Teacher Returns As Author Former Instructor Enthralls Students With His Own Tales
Turning elementary students on to reading and writing isn’t always easy.
But Tom Birdseye, a former Sandpoint teacher turned children’s author, had no trouble Thursday.
He just read his own tales to Washington Elementary School students.
Birdseye, 43, told of twins who stuck their heads in a toilet and flushed just to see what the swirling water felt like. And the boy who tried scarfing down 17 bananas in two minutes to get in the Guinness Book of World Records.
“I had trouble with reading and writing when I was in school. It wasn’t easy for me,” Birdseye confessed to a group of kids. “Yet, here I am a writer.”
Birdseye formerly taught kindergarten children at Washington Elementary and has written 11 books since 1982. He was back Thursday to help demystify the writing process for kids.
“One of my books got started at Washington School, and kids are important to me,” he said. “If I can write a silly book and kids associate pleasure with reading it, that brings them one step closer to literacy.”
Birdseye was part of a project the school started two years ago called “Arts, Authors and Us.”
For the whole day, students get to meet an author they have read through the year, and attend workshops on poetry, dance, drama, storytelling, art and even stilt walking.
“It’s basically a celebration of reading, writing and art and a fun day for the kids,” said kindergarten teacher Joyce DeLaVergne. “By meeting the real author kids get excited about reading and books. Who knows, some may get enthused enough to want to become an author.”
Principal Mark Berryhill said the program began to emphasize reading and writing. That still is the focus, but it has expanded to include the arts.
“One of the objectives is to let students know they can do these things, like writing a book, and make a living at it,” Berryhill said.
Along with Birdseye, the school had 15 other guests, including local artists, musicians and storytellers. Teachers dressed up as characters from Birdseye’s books, and kids filled classroom bulletin boards with scenes from his short stories.
One group designed model forts from his book “A Kid’s Guide to Building Forts.” Posters depicting world records, including the most bananas eaten in two minutes, came from Birdseye’s first book, “I’m Going to be Famous.”
Birdseye, who now lives in Oregon, also shared his secret for writing good stories. He carries a small notepad in his back pocket and jots down everyday life experiences.
“The best writing comes from personal experience. Most of my stories come from my childhood, teaching or my own kids,” he said. “You don’t have to have a high-speed car chase through town or an enemy submarine out in the lake to make a good story.”