Teaching second grade and lower grades, Black Diamond Elementary School teacher Sara Davis hadn’t touched on award-winning author Roland Smith’s books.
It was while studying endangered animals, she found his books – “Elephant Run” and “Thunder Cave” – and read them to her class.
“His books are so engaging,” she said.
Along the way, she discovered not only the literature he’s written for older students, but the nonfiction pieces he’s penned for beginning readers like “Z is for Zookeeper,” “S is for Smithsonian” and “W is for Whale.”
She was inspired to do more.
Since August, Davis, with help from the Black Diamond Elementary PTA and an Enumclaw Schools Foundation grant, has been working to bring Smith to Black Diamond. Friday, he arrived.
“The kids are so excited,” Davis said. “It’s just great to hear the buzz around the school. Hopefully, we can carry on the excitement through the year.”
Smith said he had a wonderful visit with the students and staff.
“The teachers were fantastic and they really had the students prepared for the visit,” he posted on his blog the next day.
“The kids put together beautiful artwork,” which Smith pasted on his website. “It was a great day. Thank you for inviting me to your school.”
Smith was born and raised in Portland, Ore., and still lives on a farm in that area.
A Portland State University English major, he always wanted to write, but through a twist of fate took a part-time job working at a children’s zoo. It led to full-time work as an animal keeper, which in turn, took him around the world and led to experiences that provided material for his books.
Davis’ students recently finished Smith’s book “Jaguar,” and all classes are reading “Sasquatch.”
Smith kicked off Friday morning with a presentation for approximately 130 primary students, kindergarten through second grade, followed by a book signing. He followed it up with a second presentation to intermediate grades, about 150 kids, and another book signing.
Davis, who teaches a second- and third-grade split class this year, is also adviser to the school’s Broadcast News Club, which added a literary component this fall.
In the afternoon, those 12 third- through fifth-grade team members, broadcast a live round table discussion with Smith. The telecast went streaming into classrooms and included a live call-in session inviting students in classrooms across the school to participate.
Friday is also the Enumclaw School District’s Professional Learning Communities time. Each Friday students are let go 75-minutes early so teachers can spend time collaborating. Smith met with teachers during PLC time, presenting a workshop focusing on using literacy to motivate writers.
The program doesn’t stop there. In April, Davis will organize a Young Author’s Fair at the school to capitalize on the enthusiasm Smith brought to the school and encourage students to continue reading and writing.
