03 Apr An Author a Week with Teacher, Kelly Purdy

Welcome to Writing Outside the Lines. Usually, this blog is about authors, illustrators, and others in the book-creating community. But today is different. Today, it is about someone we create for and someone who uses her own passion and creativity to inspire students every day.

I have had the opportunity to read  to the students in Kelly Purdy’s class a few times (with a lot of help from her for this “Google Meet” novice), but I am far from the only one who has had that opportunity. Today, Ms. Purdy will tell us about her program, #anauthoraweek (Yes, she really gets an author a week to visit!).  I am thrilled to have her here.

EL: Welcome, Kelly! I am so happy to have an outstanding teacher such as yourself on the blog today. Please tell us a little about yourself, your background, and, of course, the #anauthoraweek program. 

KP: I am a first-grade teacher at Gidney Avenue Memorial School in Newburgh, NY.  I have been teaching here for seven years now.  Prior to teaching in Newburgh, I taught in the Bronx for three years and at a charter school in Yonkers for one year.  I grew up in a small town called Stormville, just across the river from Newburgh.  Although from a small town, I went to a rather large high school, Arlington High School, where I graduated with nearly 1000 students.  After high school, I went to SUNY Oneonta for my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and then to Mercy College for my Master’s Degree in Literacy.  I also later became certified in Students with Disabilities. Growing up, I was not an avid reader or writer; in fact, I struggled with both.  This has pushed me to create a totally different experience for my students, which is partly how the #anauthoraweek program came to life! 

EL: This is such a fantastic program. How did you come up with the idea? Can you give us any background info?

KP: While I was teaching in the Bronx I came across a list of authors who were offering free Skype (remember that?!?) sessions for World Read Aloud Day.  I connected with Jackie Azua Kramer for a visit that day, and the rest is history!  The following year, I thought to myself, I wonder if I could do this from now until the end of the year, and I did.  I booked authors to visit my class once a week from World Read Aloud Day through the end of the year in June.  The following year, I moved to Newburgh, and I challenged myself to see if I could fill the whole year, and to my surprise, it worked!  Now, for the seventh year in a row I have filled our calendar to visit with one author a week from September through June.  We have connected with authors all across the country and even on other continents! The feedback I get from parents about how their children come home talking about these visits is what keeps me motivated year after year.

EL: I can tell you that I am honored to have been part of that program. What are your favorite things about teaching little ones? Have you always taught that age?

KP: When I first graduated college, I started as a substitute teacher.  The principal I was working under at the time said he saw me as an upper elementary teacher.  He gave me two long-term leave replacements in third grade.  I then taught 5th grade for a year.  At this point, I believed him as I didn’t know any better.  However, I was then offered a position to teach kindergarten.  I was scared beyond belief because he had me believe that I belonged in the upper grades, however, it was a job, so I took the leap.  I could never go back! The littles are my favorites!  I taught kindergarten for 3 years and now first grade for seven.  I love how excited they are to come to school every day and how they are like little sponges that can take on so much in one year.  What I really love about the little ones is that their growth is so obvious.  They go from barely being able to write their name to being able to write full sentences and stories that make sense.  It’s rewarding to see that growth!

EL: That sounds exciting! As the years move on, so do the challenges of teaching. What has changed for you?

KP: I think the fact that most kids are attached to technology has a negative impact that was not present in the past.  They truly struggle with being able to appropriately socialize with their peers because they are not playing outside and engaging with other children outside of school.

EL: Were you a big reader when you were a kid? What books did you like? 

KP: No, I was not. I struggled with finding books that I could connect with and really become engaged with as a kid.  I also struggled with being able to write.  I remember my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Orbik even signed me up for a program after school to receive extra help with writing.  I was always a numbers girl and loved math.  I do, however, remember enjoying the Amelia Bedlia books and the Babysitters Club books as they were books that I could relate to.

EL: What books do you like now? 

KP: I feel like I need to hide for this question, because I am not a reader.  Occasionally, I’ll read a book on the beach, but it has to be something light. I am the type of reader who will read a whole page without focusing and have to go back because I have no idea what I just read.  I do enjoy books that are also movies so that I can have a general idea of what will happen.  The one thing I pride myself on, though, is that my students will never know this, and my coworkers are shocked when they find out! I will always heavily promote a love for reading in my class because I feel like it is something that I missed out on.

EL: How do you think the #anauthoraweek helps your kiddos? 

KP: I think this program helps my students develop a love for reading and writing.  They gain more confidence in being able to read and write from talking with different authors and sometimes illustrators too.  When they go to the library they get excited when they find a book that we have read together, and often check it out.  They go home and tell their parents all about the visit, which hopefully leads them to read a book together.  I also notice that it helps them become good at asking questions.  As we move throughout the year their questions quickly change from things like “Do you have any pets?” to questions like “Where do you get your ideas from?” which is amazing to see.

EL: I love their questions! Thank you so much for what you do every day. As an educator myself who spent many years in the classroom, I know it is one of the hardest jobs, and you do it brilliantly. My wish for you is that your #anauthoraweek program continues for years, and my wish for myself is that I finally learn how to share slides on Google Meet better so I can keep coming to your class!

Congrats on all you do, Ms. Purdy!

Until next time,

Ellen

DEBBIE’S SONG: THE DEBBIE FRIEDMAN STORY

https://bookshop.org/p/books/debbie-s-song-ellen-leventhal/18680277?ean=9781728443027

A FLOOD OF KINDNESS

https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-flood-of-kindness-ellen-leventhal/15150623?ean=9781546034582

DON’T EAT THE BLUEBONNETS

https://www.clearforkpress.com/product-page/don-t-eat-the-bluebonnets