photo by: Emma Delk
Michael Shoulders signs his book, “T is for Titanic: A Titanic Alphabet,” for McNinch Primary School first-grader Brody Norris.
McNinch Primary School students learned the ins and outs of writing a children’s book from an expert during Michael “Mike” Shoulders’ presentation for American Education Week.
Shoulders is a teacher turned children’s book author who has penned 23 children’s books since retiring from education in 2005. His presentation taught McNinch Primary School students the writing process, from the first idea for a story to editing the final product.
Shoulders made other stops at Marshall County Schools on Wednesday, including Center McMechen Elementary School and an open-to-the-public, all-ages presentation at Central Elementary School.
The retired educator demonstrated the writing process using his most popular book, “The Christmas Pickle.” He showed the students the markings his editor made in drafts of the story and the rewrites Shoulders incorporated based on them.
“I also show the illustrator’s work and their involvement in the book,” Shoulders said. “I don’t have a say in the illustrations, so I run through the whole writing process with the kids.”
Shoulders also had plenty of facts to share with the kindergarten through second-grade students who participated in the presentation, including why most picture books are exactly 32 pages long. He demonstrated the answer by folding the 32 pages of one of his books spread across a large sheet of paper into the final product of one of his children’s books.
“Most picture books are 32 pages simply because they fit on one sheet of paper,” Shoulders told the students after his demonstration.
The book-folding demonstration was not the only tool Shoulders used to keep the children engaged in the book-writing process. Shoulders performed magic tricks at the start and end of the presentation. He also led the students in a rap sing-along to his book, “D is for Dump Truck: A Construction Alphabet,” to remember the alphabet.
Marshall County Schools Literacy Facilitator Jeannie Blake, who coordinated Shoulders’ visit to the county, said she knew his presentation would excite the kids since she had seen him present at past West Virginia Reading Association Annual Conferences.
Shoulders noted children are taught to read in two ways: through direct instruction in school and motivation. He said his presentation served as a motivational factor in getting students interested in and excited to pick up a book.
“What I’m going to do today is a motivation factor, but buying a book to read with a child is, too,” Shoulders said. “The number one motivation technique is reading with your child, as parents must read to them. That’s the most important part.”
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