My First Classroom Visit As A Published Author

I've been a classroom countless times--obviously as a student, then as a student teacher when I was obtaining my teaching degree, as a substitute teacher, and finally, as a parent. (Oddly enough, I've never been in the classroom as a full-time teacher because I became a mom one short year after obtaining my teaching certificate and home was where I wanted to be.)

Earlier this week, I stepped into my daughter's fourth grade classroom as a published author. I felt honored to be asked to teach the students about the writing process. The kids were attentive and asked terrific questions. After we dissected the plot of a popular movie, they enthusiastically took my writing assignment to heart, brainstorming ideas for a short story in small groups.

At one point, I was able to read two excerpts from The Matchup, including the magic show that my main characters see on their pivotal date along with the magic show Whitney puts on for her family later. The magic show that Gage and Valerie watched was actually one of the most difficult pieces of writing in the entire story for me. I don't have much experience with magic shows and my research materials weren't providing much inside information that was useful. After a little more digging, I finally figured out the angle I wanted to take on this scene that my editor wanted me to expand on--the important role of the magician's assistant.

The second magic show, performed by Whitney, stemmed from my desire to show Gage and Valerie's children melding into a new family. Whitney, whose defensiveness stemmed from always feeling like she didn't quite fit in, needed to be shown that she was loved by someone other than her own parents. I felt that Tamera filled that role quite well. The fourth graders loved hearing my reading of that scene. My daughter demonstrated one of the magic tricks while I read. She was in seventh heaven!

It was so fun to be in a school classroom once again where awesome learning is taking place on a daily basis. My daughter has a wonderful teacher who genuinely cares about each of her students. I appreciate her inviting me to visit her classroom. My first classroom experience as a published author is something I won't forget any time soon!