skype an author

Skype Classroom Visit with 4th Graders from Spring Valley, New York

Posted by Barbara Techel

Getting reactions back from children that Frankie and I meet via Skype (and in person) is one of the most rewarding things about what I do.  I can’t even begin to describe how my heart feels when I hear back from kids… it is so priceless!  Tuesday we did a Skype call with Mrs. Gershenoff’s 4th grade class at Hempstead Elementary School in Spring Valley, NY .  They are studying nonfiction books and writing books of their own as part of their studies.  Their teacher sent me some of their reactions to us connecting with them via Skype which they put in their writer’s notebook.


Photo taken by Mrs. Gershenoff from view of the classroom while talking to me and Frankie on Skype!

By: Jonathan

Oh my gosh!  It was so cool!  This was my first time that I really saw an author.  My heart was beating so fast. I had butterflies in my stomach when I asked my question.  I didn’t know when we read the book that she was going to actually Skype with us.  I was so excited!  My brother is going to be jealous that I met and author.  So are my friends.

By: Christy

Skyping with Barbara Techel was amazing! We even got to see Frankie!  She was so cute.  Barbara even woke her up from her beauty sleep to  show her to us. She answered all of our questions.  She even said she would talk about us on TV, but only if she got back on TV.  Maybe if Mrs. Gershenoff gives me her email and Skype I can Skype her too.

By: Adelle

I really liked when the author showed us Frankie.  I would like to do it again! It was sooo cute Skyping with a real author.  I really wish Frankie and Mrs. Techel would visit us in person.  I also wish we had more time together on Skype.

By: Ryan

It was so overwhelming to see a real life character from a book!  I would love to do this again!

By: Lewis

OMG! Meeting Barbara Techel and Frankie was soooo exciting!  I was ready to hog the computer and talk to Barbara all day and not give the others a turn.

This is what they posted on their classroom website as well:

3.09.11 Wow!  Today we had an amazing experience!  We Skyped with an Award Winning Author, Barbara Techel, author of Frankie the Walk ‘n Roll Dog.  She taught us about writing our own nonfiction stories and gave us tips on what to do if we get stuck on writing a part of our story.  She also shared some of her own personal feelings and life events about her dog Frankie and her challenges.  Be sure to ask your child all about this incredible activity! Also, check out our class blog where we posted about the book.  We even received a blog post from Barbara Techel! I have also sent home a flier if you are intersted in purchasing an autographed copy of one of Ms. Techel’s books.

 

Are You a Bucket Filler?

Posted by Barbara Techel

I am thrilled to be taking part in a program with Brooklyn Elementary School based on the Bucket Fillers 101 concept created by a group of very creative teachers.

This year, the focus of the PAWS program (positive attitude + work + success) created by Brooklyn Elementary is making Brooklyn Elementary a bucket filling school!  From what I understand they have hundreds of buckets lined up in their Grand Hall as part of this concept.


Bucket Fillers, Inc mission is:

• To create safer, kinder, more respectful school cultures where children are ready to learn

• To create communities where all children grow up confident, resilient, caring, and responsible

• To strengthen, encourage, and support families to become bucketfilling families

• To create positive, supportive workplaces

• To make bucket filling a habit and a way of life, resulting in individuals with full buckets who are healthy mentally, emotionally, and socially.

This is the first year they are bringing in an author (me!) and a rolling dog (Frankie!) as part of their program!  36-year devoted 3rd grade teacher, Joyce Gilmour reviewed my newest book about Frankie being a therapy dog and yes, you guessed it, a bucket filler!  So it fit right in with their program.  A dog teaching bucket filling is bound to drive the message home in the most beautiful way!

So for our first visit Frankie and I met the children via Skype and I read them our first book.  We will meet again in January where I will read Frankie’s newest book about her volunteer visits to Libby’s House- a Senior Assisted Living Facility.

Frankie and I getting ready for our 1st Skype visit reading with Brooklyn Elementary

 

Then in May we will visit in person (and dog!), and what a day it will be!!

As I continue to prepare for the day we will all meet I came across this little essay about bucket filling:

We all have an invisible bucket.

And that is a great way to picture our feelings.

When our bucket is full we are having positive feelings…joyful, happy… and grateful.

When our buckets are empty we might be sad or angry… or any of these negative feelings.

We can choose to be a bucket filler or a bucket dipper. A bucket filler helps make other people feel good by the things we do and say; A bucket dipper does just the opposite.

The best way to keep our bucket full is to fill other people’s buckets… We are in charge of our buckets all the time.

~Stacey Lundgren

Are you a bucket filler?

If you are elementary teacher interested in having us visit via Skype for a reading or presentation or interested in having us visit in person, please visit our teacher page on our website for more information.

Check out our free ebook on planning an in-person visit or our free ebook on planning a Skype visit.

 

Author Visit Via Skype or In-Person with Barbara Techel & Special Dog Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog

Posted by Barbara Techel

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog will uplift and inspire your students, teachers!


Frankie will instill in your students how to make positive choices, deal with adversity, give back to their community despite challenges and help them see differences in a positive way.

During our visit whether in person or via Skype Frankie will share her journey of how she could walk like a regular dog for the first six years of her life, how she became injured, was custom-fitted for a doggie wheelchair and persevered.  Not once did Frankie feel sorry for herself and she will inspire your students to be the best and to never give up, no matter what.

Our typical half hour program includes:

  • Introduction of Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog
  • Frankie’s story via Power Point
  • Video (if via Skype) of Frankie rolling in her wheels, or demo in person
  • Demo of how Frankie gets in and out of her doggie wheelchair with student participation
  • Demo of physical therapy Frankie had with student participation
  • Selected reading
  • Q & A

Contact author, Barbara Techel and Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog for available dates and fees.  For more information on our in-person visits, as well as Skype visits please visit our website and click on author visits tab.

There you will find a free down loadable ebook to help plan your visit whether via Skype or in-person.

We look forward to meeting you and your students soon!

Special note:  If your school does not use Skype we are open to other types of video conferencing so don’t hesitate to contact us.