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Author Tonya Duncan Ellis Virtually Visits Third Grade

Author Tonya Duncan Ellis returned to Gilman in early December to share writing tips with the third grade students. Zooming in from Texas, Ellis explored topics like theme, setting, protagonist and antagonists, and plot. After the visit, the boys began their in-depth study of her novel, “Sophie Washington: Queen of the Bee.”

“We use this book to understand the parts of the story and practice ‘Things Good Readers Do’,” said third grade teacher Becky Stevens. Those reading skills include previewing, questioning, connecting, predicting, inferring, evaluating, and summarizing.

The students loved hearing Ellis talk about her favorite childhood books as well as her process for writing and thinking of new ideas. They were curious about how she used her own children as inspiration for the characters. Later, the boys applied some of what they learned during the visit when writing personal narratives in their writing workshop.

Stevens said, “It was great to have her speak with the boys and relate to the author of a novel we read.”


 

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