They're All 'Bout the Class, 'Bout the Class, No Trouble

NATIONAL HARBOR, MARYLAND -- Okay, the song is actually "All 'bout that bass, 'bout that bass, no treble," but my reference is to the English teachers and educators at the annual National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) convention this past weekend at the Gaylord Convention Center near Washington, D.C. I attended as an author, and I got to listen in on conversations that went something like this:

"This material could work with my high school Shakespeare project." "My kids would love these books and learn about writing at the same time." "Books about real history that aren't boring. Who knew?"

My admiration for these dedicated teachers is huge. All business, all the time. These folks made sure to get their money's worth from the convention. And that's where the "no trouble" comes in. Because, in fact, there is trouble:

Not only do some of these teachers/principals/professors/education specialists have to pay their own way to this convention, but some of the teachers have to PAY THE SALARY OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS in order to come to the convention. What? There's something wrong with that.

But everyone attends the NCTE to learn, and maybe to buy their year's worth of books for their students. Some carry only cash, and when it runs out, that's it. Some bring an extra empty suitcase to fill with books. And wow, were there books. All the big children's publishers, and educational publishers. Lots of "big" authors signed their books (and some of us small authors, too). Christopher Paul Curtis (THE MADMAN OF PINEY WOODS,  among many others), Tim Federle (BETTER NATE THAN EVER and FIVE, SIX, SEVEN NATE), Jon Klassan (THIS IS NOT MY HAT), Brian Floca (LOCOMOTIVE), Jane Yolen (loads of her books), and Jacqueline Woodson, new winner of the National Book Award for BROWN GIRL DREAMING (I didn't even attempt to get in that line).

Signing at the Charlebridge booth.

Meg and Stephanie with Charlesbridge

I participated in a panel of five women authors (just all happened to be women) whose books were some of the NCTE 's 30 Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts for 2014. The committee (sponsored by the Children's Literature Assembly) read over 600 books before choosing the final 30! I'm honored that PRISONER 88 made the cut.

The other panelists:  Kathi Appelt (THE TRUE BLUE SCOUTS OF SUGAR MAN SWAMP), Nancy Cavanaugh (THIS JOURNAL BELONGS TO RATCHET), Andrea Davis Pinkney (MARTIN & MAHALIA) and Karen Harrington (SURE SIGNS OF CRAZY).  For the complete list:  http://www.childrensliteratureassembly.org/notables.html

My friend Naomi Shihab Nye spoke at a luncheon. She is a writer, poet, educator and lovely person who has lived in both Ferguson, Missouri AND in Palestine. Please read her piece here http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/08/28/on-growing-up-in-ferguson-and-gaza/

Follow the Yellow Book Road!

SAN DIEGO -- Not the yellow BRICK road, the Yellow Book Road. A terrific children's bookstore in San Diego.

http://www.yellowbookroad.com/

Owners Ann and David Diener (and Susan Santillan, co-worker and author of GRANDMA'S PEAR TREE) welcomed me with open arms to talk about PRISONER 88.

And then a flood of 6th grade students from High Tech Middle Media Arts poured in. Here they are, with their fearless leader, Mr. Baughman (back left)! They've been studying historical fiction. They just finished BUD, NOT BUDDY, one of my all-time favorite books.

We were also joined by a Balboa Park park ranger who is interested in historical fiction and reads with his son's class every week.

What great questions! Thank you to everyone who attended!

Rocks of Ages -- Meadowcroft Rockshelter

AVELLA, Pa. -- Forty-five minutes from Pittsburgh, tucked into a hillside of old-growth forest, sits the Meadowcroft Rockshelter, the "oldest site of human habitation in North America." The site is part of the Heinz History Center and is associated with the Smithsonian.

http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/secondary.aspx?id=86

SEE ROCK OVERHANG ABOVE PROTECTIVE ROOF

The Rockshelter is a naturally occurring safe haven, carved from layers of rock over millennia, where natives would stop to rest, shielded from the elements. Because so many humans used the location over centuries, their history is imbedded in layers of sandstone. Discoveries of artifacts have led to carbon dating that show humans living in North America as early as 14,000 B.C., earlier than anyone had believed before.

Native village recreations dot the Meadowcroft property. This weekend features Native Indian hands-on demonstrations. Ever skin a bear? (I took a picture, but I think it's too graphic to show. The bear was either road kill or it was taken by the Game Commission as an out-of-season kill.)

GUNS MADE OF BEECHWOOD WERE SOMETIMES PAINTED BLUE OR RED.

A Poe Boy

BALTIMORE -- This "Poe Boy" is not a sandwich. It's the real (dead) Edgar Allan Poe. I visited his home a while back. If you're a Poe fan, take a look when you're in Baltimore. The house is period, some bits and pieces having been replaced since Poe lived there with his family.

In an effort to save this little historical building, it appears that compromises were made. Yes, the building is still standing in the place it was when Poe lived there, but new housing has been built right up to (and touching) the walls. An odd juxtaposition of old and new.

Check it out further at Poe Baltimore:  http://www.poeinbaltimore.org/

Writing Camp! (Imaginary marshmallows included)

PITTSBURGH -- Kids and summer camp. So many choices. There's soccer camp, swimming camp, rock climbing and camping camp. There's music, art and drama camp. Add to the list:  writing camp.

I got to hang out with about a dozen 5th and 6th grade authors today at Julie Albright's summer camp for young writers at the Kentucky Avenue School in Shadyside. Thanks, Julie and kids!

Here's Julie's assistant writing instructor, Lovey (taking a break):

Everyone working hard on a writing prompt:

I asked the kids why they love writing so much (which they obviously do). Well... they get to write in school, but it's usually something that's too constraining. I heard that a lot. "I want to write what's in my imagination." They love to make up their own characters, and a lot of the kids like those characters to live in worlds where they can make up their own rules. Maybe people can fly. Maybe 6 year old kids are superheros.

Their answers made me smile and I'm still smiling.

Today, writing kicked the @$#%^&* out of soccer.

Day 2 -- Good Night Irene

LAS VEGAS -- Larry busted out just before the dinner break. He played short stacked all day, worked his way back. And then he lost with pocket queens to a guy who played 3/6 of hearts who ended up with a flush on the river. There's a joke in there somewhere about a river and flushing, but I'm too tired to figure it out.

Thanks to everybody who was rooting for him.

Day 2, Still Chugging Along

LAS VEGAS -- Larry is still in. Maybe 30k chips when I stepped away. Up some, down some. I sat with him for the first level because he was at a seat at the table where he couldn't pull all the way in (table leg in the way). It was fun. I could see what was going on, not that I understand much. But then they broke down his table. They "break" tables when people at other tables have busted out. They move an entire table and distribute them to other tables where there is an empty seat. Now he's at a seat where he can reach the chips.

Phil Hellmuth is at a feature table. Didn't have a chance to look for other pros still in.

Next break at 4:20. Fingers crossed.

Some stats:

6,683 people registered representing 83 different countries

693 will get paid (place 693 will get $18,405)

280 women (even less than I imagined)

Average age:  39.28 years