attentive, and able to free associate. They also had good imaginations.

After reading, I showed them the books on the table, and they then began working on their own books. I presumed that they’d draw a blank and not know what to write or draw. Not so. They wrote, drew, shared stories, most of which indicated that they had learned something about dinosaurs during story time. Right now, I am thinking about one story in which the boy wrote about Tyrannosaurus Rex having very short arms, which was why he didn’t have friends. I did not want to come across as dictating what he or any other student should write, but I did, after looking at a book with him, decide that what was most endearing about T Rex was his roar, which enabled him to finally make friends. Here, the student was stuck but became unstuck in coming up with this particular ending.

The best part of the day occurred when some of the students did their own story time and read their books.

The students left the former banquet room of the historic hotel with books, lots of books in hand and in bins. They, I think, had a fun day and learned a great deal.

Tonight, I had to write a presentation proposal for the Science of Reading Symposium, which will be in May, and so I drew upon (no pun intended) what I did with the students, which was to use heuristics, or triggers, in generating ideas. We’ll see if this flies Orville. Either way, I know I’m onto something.

Next: 60. 3/1/25: March 1, 2025