Activities for Author in You

Activities for Author In You Featuring Helen Lester

Activity #1 & #2 Supporting AKS: (2LA_D2003-41) prewrite to generate ideas for writing from self-selected topics (2LA_D2003-43) write stories with a setting, characters, and a beginning, middle, and end (3LA_D2003-44) prewrite to generate ideas for writing from self-selected topics (3LA_D2003-46) write paragraphs with topic sentences and details ((3LA_D2003-48) write ideas in story form with attention to sequence, main ideas, and supporting details (3LA_D2003-50) incorporate story elements including setting, characters, and problem and solution (plot) in writing (4LA_D2003-34) prewrite to generate ideas for writing from self-selected topics (4LA_D2003-36) write ideas in story form with attention to sequence, main ideas, and supporting details (5LA_D2003-38) prewrite to generate ideas for writing from self-selected topics (5LA_D2003-40) write ideas in story form with attention to beginnings, sequence, main ideas, supporting details, and closing/clincher sentence

Activity #1 In the interview, Helen talks about how she starts a story. After starting the story and building the problem, she believes the most difficult part of the story for her is the ending. If they have problems in this process, remind them that Ms. Lester believes part of writing is thinking. They are not stuck…just thinking. 1. Have the children start a story as Ms. Lester directed in the interview. 2. After they have their ideas on paper, have them build a problem and think of an ending.

Activity #2 She also believes that writers must ask lots of questions. 1. Have the children make a list of questions. 2. From the list, have them select a question that they find interesting. 3. Have them expand this question into a story.

Activity #3 AKS: (2LA_D2003-42) revise writing to improve fluency, topic, word choice, style, sentence structure, and organization (3LA_D2003-52) revise writing to improve content , organization , and personal expression (4LA_D2003-37) revise writing to improve fluency, content (descriptive words, strong verbs), organization, and style to match purposes with audience (5LA_D2003-42) revise writing to improve fluency, content (descriptive words, strong verbs), organization, and style to match purposes with audience

When Ms. Lester is working on a story and it isn’t working, she puts it in her “Fizzlebox.” 1. Have the children create a “Fizzlebox.” 2. When they are writing a story and it isn’t working. Encourage them to take the story and put in their box. 3. After several weeks, have them revisit the stories in their box and pick one story that they will try to revise.

Activity #4 (2LA_D2003-48) use available technology to assist in writing (3LA_D2003-55) use available technology to assist in writing (4LA_D2003-42) use available technology to assist in writing (5LA_D2003-46) use available technology to assist in writing

When writing, Helen will many times write on any kind of available paper. Later she writes her finished story on her computer to send to the publisher. After the children have written their stories: 1. Have the students use the Student Writing Center or another desktop publishing program to publish the final story. 2. Have the children use Microsoft Word to write and edit their story.

Websites About Helen Lester and Her Books http://matottma.tripod.com/Lester/use.htm

A Porcupine Named Fluffy http://www.ilovethatteachingidea.com/ideas/010317_a_porcupine_named_fluffy.htm http://www.barren.k12.ky.us/kyreads/bookfolders/A/A%20porcupine%20named%20fluffy.doc http://www.eduplace.com/tview/pages/p/A_Porcupine_Named_Fluffy_Helen_Lester.html Reader’s Theater http://www.readinglady.com/Readers_Theater/Scripts/porcupine.pdf

Author: A True Story http://www.education-world.com/a_books/books020.shtml

Hooway for Wodney Wat http://www.kckps.org/readalouds/hooway.html Reader’s Theater http://www.readinglady.com/Readers_Theater/Scripts/wodneynot.pdf

It Wasn’t My Fault http://www.eduplace.com/tview/pages/i/It_Wasn_t_My_Fault_Helen_Lester.html

Listen Buddy Reader’s Theater http://www.readinglady.com/Readers_Theater/Scripts/listenbuddy.pdf

Tacky the Penguin http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/crc/webquest/tackythepenguin/tackpen.html http://www.readinglady.com/gr/Lesson_Plans/Tacky_the_Penguin/tacky_the_penguin.html http://www.spokane4kids.com/Ideas/helenlesterbookclub.htm http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-literature/MINIUNIT/DIFFER~1.HTM http://www.interlync.com/tumpali/penguins_teacher.html Reader’s Theater http://www.readinglady.com/Readers_Theater/Scripts/Tacky_the_Penguin.pdf

Helen Lester’s Books

1979—Cora Copycat 1983—The Wizard the Fairy and the Magic Chicken* 1985—It Wasn’t My Fault* 1986—A Porcupine Named Fluffy* 1987—Pookins Gets Her Way* 1988—Tacky the Penguin* 1990—The Revenge of the Magic Chicken* 1992—Me First* 1994—Lin’s Backpack* 1994—Three Cheers for Tacky* 1995—Listen Buddy* 1995—The Four Getters and Arf (Brian Karas) 1995—Wuzzy Takes Off with Robin Lester (Miko Imai) 1996—Help! I’m Stuck (Paulette Bogan) 1996—Princess Penelope’s Parrot* 1996—The Shy People’s Picnic 1997—Author: A True Story 1997—A Child’s Book of Poems 1998—Tacky in Trouble* 1999—Hooway for Wodney Wat* 2000—Tacky and the Emperor* 2001—Score One for the Sloths* 2002—Tackylocks and the Three Bears* 2003—Something Might Happen* 2004—Hurty Feelings* *Books illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Book Awards California Young Reader Medal 2002—Hooway for Wodney Wat

Georgia Children’s Picture Storybook Award 2004-- Hooway for Wodney Wat

Utah Children’s Book Awards 2001-- Hooway for Wodney Wat

VSBA—Volunteer State Book Award TASL—Tennessee Association of School Librarians 2002--Hooway for Wodney Wat

Young Hoosier Book Awards 2002-- Hooway for Wodney Wat