Students Chat with Award-Winning Author by Internet
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Students in Kristina Williams' class at Springer School and Center recently had an opportunity to meet Newbery Honor Award winning author Ingrid Law. The sixth- and seventh-graders enjoyed a 20-minute question-and-answer session with Ms. Law through Skype.
The students prepared for the meeting by reading one of Law's books, researching her biography on the Internet and generating questions they would like to ask. They asked their questions in groups, standing in front of a camera so that the author could see them as she spoke with them.
Williams scheduled her class to read the book, Savvy, this year, then by coincidence met the author at a children’s literature conference. She asked if Law would be available to come to Springer for an author visit. Law was not able to come for a visit, but instead suggested the Skype encounter.
On the day of the scheduled meeting, heavy snow in Boulder, Colorado, disrupted Internet service at the writer’s home. Law drove to local wifi hotspot, where she made connection by phone and spoke with the students from the front seat of her car.
"It was a wonderful experience!” said Williams. “Many students expressed that the entire process brought more meaning to the reading of Savvy. I am grateful to Ms. Law because this event built a stronger community of readers. The students now have a common language when discussing the book."
