BLOG.AKSPIRITOFREADING.COM

Message from Will Hobbs

Spirit Readers Blog — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:08:00 GMT

To my Spirit of Reading Friends:

Hello up there, this is Will Hobbs, back home in southwestern Colorado after a fantastic week in southeast Alaska to kick off your 2010-2011 Alaska Spirit of Reading program. I had a fantastic week with my readers in Ketchikan, Sitka, and Juneau, at their schools and their public libraries. I'm honored that kids around the state are reading three of my "North" titles this year through this great program. Leaving Protection and Wild Man Island take place in Alaska, and Far North takes place in the Northwest Territories of Canada. I invite you to visit my website www.willhobbsauthor.com where you'll find an interview plus photos for those three and all my other novels. Have a great winter and GO BIG WITH READING!

--Will Hobbs

From Mr. Allison

Spirit Readers Blog — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:10:00 GMT

What was the coolest thing about Will Hobb's visit to Blatchley Middle School? Write a five-sentence paragraph. The first sentence should be about the "coolest thing." The next three sentences should explain and the fifth sentence restate your main idea.

Sitka High Reads Far North

Spirit Readers Blog — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 22:55:00 GMT

Hello to the Sitka Wolves! Author Will Hobbes will be in Sitka soon and visiting Sitka High on Wednesday, September 22. We welcome blog comments from SHS students here!

Bethel!

Spirit Readers Blog — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:10:00 GMT

Roland Smith was treated like a celebrity when he came to Bethel, AK.Getting authors to this remote site is prohibitive because of the cost of flying here, so having an author in town is a rare and special occasion.

Roland Smith did two presentations at Gladys Jung Elementary School and one at Bethel Youth Facility. Fifteen students from the junior high and 5-6th grade were randomly drawn to "eat lunch with an author" after his presentations. It was quite a spread with lasagna, french bread, dried fish strips, agutak and cookie. Students were able to sit and ask questions to Mr. Smith in a very casual and comfortable setting.

Roland saw his biggest crowds when visiting Bethel. He presented first to approximately 190 kindergarten through third graders and gave a second presentation to 500 fourth through eighth graders. Librarian Suzanne Richards reported that students were very excited about having an author visit their town, a rare occurrence that left students wondering when JK Rowling could come by!

Lathrop High Freshman Team A

Spirit Readers Blog — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:32:00 GMT

75 students in Lathrop's Team A met with Roland Smith during his visit to Alaska. The interdisciplinary class centers on investigations of English, earth science and health. "Peak was a perfect match. It fit in well with the class, touching on geologic formations, climbing, and altitude sickness," commented Lathorp librarian Lynne Krizek. Team A students are still finishing the book and working on writing activities associated with Peak.

Roland is only one of several visitors to Team A students this year. As part of a grant, the school brought Himilayan climbers to meet with the students.

Hunter Elementary

Spirit Readers Blog — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:19:00 GMT

We'll have information soon about Mr. Smith's visit to upper elementary students at Hunter Elementary.

University Park Elementary Reading Away

Spirit Readers Blog — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:42:00 GMT

Third through sixth graders at University Park Elementary (300 students) read up a storm before and after Roland Smith's visit there. Sixth graders read copies of Thunder Cave borrowed from the Alaska Spirit of Reading program. Other students visited the library for copies of Peak, Zach's Lie, Tentacles, and IQ. During his visit, copies of Sea Otter Rescue and The Captain's Dog. Thanks to University Park Elementary for their participation in the Alaska Spirit of Reading program.

Fairbanks Regional Youth Facility.

Spirit Readers Blog — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:31:00 GMT

Roland visited the Fairbanks Regional Youth Facility to talk to students there. "It went really well and the kids enjoyed it," commented FRYF employee Mike Shay. Ten students met with Roland and asked good questions about the writing process and how stories are conceived and developed. The Spirit of Reading program provided books to three of Alaska's youth facilities. Students in Fairbanks had either read the book or were in the process of reading it when Roland visited. Thanks FRYF for participating in the Alaska Spirit of Reading program.

Roland at Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library

Spirit Readers Blog — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:27:00 GMT

Roland Smith gave a great presentation to kids and adults in Fairbanks on Wednesday night. We all enjoyed the photo journey through his life, books, and writing process. It was good to hear about the steps leading up to those great books, including Peak. Door prize drawings included Cryptid Hunters, Tentacles, and Peak.

Thanks for sharing your work, Roland!

Mr. Allison's Class

Spirit Readers Blog — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:47:00 GMT

Mr. Hedden's Class

Spirit Readers Blog — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:34:00 GMT

You must enter the Witness Security Program. Create a new identity for yourself. Where will you relocate to? What will your new school be like? Who are your new friends? What is your new name? You get the idea...

One more thing. How would you change yourself? Is there anything you'd like to improve about yourself?

Great Audioconference!

Spirit Readers Blog — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:05:00 GMT

Thanks to students from Kokhanok School and Valdez City Schools for participating in the audioconference. Hoping to hear from you about your experience!

Mount Edgecumbe Welcomes Roland Smith

Spirit Readers Blog — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:46:00 GMT

Roland presented to the entire student body of Alaska's own boarding school - Mount Edgecumbe High School. Librarian Erika Drain commented, "We laughed and learned about how he researched his topics. He talked about biology, environmentalism, research, writiing. He hit almost every subject area. Teachers were thrilled." Many students at the school have read Peak, as it was a battle book this year. Students found the information about the dangers and reality of climbing Mt. Everest most surprising.

Sitka High School

Spirit Readers Blog — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:07:00 GMT

Roland presented to an audience of 400 at Sitka High's Performing Arts Center. Free copies of Peak were handed out to more than thirty students. Interested students were invited to a pizza lunch with the author.

Roland on Talk of Alaska

Spirit Readers Blog — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:30:00 GMT

Roland appeared on the statewide radio program "Talk of Alaska. Becca Padrick and Benton Campbell from Goldenview met with host Steve Heimel in the Anchorage studio. Here they are with Mr. Heimel and the show's producer and sound guy.

Roland called in from Sitka High School where he was joined by librarian Ginny Blackson and SHS's Battle of the Books team. Thanks to the SEER School in Sitka for calling in and to all the other people in the state who participated.

Listen to the broadcast at Talk of Alaska .

Roland Presents at Kettleson Memorial Library

Spirit Readers Blog — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:21:00 GMT

Roland presented to a crowd of 30-40 at Kettleson Memorial Library. Students from the SEER School surprised the audience by attending the event in costumes representing the covers of Roland Smith's books. Please stay tuned to the blog for pictures.

Roland in Sitka

Spirit Readers Blog — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:30:00 GMT

Roland Smith is spending two days in Sitka. Today he met with sixth and seventh graders at Blatchley Middle School. Later in the day he held an audioconference with schools around the state. Here he is answering questions from students in Valdez. Thanks also to Kokhanok School for their participation. Stay tuned to the blog. Mr. Smith will be visiting the blog and reading your messages.

Roland Smith Visits Ketchikan

Spirit Readers Blog — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:24:00 GMT

Ketchikan is Roland Smith's first stop on his Alaska Spirit of Reading tour. While in Ketchikan Roland will visit the public library and the youth facility.

Sasquatch Sighting!

Spirit Readers Blog — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:37:00 GMT

Read first hand accounts of the Sasquatch sighting here!

Ms. Bishop Wants to Know

Spirit Readers Blog — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:01:00 GMT

Thunder Cave - What do you think is the message of this novel? What does Roland Smith want us to understand, learn about, or know?