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Read Along or Enhanced eBook:
Mrs. Hartwell is preparing her class to take the Big Test. Knowing they have studied and are well-prepared, she helps the students practice how to sit quietly, fill in the bubbles, and follow the directions. She even instructs them on proper morning-of-the-test nutrition. As her students grow increasingly anxious about the Big Test, Mrs. Hartwell realizes she has to teach the most valuable test-taking skill of all: learning to relax!As a child, when I played at being grown-up, I never imagined myself as a writer. Instead I dreamed of being a famous chef, a secret agent, or a psychologist. I didn't end up becoming any of those things. Instead, I became a teacher. I started off as an elementary school teacher, and thanks to my job, read lots and lots and lots of children's books. Not only was it fun, I witnessed, firsthand the profound impact a good book can have on a child. It didn't take long before I was motivated to try and write books like the ones I enjoyed reading. Later, when I became a mother, I began to seriously consider becoming a writer during our weekly trips to the library with my children. I think I enjoyed story time more than they did! The funny thing is that my kids eventually graduated from the children's section of the library and I never did. I still go to the library at least once a week, and while I don't sit in on storytime anymore, I do leave every week with an armload of picture books. Looking back I see how being a children's writer has helped me bring together many of my interests--teaching, traveling, and being creative. After several years of teaching elementary school, I ended up teaching middle school, and I loved it. I am now newly retired and am enjoying immersing myself fulltime in writing and teaching writing to others. My husband and I live in Boulder, Colorado where I enjoy reading, quilting, hiking, biking, and spending time with my family.
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