Last week, I had the privilege of visiting 4th and 5th graders at three local elementary schools. It was my first time being back in a classroom since the spring of 2023 when I retired early from teaching. Honestly, I was a little nervous at first. What would I talk about? Would the kids enjoy the presentation? Had I forgotten everything about interacting with a classroom of students?

A few weeks before the scheduled visits, I began planning. I researched what other authors did for school presentations, reached out to local authors for advice, and created a slide show to help me stay on topic when I was speaking.

Once I arrived at each school, I was warmly greeted by the teachers and the students, and I quickly felt at home. The kids were bright and funny and very interested in my book and the writing process. They asked terrific questions, and we had some good discussions. It made me miss the very best part of my old career in the classroom– the kids.

One student said that she wants to write a picture book about a cat that goes into outer space, and she asked what would be the best way to start the story. Another student said that he loved to read “everything,” while another said he might like to write a book about science. In the last group, a young lady asked me to tell her all the websites, programs, and apps I used to create and publish my book. She dutifully wrote each down, making sure to use correct spelling, and there’s no doubt in my mind that she’ll be a writer someday.

I’m so thankful for the honor of meeting young readers and writers last week, and I can’t wait to visit more schools. These kids give me hope for our future.