author visits

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog Heads Back to School – In a New Way.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog Heads Back to School - In a New Way.

Two weeks from today I’ll be visiting Fair Park Elementary School in West Bend, WI.

It’s been a long time since I set foot in a school. I’m looking forward to talking about the writing process, life as an author, Frankie, compassion, empathy, and making a difference. And most of all encouraging students how important writing and reading is in their lives – whether they pursue writing as a career or not.

Of course, I won’t have my side-kick Frankie with me. It’s been almost four years since she has been gone, which is how long it’s been since I’ve done a presentation also.

But her message is still one kids and adults can learn from. And this time I’ll be talking more about the process of writing, which will be a new experience for me, and one I’m looking forward to.

I bought a stuffed dachshund toy to use for demonstration purposes and to show how wheelchairs work for dogs. I’ll be tying this in with talking about empathy. I really wanted a brown dachshund, but couldn’t find one big enough. So black and tan it is and will still make the point.

When the principal, a friend of mine, contacted me before Christmas, asking if I’d visit their school, I wasn’t sure I was up to doing it. Those old nerves certainly never seem to go away no matter how many times I’ve talked in front of a room of people! But a part of me was curiously open to the idea and wanted to give it a try.

Yesterday I received the list of questions the students prepared for me. We will be doing this mostly as Q & A sessions which I love to do. I’ll work on preparing photos to go along with some of my answers to add a visual component.

I’m so impressed with how organized the school is for the visit with an agenda they also sent me. In the morning I’ll talk with the K-2 students, then a lunch and learn with staff, and in the afternoon will meet with the 3-4 grade students. It will be a full day!

So…..here we go Frankie….in a new way!

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Back to School I Go

Posted by Barbara Techel
Back to School I Go
Frankie and I visiting Longfellow Elementary school in 2010
Frankie and I visiting Longfellow Elementary school in 2010

It’s hard to believe this photo is from over five years ago. One of the first of many school visits I did while Frankie was alive.

When Frankie passed away in June of 2012, while I loved visiting schools, I was burnt out having made over 400 appearances in a little over four years.

I did do a school visit with Joie, my second dachshund in a wheelchair, after adopting her in the fall of 2012 – a way in which I thought I’d carry on Frankie’s message. But then as many of you know, she passed away ten months later. We only made one school visit.

For a few years I felt lost and wondered what was next for me, while at the same time afraid to close a chapter that was so near and dear to my heart – even though in many ways I wanted to move on.

I did move on and am moving on in new ways, but remain open to opportunities that come my way.

So when a friend of mine, Jodee, who is now a principal at a school she loves, contacted me and asked if I’d do an author visit for K-4th grade students I was open to it, but a bit hesitant.

It’s been a long time since I’ve done this. And while I felt nervous if I could do it without my sidekick Frankie, I also found that I was excited about the possibility.

After talking with Jodee and what her reading team is looking for with bringing in an author, I knew I wanted to do this.

I’ll share some of the same messages I did as when I presented with Frankie, but will also have the opportunity to talk about how an idea is born, how it then becomes a book, and where that can all lead – just like it has done for me.

So back to school I go in either January or February – they are deciding on a date yet. But who knows, perhaps this will have me wanting to do a few of these a year.

Looking forward to embracing this visit and seeing how it goes!

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Joie, a Walk ‘N Roll Dog Ready for More School Visits!

Posted by Barbara Techel

img_5984Joie content and happy as the kids from Trinity Lutheran School lined up to pet her after our presentation. More photos on Facebook.

Kim, a teacher at Trinity Lutheran sent me some pictures she took while I was at their school last Friday with Joie for our first presentation. As I wrote last week, the visit went well and Joie seemed to do very well with all the kids full of energy.

I don’t know why, but I never imagined that I’d do this type of work again after Frankie passed away. While I was open to this again, I also wanted to be sure it was right for Joie. I was hesitant as to how to update my program also, but once I agreed to do the visit, it all came together!  I have to say, I was on cloud nine after our presentation last week. Since Joie also did well, I am now looking forward to doing more visits again.

I don’t know as I will do quite as many as I did with Frankie, but I absolutely want to do some as it really brought me much joy to see the kids so happy to meet Joie and to learn the lessons we had to  teach. Thank you, Trinity Lutheran for being the school that helped lead the way for a new rolling dog to set out on an adventure to touch the lives of more children in her own unique and special way.

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