tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45807584329585046362024-03-05T08:41:50.129-08:00Author Tom RobinsonWelcome to my author blog! I write on education topics and occasionally publish math and science books for kids.trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-23776828084031613852016-11-02T14:13:00.001-07:002016-11-02T14:13:29.163-07:00Golden Ratio vs. Rule of ThirdsI have to confess that I am not much of a photographer. But I am familiar with 'The Rule of Thirds' for composing photos and I found this article interesting in that it suggests that instead of using the Rule of Thirds, photographers might be better served by using the Golden Ratio and the Fibonacci Spiral. Hm...it's so crazy it just might work!<div>
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<a href="http://petapixel.com/2016/10/24/golden-ratio-better-rule-thirds/" target="_blank">Why The Golden Ratio Is Better Than The Rule Of Thirds</a></div>
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<a href="http://petapixel.com/2016/10/24/golden-ratio-better-rule-thirds/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm9iV6zMavZqNjzcW0ZILNzcorDxvUJNFObcQitq6MBgaUv3A0l-j4a0Bl6JtLIitlp07WMchF2Ige3CD1QSNhkzr4zICY8h2YVj3JE1WiiADMDxiCxD9xCzUspOu-1qwnYIRRrrKKxc/s400/Fib+Spiral.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-55365789823928382582016-10-10T12:41:00.001-07:002016-10-10T12:41:53.285-07:00A New School - Part 3<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A New School For A New Generation of
Learners</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>Rethinking a system designed by an agricultural society, implemented by
an industrial society, and being used to educate a technological society.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<u>Part III - A New School<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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In my previous installment, I considered the true purpose of
school. Is it to impart knowledge about specific subjects? Is it a means for
teaching children soft skills such as perseverance, integrity, and grit and how
to set goals? Or perhaps, it is simply a place where children learn the
critical social skills necessary for living a productive life in society. A
survey taken on social media suggested that the main purpose of school is for
children to learn those soft skills, the skills everyone uses in life
regardless of their choice of vocation. And yet, according to the new national
math standards, Common Core - adopted by 46 states, and since rejected by eight
of those, the real purpose of school, at least in mathematics, is to impart
knowledge, most of which is highly useful only to those pursuing higher levels
of study in mathematics. A troublingly small percentage of the Common Core math
standards are focused on the skills all students truly need in order to live
their lives. </div>
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Thus we find ourselves in an educational predicament. In too
many classrooms all across America, high-achieving, college-bound, goal-driven
students sit side by side with peers who have little ambition to continue their
schooling past high school, who desperately need critical job and life skills
in order to strike out on their own after graduation, but instead are being
taught as if they, too, aspire to earn a four-year college degree. </div>
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I think there is a solution to this predicament, however,
and to find it, we have to travel across the Atlantic to the land of pizza,
pasta, and out of this world gelato: Italy. A land with more history in its
little finger than the US has in its whole body, Italy is renowned for its
culture and its traditions. Change comes slowly in a place where certain tasks
have been done the same way for thousands of years, and education is no
exception.</div>
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Every three years, 15-year-old students across the globe
take part in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The
results of this exam are used as one of the most common measures of a country's
educational system. Sponsored by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD), the test covers topics in mathematics, reading and science.
According to the OECD web site, </div>
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<i>"The Pisa mathematics test is designed
to measure how effectively countries are preparing students to use mathematics in every aspect of their
personal, civic, and professional lives, as part
of their constructive, engaged, and reflective citizenship."<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The mathematics test consists of three broad categories,
with sub-categories of questions within each:</div>
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<b>Mathematics Content</b>:
Space & shape; Change & relationships; Quantity; Uncertainty & data</div>
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<b>Mathematics Contexts</b>:
Personal; Occupational; Societal; Scientific</div>
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<b>Mathematical
Processes</b>: Formulating situations
mathematically; Employing mathematical concepts, facts, procedures, and
reasoning; Interpreting, applying and evaluating mathematical outcomes</div>
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Not your typical run of the mill list of facts to know and be
able to spit back out on demand, is it? In 2012, Italian students scored an
average of 485 on the mathematics portion, a year in which the worldwide
average score was 494. This ranks them 32nd in the world - not a very
impressive result. For comparison, however, the US scored an average of 481,
putting us at 36th in the world. China had the highest average score at 613.</div>
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So why would I choose Italy as a model of educational
excellence, when perhaps its strongest claim to fame is that its students,
while below average, at least outperformed American students? In this case,
it's less about the concept of excellence, and more about providing the right
kind of education to each student. You see, Italy structures its school system
differently than the US does (as do many other nations, let's be clear), at
least for the high school-equivalent years. And in that difference lies what I believe is
a key to teaching all students the exact skills they need in order to best live
out <i>their </i>best<i> </i>future.</div>
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Through the eighth grade, Italian schools operate more or
less like most American schools do. Children are required to begin attending
school when they turn six years old, and generally progress through elementary
and middle schools from the age of six through the age of fourteen. However, upon
completion of their eighth grade, Italian children are required to make an
important decision about their futures. That decision, for many, will determine
their future career, earning potential, and the opportunities that await them
following completion of their high school studies. </div>
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High school in Italy looks nothing like it does in the US.
For starters, there is little of what we would consider 'school spirit.' There
are no sports teams to cheer for - no football under the lights on Friday
nights; no packed gymnasiums in the winter for basketball. All sports take
place through clubs and have no affiliation with schools. The buildings
themselves are typically nondescript. You could drive right by one and unless
you happened to notice the sign on the wall telling you it was a school, you
would likely drive right by it, never knowing you had passed a school. </div>
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To a certain degree, Italian high schools are localized,
similar to how American schools are. But unlike US schools, where except in
larger cities or regions with open enrollment regulations in place, students
attend the school within whose boundaries they live, Italian students select
their school first, and then worry about how they will get to wherever that
school happens to be. If that means commuting to the next town over or even
several towns over, using public transportation, a scooter, or in rare cases,
the family car, so be it. Indeed, it's not your address that determines which
high school you attend - it's your ambition, your potential, and your drive.</div>
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In general, there are two types of high schools Italian
students can choose from, with a variety of options within those two
categories. Here is a brief listing:</div>
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<b>Liceo</b> - This is
generally a five-year program (students typically graduate at age 19) and the
focus is on theoretical studies, in preparation for university attendance.
Liceos (in Italian, 'licei') come in three main 'flavors':</div>
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<ul>
<li><b>Liceo Scientifico </b>: for students wishing to pursue a career in
the sciences, such as biology, chemistry,
and physics. Future engineers may find themselves here as well.</li>
<li><o:p> </o:p><b>Liceo Classico:</b> for students wishing to
study 'the classics', including Latin, Greek, Italian literature, art history, philosophy, etc.</li>
<li><o:p> </o:p> <b>Liceo Artistico: </b>for students wishing
to pursue a career in the arts, including painting, sculpture, and architecture.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Istituto</b> - These
schools typically offer three- to five-year programs and upon completion, some
students may opt to continue their studies at a university, but may also simply
transition to the workplace. These schools are broken further into two
classifications: technical and professional. The line generally lies between
those students moving directly into the workforce and those seeking </div>
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<ul>
<li> <b>Istituto Tecnico</b> : this would be
similar to American technical colleges, offering training in agriculture, industry, business,
finance, marketing, hospitality, etc. Most students, upon completion, will enter the workforce
directly, but only after completing a capstone internship of some sort. They will tend to have more
opportunities professionally.</li>
<li> <b>Istituo Professionale</b>: these schools
provide three to five years of vocational training, allowing graduates to enter the workforce directly or
become eligible for apprenticeships. Fields include transportation, logistics, electronics and some engineering,
computer technician, graphic arts, fashion,
agriculture, construction, tourism and many more.</li>
</ul>
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<o:p> </o:p>Imagine asking fourteen-year-old children to make a decision
about their futures before they enter high school. It sounds preposterous,
doesn't it? We don't even expect our university students to know their future
plans when they first enroll - how then could we expect students four years
their junior to make such an important decision? The simple answer, we wouldn't.
That is, if the US were to adopt a similar model for high school, we wouldn't simply
put the question to each eighth grader and force that student to choose.
Instead, we would spend a great deal of time and energy during those middle
school years to really learn about the path each student wants to, and perhaps
more importantly is willing to, take.
Between teachers, counselors, parents and the student, we offer students the
choice of two simple paths for their high school careers. And what's more, we
don't split our high schools up, nor do we force children to commute across
town or across multiple towns to attend their school of choice. No, we offer
them both paths within the high school they will already be attending. From the
outside, little appear different, if anything. But on the inside, the teaching
and learning going on would look very different than it does today.</div>
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In 2000, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation committed
more than $2 billion to schools across the United States to help them create
smaller schools within large schools, the so-called 'school within a school'
movement. By and large, it failed. This is not that model. In fact, to the
outside observer, it may appear that nothing has changed within the school
walls. But I believe such a change could radically alter the educational path
of millions of students for the better.</div>
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My plan involves identifying two primary pathways to a high
school diploma within each high school. The first pathway would be for those
students who have little or no interest in continuing on to higher education. Notice
that I’m not suggesting these students aren't capable of studying at a higher
level, rather they would opt not to pursue that pathway. These students seek a
high school diploma and ideally in the process of earning that diploma they
would acquire the kinds of skills that they would need to transfer directly
into the workforce or to a trade school (i.e. into life) where they could
pursue whatever their passions happen to be.</div>
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The second pathway would be for the college-bound students.
Two-year or four-year, it wouldn't matter. These students would be seeking the
coursework that will prepare them for their future studies. All the mathematics
foundations that lead to higher level work, Advanced Placement, International
Baccalaureate, College in the High School courses would all be a part of this
pathway. Even honors coursework, and courses often taken as remediation in the
first year of college would be completed during high school.</div>
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More critical is that in the courses potentially leading up
to high caliber courses, courses such as Algebra I/Geometry, English I/ II, US
History, etc., separate sections would be made available to each pathway. This
way, students seeking a foundation for eventual work in Calculus, for example,
would be in Algebra classes in their early years with other students seeking
that same foundation. Students in the
career pathway would also take Algebra, many at the same time (but not in the
same classroom) as the other students. But here's the key - the courses would
be taught differently, with different standards, expectations, and content.
College-bound students would get more of the theoretical side of algebra, akin
to the training Italy's <i>liceo</i>
students receive, while career-bound students would receive the parts of
algebra that they need in order to be successful in their future endeavors. </div>
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I recognize that some will shudder at the thought of
'tracking' students in high school. It risks conjuring up a caste system at an
age when cliques already test the self-esteem of even the most successful
students. Does this plan suggest a line of demarcation between what some might label
the 'haves' and the 'have-nots'? I don't think it does. If I am going to take
an algebra course, why wouldn't I want it to teach me the things <i>I</i> need to learn from it? If that means a
set of theoretical skills, skills that don't necessarily translate directly to
the work I will eventually do, but yet lie at the foundation of the higher
levels of mathematics I will eventually study, then so be it. That's what I
need to learn.</div>
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But if instead it means that I receive from my algebra
course a more practical set of math tools, tools I can use on the job, in my
home, when I make car payments, or decide whether to invest in a house or a
retirement plan, then that's what I should be learning. Geometry can be taught
as a tool for building the idea argument and proof in upper level math, or as a
tool for forming a coherent argument for a raise, or making a proposal to an
investor, or to the city council for a project I'm trying to pitch. This plan
allows teachers to teach students what they need, when they need it, and at an
appropriate level for where they are learning.</div>
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Now, could a school really pull this off? Let me introduce
you to Wilson High School in Washington state. Wilson is in a rural town of
about 5,000 permanent residents. In the summer, tourists flock there and the
weekend population rises to around 15,000 on average. It is a small school. Its
teams compete in the third smallest school classification of the six in the
state. Student enrollment is steady at around 400 students in grades 9-12.
Poverty is a very real problem in the community, and a very small number of
graduating seniors each year go on to study at four-year universities. Many
graduates enter the workforce immediately after school lets out or struggle to
find their passions in the years that follow high school.</div>
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In an attempt to discover the feasibility of a school model
such as the one I propose, I looked at Wilson's master schedule for the 2015-16
school year. From the list of courses the school offered, I identified three
categories of courses: </div>
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1.
Courses that might be taken solely by college-bound students</div>
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2.
Courses which could be open to all students regardless of the pathway they choose,
such as PE or band.</div>
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3.
Courses that might be taken solely by career-bound students</div>
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I listed each course under its appropriate heading, and I
noted courses (such as Algebra I, with an asterisk) which could easily be
offered to students in <i>either</i>
pathway, with the caveat that they would be taught differently, according to
the particular needs of students on that pathway. I wanted to see if this
school, which has a definite lean toward career-bound students, could manage to
offer a dual-pathway educational program and still operate as a regular high
school. Here is what I found:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8bvcB63JESdHPb1c7j0AbbtM1VlKBD89UZnvcdjmMSp3byFwpQXbmcUyCy72PamzFCfU55gNwnjyH-FMydxWGEdQmzfL8RVhPJwEvuMkH6Ocw9J___KMkvCL38p3Zh_I8kNgtSCs4sA/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8bvcB63JESdHPb1c7j0AbbtM1VlKBD89UZnvcdjmMSp3byFwpQXbmcUyCy72PamzFCfU55gNwnjyH-FMydxWGEdQmzfL8RVhPJwEvuMkH6Ocw9J___KMkvCL38p3Zh_I8kNgtSCs4sA/s640/Capture.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I was pleasantly surprised to find that the lists were
generally equal in length. As you consider the list of courses a career-bound
student might take, it's extensive. In addition, it offers those students who
don't want to take a course that prepares them for college-level work options
and opportunities to pursue their own passions.
Then, when taking courses such as US History or Geometry, students could
learn those subjects the way they need to learn them, and take from those
courses the really critical life-relevant lessons they impart without being
overwhelmed by the 'college prep' atmosphere often associated with those
courses.</div>
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Similarly, college-bound students would be able to learn
with peers who share their level of motivation. In those foundational courses,
teachers could take them to more interesting places without worrying about
losing students who aren't as interested in the subject. </div>
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And as far as electives go, there are still many
opportunities for students on different pathways to meet up, interact, and
share the critical social experiences high school affords. Such a
re-envisioning of a school would take little more than recoding a few courses,
and perhaps preparing a new course catalog. </div>
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Oh, but what about the students who decide, after eighth
grade, to pursue a college-bound pathway, then discover that they really aren't
as motivated as they thought they would be? Are we setting those students up
for failure by placing them into a pathway for which they are not adequately
prepared? Absolutely not. A school would set some minimal criterion for
maintaining status in the college-bound pathway. For example, after one failing
grade (because "life happens"), a student might be placed on academic
probation. A second failing grade and that student would be transitioned to the
career-bound pathway, still on track to graduate, but now challenged to rethink
their motivation and workload. For highly motivated students, this isn't a
punitive policy, but rather a daily motivator and a reminder of the commitment
they made to themselves.</div>
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Similarly, one could envision a student at fourteen years of
age choosing a career-bound pathway, then waking up as a tenth grader thinking,
'I want to go to college!' That's fine. That student, given a set of qualifying
standards, including attendance, performance in key courses (identified at the
beginning of the program), and even an application process, could appeal to be
allowed to transition to the college-bound pathway. Upon approval, the change
is made and off the student goes.</div>
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Here is what I think will happen. First off, even struggling
students, given the opportunity and having made a conscious decision to strive
for the college-bound pathway, will rise
to the challenge. By removing the distractions, the friends who try to hold
them back, and surrounding themselves with like-motivated students (even if
those students are higher achievers), those struggling students will find they
are more capable than they even imagined. And in the rare case that a student
is unable to keep up, they have a soft landing spot in the career-bound
pathway.</div>
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Similarly, what of the late bloomer? The student with little
encouragement or support at home, who never considered college as an option?
Initially in the career-bound pathway, this student realizes that s/he is ready
and capable of more. Checking the criteria for a transition, the student
appeals, is admitted, and off they go into their future.</div>
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</div>
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For the sake of all students and the teachers who agonize
over them, searching for the magic formula to light a fire inside of each one,
it's time to consider a new model for our schools. Allowing students to choose
their pathway, with critical input from parents, teachers, and counselors, will
allow schools to teach all students what they need, when they need it, and in
the manner they need to learn it. It offers students the chance to blossom
where they are, to discover their passions in a safe and encouraging
environment, and to acquire and develop the skills they truly need in order to
live a long and productive life.</div>
trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-56779860094060285142016-10-05T21:45:00.000-07:002016-10-05T21:45:10.722-07:00A New School - Part 2<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A New School For A New Generation of
Learners</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Rethinking a system designed by an agricultural society, implemented by
an industrial society, and being used to educate a technological society.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
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<u>Part II: What is the purpose of school?<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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In the last installment, I noted a curious fact. Each state
determines for itself when its students must start and when they are legally
allowed to stop attending school. The federal government has no say in that
matter. And yet, in those 46 states that have adopted the Common Core
standards, minus the eight that have since withdrawn from them (Academic
Benchmarks: Common Core State Standards Adoption Map), the federal government
dictates what those students should be learning. And after reviewing the math
standards for algebra and geometry and comparing them to those for grades 6-8,
I posed the question of whether we are teaching the most critical skills for
college and career readiness before students reach high school. And if we are,
then when they reach high school are students being asked to learn skills that,
at least for many, have little or no bearing on their futures?</div>
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I recently conducted a very non-scientific opinion poll on
social media. By no means were these responses from a representative or random
sample. And yet, the variety of responses was fascinating. Most respondents
were young parents, whose children had either already started on their journey
through the K-12 school system, or were about to. Some were grandparents and
spoke with three generations of perspective (theirs, their children's and now
their grandchildren's.) </div>
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I posed a simple, yet apparently loaded question: what is
the purpose of school? I tried to make it clear that I wasn't asking from a
cynical or fatalistic perspective. I wasn't throwing my hands in the air
existentially, claiming that life has no meaning and that all is futile.
Instead, I really wanted to know whether, in light of whatever they deemed the
purpose of school to be, the traditional model of school that generation after
generation had experienced - students arrive at a building, gather in rooms in
some sort of homogeneous manner, listen to a teacher teach, practice on that
teaching, then test on that teaching - was the best, or even the only model
that could possibly accomplish that purpose?</div>
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The responses, fifty in total, surprised me. I broke them
into three broad categories: </div>
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<ul>
<li>to
develop soft skills - skills that are associated with personal growth and a
vision of how those skills might be applied to one's future life;</li>
<li>to
develop hard skills - content knowledge which can (and is) easily tested;</li>
<li>to
develop social skills - learning how to relate, interact, and function with
others in society.</li>
</ul>
Overwhelmingly, the most common response to the question of
purpose in school were to build and develop those so-called soft skills. Skills
such as learning how to learn and think, learning that it's ok to fail,
developing character and integrity, learning how to be challenged, to fail, and
to get back up, etc. The breakdown is shown below.<br /><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn't expect the result to be this one-sided. To think
that upon reflection on their own school experiences, and in concert with the
professional life they had chosen upon its completion, so many would say that
the main purpose of school is to build and develop skills that are rarely found
in a course syllabus, tested even less often, and generally considered by-products
of the 'real' work of schools - that is, the delivery, reception and retention
of content.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I sifted through the responses, a further delineation
emerged. Among the responses that favored 'soft' skills, there were two main
camps. The first focused on skills an individual would use to better interact
with the adult world. Skills such as preparing for life situations, increasing
personal productivity, learning to do the daily work of life, and even making a
difference in the lives of others (which some might argue would also fall into
the category of social skills.) Forty percent of the soft skills responses fell
into this category. That means the other sixty percent fell into the second
category.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This group included skills that were more internally focused,
skills that would lead to betterment as a person, independent of the job or
life situation one might find oneself in. Examples included igniting personal
passions, learning how to fail without having heavy consequences for that
failure, finding out what motivates you, and learning how to find the
information you need to solve a problem. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don't think most people would argue that these are
unimportant skills. And yet, in general they seem to be byproducts of
education, not its main focus. As an experienced educator with more than two
decades spent in the classroom working with teenagers, I'm not sure what to
make of this. On one hand, we have the Common Core Initiative telling us that
the overwhelming majority of what high school math students need to learn is
content-based. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the other hand, the very students served by our school
system, many of whom are now raising their own children and sending them into
that same system, are telling me that what's really important in school are the
non-content pieces - developing the personal skills and attributes that lead to
being a productive citizen regardless of the depth of one's content knowledge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After many years teaching high school mathematics in a
traditional school building, I have stepped away from that setting, now for the
second time. I currently teach for an online school, serving students across
the United States, all of whom bring a unique story of how they came to enroll
in an online course or fully attend an online school. I can't help but wonder
if part of my story is this dichotomy illustrated above. How many students have
I tried to force-feed algebra, perhaps in the same metaphorical way that ducks
are force-fed in order to produce <i>foie
gras</i>? And for how many of them did I take the time to understand that what
they really wanted and needed was not more formulas and theorems, no matter how
engaging I was in front of the room? Not more functions, more graphs, more
proofs, or more complex equations. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps all they needed was someone to teach them the soft
skills their predecessors identified as being the real purpose of school. And
yes, along the way, surely they picked some of them up regardless. Undoubtedly,
several learned how to fail and bounce back. But as I think back on some of the
most challenging students, students who had no interest in learning how to
factor quadratic polynomials, to prove two triangles congruent, or to find the
sine of an angle, I now see many of them crying out for someone to teach them
what they really needed - skills that would lead them to a better life than
they thought they deserved. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I couldn't. I had to teach every student the same
material. The college-bound future engineer who sat next to the student whose
only dream in life was to hold a high school diploma. The future biologist who
passed papers to the student who was working two jobs after school, and could
barely stay awake in my class. I taught them all the same content, and I
assessed them in the same manner on that same material. Truly, the skills I
taught in math class were <i>compulsory</i>,
designed so that everyone could be evaluated fairly and equitably. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But is this equity? I submit that it is not. Further, I want
to propose a radical new approach to education that allows students to learn
the right skills at the right time, for the right reasons, and with the right
group of peers. To me, that, more than common standards, common assessments,
and common instructional strategies, represents true educational equity.</div>
trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-27053769725323853612016-09-29T10:50:00.001-07:002016-09-30T19:32:28.125-07:00A New School - Part 1<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A New School For A New Generation of
Learners</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Rethinking a system designed by an agricultural society, implemented by
an industrial society, and being used to educate a technological society.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Part 1 - Making students learn<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Compulsory education has been a part of American schools
since colonial times. While it was still part of the British Empire, the
Massachusetts Bay Colony enacted a law requiring its children to attend formal
schools. In the mid-1800s, the US state of Massachusetts became the first of
now fifty states to require towns to offer nominal schooling to young children.
This schooling amounted to what we now know as 'The Three Rs:' reading,
writing, and 'rithmetic. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In his 1976 article written for The Phi Delta Kappa
Educational Foundation, Michael S. Katz explained that in its initial form,
mandatory schooling applied only to children ages eight through fourteen and
required them to attend school for a mere twelve weeks a year. This law
effectively forced parents to 'raise up their children' in the acceptable
Puritan (Christian) way, and was enacted due to documented failings of many to
do so, thereby "transforming a moral obligation into a legal one."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During the Industrial Revolution, factories often took
advantage of children, forcing them to work long hours while earning pennies on
the dollar compared to their adult counterparts. In an effort to protect
children from hard labor, states lined up to pass similar laws making education
compulsory for all children, but only up to a certain age. In many cases, that
age was sixteen, the age at which it was deemed that children were capable of
working as adults.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To some, the word <b><i>compulsory</i></b> brings to mind images of
Olympic figure skaters, all performing in the first stage of their final competition.
The compulsory part means they all have to perform the same tasks in their
routines, in order to be fairly and equitably judged compared to their peers.
Hm…that sounds familiar.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today all fifty states have some form of required schooling
on their books, and the mandatory ages typically start between the ages of five
and seven, and end between sixteen and eighteen (National Center for Education
Statistics.) What's interesting is that while each state has its own law for
compulsory education, there is no federal standard in place. Despite the fact
that the United States spends in excess of $200 billion dollars on education - admittedly,
around 5% of the overall budget - (US Department of Education 2016 Budget Fact
Sheet) , the federal government does not have the authority to tell states when
their children need to be in school.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What it DOES tell them, however, is what their children need
to know and be able to demonstrate before they leave school. Each state can
decide when children must start and when they may choose to stop attending
school, but while they are in there, much of what they learn is dictated to
them by the federal government in the form of the Common Core State Standards
Initiative.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the fall of 2007 I was invited to join a team of K-12
educators, post-secondary professors, and mathematicians to once and for all
rewrite the expectations for all Washington state students in mathematics. It
remains to this day one of the most challenging, interesting, and ultimately
rewarding experiences of my professional life - one of which I am still
immensely proud to have been a part. </div>
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Over the course of several months, we brainstormed, argued,
pled our cases, talked, listened, and eventually wrote a set of standards for
all mathematics students in our state in introductory algebra and geometry.
When we published our work, we did so with great fanfare, as we believed we had
designed a collection of skills and processes that would ably serve all
students in our state for many years to come. Little did we know that 'many
years' actually meant 'one year', as in 2009, Washington joined the Common Core
Standards Initiative, and all our work was put into the archives. By 2010, the state had provisionally adopted
the Common Core standards, and in 2011, they were formally adopted - Washington
had joined now 46 states in offering and assessing a set of standards that for
the first time represented a national
curriculum.</div>
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While working on the Washington state standards team, I
still vividly recall numerous occasions during which I heard some version of
the following, usually from a professor of mathematics or a mathematician: "We can't let kids leave high school
without knowing how to …." And each time someone said this, they were able
to back their claim up. Yes, the Pythagorean Theorem is important in geometry.
Yes, factoring skills are crucial in algebra. Of course students have to be
able to write proofs. And obviously, they need to be able to make a graph and
interpret it… right?</div>
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After more than 20 years in the classroom, most of them as a
National Board Certified teacher, I have begun to wonder just what students
'must' know mathematically in order to be successful in their lives. And the
more I think about it, the shorter the list becomes. I pored over the Common
Core standards (Common Core State Standards Initiative) for algebra and
geometry and identified those skills at which every living, working, thriving
adult really must be skilled, laying aside those skills that register as
'critical' to a mathematician, but to a typical adult, are likely never to be
explored again once they close their algebra book for the last time.</div>
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In the former category, for example, I include skills such
as the ability to solve an equation (finding an unknown value in a simple or
complex situation), understanding the concept of a function (a construct that
takes an input and returns - spits out - an output), and being able to understand fundamental
one-variable statistics such as mean, median, variation, etc.</div>
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The latter group includes skills such as understanding the
difference between rational and irrational numbers, working with vectors and
matrices, trigonometry, congruence theorems, and conditional probability to
name just a very few.</div>
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In total, I counted a total of 156 math skills the Common
Core standards expect students to master before graduating high school or at
least fulfilling their legal requirement of compulsory schooling. Of those, I
identified 46 that truly resonated as critical to success after high school. Don't
get me wrong. I love math, and I love teaching math. Therefore, I find the
remaining 110 skills fascinating, and most are intensely useful for further
studies in mathematics. For those students continuing on beyond the most basic
of math instruction, clearly they will need and want to explore many if not all
of those 110 skills. But as a baseline set of required skills, I counted 46. That
amounts to a ratio of 2.5:1, non-critical skills to critical skills. And to
break it down further, nineteen of those forty-six skills came in the final set
of standards: Probability and Statistics. Take that last section out and the
ratio of non-critical skills to critical skills is 100:25, or 4:1.</div>
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Perhaps most telling, beyond one person's opinion about
which skill is critical to success in life and which is not, is the following
statement, found in the final note for the standards, a note that summarizes
the role of individual courses and the importance of transitions between them:</div>
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"<i>Indeed, some of the highest priority content
for college and career readiness comes from Grades
6-8."</i></div>
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I find this comment to be an indicator of the level of skills
expected of high school students and supportive of my assessment of the high
school standards. If indeed, such a priority for both college and career
readiness falls in the Grade 6-8 band, what are we asking of our high school
students? Is it possible we are teaching them too much?</div>
trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-16677458826239418472016-03-04T10:21:00.001-08:002016-03-04T10:21:24.304-08:00It's great to be alive, it's great to be a Puddle Jumper!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDSfsVljGUBRI61Bv1cFxRzW0UOtQjCa-Pz2oASs0npGTsM0kkOe_dj0QIg2pouhbrn_qHz1V02r69KeRD1yOqr3F77dA_Edi7Ndk-SSFWNjesIwp-QY2RuKiAexWUsY3Ttl_l65AAEg/s1600/P1010326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDSfsVljGUBRI61Bv1cFxRzW0UOtQjCa-Pz2oASs0npGTsM0kkOe_dj0QIg2pouhbrn_qHz1V02r69KeRD1yOqr3F77dA_Edi7Ndk-SSFWNjesIwp-QY2RuKiAexWUsY3Ttl_l65AAEg/s320/P1010326.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Forks, everyone is a Puddle Jumper at some<br />point, but these are the official ones!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Leaving the town of Chelan, in central Washington state, if
you drive west until you reach a large body of water, then ride a ferry across
that body of water and keep driving west until you reach the ocean, you will
find yourself in the tiny, quaint town of Forks. Made famous by the Twilight
series, set in its city limits, and still featuring Vampire tours, Music night
with Edward and Bella, and Jacob Black's Rentals, Forks is also the home of my
new friends, the Puddle Jumpers.</div>
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Such is the nickname carried by all students at Forks
Elementary, where, I learned on my first day there, "It's Great To Be
Alive, It's Great To Be A Puddle Jumper!" Forks is situated in the Olympic
Rainforest, and they receive over 100 inches of rain (that more than 8 feet, by
the way) a year. I can attest to that during my short 36 hour stay!</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvh6e8mrfjCtMbVudMRtCD5lhH0qFBarCXJuKCJtwZSUztkvmYWeu5DG6VilkrFN2IZC0DfGUwoubhmRU3_-HcjZm_dIz5rAoA8dDaTbP1WcrAhjOC3G_xRMBocF5IJYwcJdtHN7PvNI/s1600/P1010324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvh6e8mrfjCtMbVudMRtCD5lhH0qFBarCXJuKCJtwZSUztkvmYWeu5DG6VilkrFN2IZC0DfGUwoubhmRU3_-HcjZm_dIz5rAoA8dDaTbP1WcrAhjOC3G_xRMBocF5IJYwcJdtHN7PvNI/s200/P1010324.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to kick off a Reading Program!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I was there at the invitation of the Forks Elementary
principal, Rob Shadle, who also happens to be a childhood friend of mine. He
has done great things there, and there is a spirit not only of learning, but
excitement of learning that permeates the building. You sense it in the
teachers, and it flows out of them into their students. March 2 was the day
they kicked off their Spring Reading Program and I was asked to come and share
my love of reading through my book <i>Fibonacci Zoo.</i></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0LJgsvvhwtbynRv7kQegIN2EYZehQWb9EL-Rdgeiu7i8r_2-5-qUGs02vb_yF-l3LxeLlFpFjl0pC-W6FSnW5ASpcCPlsz2Ke_w1utREfg7-okV-pls0Ev08KA2tc4ctE0acj1bwgFk/s1600/P1010323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0LJgsvvhwtbynRv7kQegIN2EYZehQWb9EL-Rdgeiu7i8r_2-5-qUGs02vb_yF-l3LxeLlFpFjl0pC-W6FSnW5ASpcCPlsz2Ke_w1utREfg7-okV-pls0Ev08KA2tc4ctE0acj1bwgFk/s200/P1010323.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bring in those Puddle Jumpers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I gave nine presentations that day, as I welcomed all
ages, from the sweet Pre-Ks through the academically strong 3rd graders. The energy
was palpable, and summed up best by one of the 2nd grade teachers, Mrs. Haag,
who said "anyone who can keep 40 second graders quiet and on the edge of
their seats for half an hour must be doing something right!"</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvRspPzfGzvqpJ3CJub91fogPdnUM3EicOIQ1egfbzuzuQCn8HVBTIDeS4bg1lybCijqQWwtwakSvdz3HbikoJkkfkzv79RxZUCpligybIEw9P4ZRjL8o3Ij7R187Tc6KcsOj4nMAjiw/s1600/P1010340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvRspPzfGzvqpJ3CJub91fogPdnUM3EicOIQ1egfbzuzuQCn8HVBTIDeS4bg1lybCijqQWwtwakSvdz3HbikoJkkfkzv79RxZUCpligybIEw9P4ZRjL8o3Ij7R187Tc6KcsOj4nMAjiw/s200/P1010340.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gorgeous Second Beach in La Push</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After a short break in the afternoon, spent exploring the
rough and rugged Washington coast in "Jacob Black" territory on the
Quileute Reservation, I was back for an evening presentation open to the
public. It was so exciting to see so many familiar student faces from earlier
in the day (who by now knew all the answers!) along with their parents
and family members and even community members who came for the curiosity (and delicious
cookies from JT's Sweet Stuffs)</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fqIkhB1H9cWwbWD_6Q5c6YxUyeVn-5QGEursoZ9ddrELpdyURJ5bAVltti2g5uJyjobdZJdobhrbf8z5Go1QhCizShRljSoyH1plvu8s0QyZVrlHvCibdbuDmMXDBIYoNnAaYfto764/s1600/P1010329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fqIkhB1H9cWwbWD_6Q5c6YxUyeVn-5QGEursoZ9ddrELpdyURJ5bAVltti2g5uJyjobdZJdobhrbf8z5Go1QhCizShRljSoyH1plvu8s0QyZVrlHvCibdbuDmMXDBIYoNnAaYfto764/s200/P1010329.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks Laura and the<br />Pacific Inn!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the presentation, I did a book signing and was
overwhelmed by the manner in which parents in Forks support and encourage their
kids' love of reading. The town struggles with poverty. While the Twilight mania
brought (and still brings) much needed tourism money to town, the elementary,
for example, struggles with over 70% of their students qualifying for free and
reduced lunch from the government. And yet, parents were quick to buy books,
often multiple copies in multiple languages, in order to foster a love of
learning in their children.</div>
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I sold out of almost everything I brought, including science
books and Spanish language versions of Fibonacci. As I drove out of town the
next morning on my long journey back home, I was filled with hope for our
future. Hope that was evident in the face of every little Puddle Jumper I met
there in Forks.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGFHRRHJgJ5bjyMorKr6fvyDoHRarWA7gyNz_HRfNNAWqzzq2Yn2Oie419jGYiYraodYGoVdIc9v0NkuIQ7BPdElKa8LroEpbe4CDH0jYzr3dK3F8prMbTVjP79HMP7didPwpNgEXh5k/s1600/P1010347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGFHRRHJgJ5bjyMorKr6fvyDoHRarWA7gyNz_HRfNNAWqzzq2Yn2Oie419jGYiYraodYGoVdIc9v0NkuIQ7BPdElKa8LroEpbe4CDH0jYzr3dK3F8prMbTVjP79HMP7didPwpNgEXh5k/s320/P1010347.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The site of my evening presentation - a beautiful facility!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-11022724848699932462016-01-21T11:27:00.001-08:002016-01-21T11:27:43.044-08:00The Weather ChannelJust casually running through my Facebook feed and came upon this little gem. Fibonacci strikes again!!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.weather.com/tv/shows/amhq/video/natures-golden-ratio-in-weather">Fibonaci Spiral In Weather</a><br />
<br />trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-64592237675077110122016-01-21T11:27:00.000-08:002016-01-21T11:27:28.588-08:00Headed to Forks...and Vampires?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7IG7WNwJslh6dBPkIWGwSTDNv-QuyRCqnaC9L1t7ztz5DkgSIagfdJ8CTMGn_1bfr90wgVv0QHmSKeFUOr6o746XRdoCxcAKUYM_1-IsK6bqSl1gnU0jMiuVLWqe5IzdSNMNAutTaog/s1600/welcome-to-forks-wa+TripADvisor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7IG7WNwJslh6dBPkIWGwSTDNv-QuyRCqnaC9L1t7ztz5DkgSIagfdJ8CTMGn_1bfr90wgVv0QHmSKeFUOr6o746XRdoCxcAKUYM_1-IsK6bqSl1gnU0jMiuVLWqe5IzdSNMNAutTaog/s320/welcome-to-forks-wa+TripADvisor.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: TripAdvisor.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am pleased to announce that I will be visiting Forks (WA) Elementary School, as a guest of my buddy, principal Rob Shadle on March 2 to help them kick off their spring reading program. I will be giving presentations to all K-3 classrooms during the day and then will be hosting an evening event and book signing for parents that evening.<br />
<br />
If you happen to be on that side of the state, please come by and say hello!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TujNJg8_eHBS555vNJjC0-bC0ghxx6B_p1P3mX6qnbc625JMA9ukEmG0g5aiCQh98PuYQagzfwJ9THUGQyEVkAstQ70afyivLqib5dKR1ZArXGkIMvSKvYIdhbetO8YBWECum56SHtM/s1600/Welcome+to+Forks+The+AWlcom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TujNJg8_eHBS555vNJjC0-bC0ghxx6B_p1P3mX6qnbc625JMA9ukEmG0g5aiCQh98PuYQagzfwJ9THUGQyEVkAstQ70afyivLqib5dKR1ZArXGkIMvSKvYIdhbetO8YBWECum56SHtM/s320/Welcome+to+Forks+The+AWlcom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: TheAwl.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-57838686873116133922015-12-05T23:04:00.000-08:002015-12-05T23:04:01.868-08:00A Book For All Seasons (Leavenworth, WA)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ3eL8d1UrsPAvflXY9lYVmnRXvitRWyA5CfMxnD0cBOfQcVU8caHmyINp87Lnqu0-JFBqtFfmVhYRTTwmIv-zcXC6aKbyz5q9_zpUatnXqxOSSEsG1SOCjWij-7CHvezhJFuUnFTqUE/s1600/1205151511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ3eL8d1UrsPAvflXY9lYVmnRXvitRWyA5CfMxnD0cBOfQcVU8caHmyINp87Lnqu0-JFBqtFfmVhYRTTwmIv-zcXC6aKbyz5q9_zpUatnXqxOSSEsG1SOCjWij-7CHvezhJFuUnFTqUE/s400/1205151511.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Book For All Seasons - Leavenworth, WA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A big thank you to Theresa at <i><a href="http://www.abookforallseasons.com/home">A Book For All Seasons</a></i>, in Leavenworth, WA for hosting me today for a book signing. I've lived here for going on nine years now and have really only been to Leavenworth for athletic contests, though we did make it out to Oktoberfest last year for the first time.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL90epzUW2CwF2YkoLdvYYVSra6nSvWhhoL5BALgGRWR9_7SHcm6xeE9mq0kIbmX6AdMQZRNIqe7ijBfQputzTdmY-ARITPXYojN-O7mmO77V412B1YJJjEPh83aMD2cknpl-BZ2d9OVg/s1600/1205151504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL90epzUW2CwF2YkoLdvYYVSra6nSvWhhoL5BALgGRWR9_7SHcm6xeE9mq0kIbmX6AdMQZRNIqe7ijBfQputzTdmY-ARITPXYojN-O7mmO77V412B1YJJjEPh83aMD2cknpl-BZ2d9OVg/s320/1205151504.jpg" width="320" /></a>So this was my first experience with a Christmas weekend and wow - it was jaw-dropping. I was worried I would be there too early and would have to find something to do for 45 minutes or so, but about 2 miles outside of town (not on the Seattle side, mind you) traffic just stopped. We inched along the whole rest of the way as the snow started to really come down. By the time I left, the snow had only picked up, and the backup (bumper to bumper) stretched for several miles. There's no way they all were going to make it for the tree lighting. But I didn't care - my work was done and I limped home with just the passenger side windshield wiper working - but that's a story for another time.<br />
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I had a great day today meeting and greeting everyone who stopped in. You can't really see from the photos, but we were kind of placed right in the middle of everything, so anyone coming in kind of had to at least take a look at us. I met some super fun kids, including a young lady who is going to take the world by storm when she grows up (right now she wants to teach fashion design, but I have a hunch she may end up a math teacher), a high school teacher changing lost lives in an alternative high school in Tacoma (remember, every life you save is a life saved!), a first grade teacher whose kids are already begging for more challenging reading material (such as...say...Fibonacci Zoo?) and a 2nd grade teacher (seen above in the picture!) who just casually picked up my science book not realizing the author was standing right next to her. She is taking a really fun resource back to her students on Monday morning.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention 'throngs'?</td></tr>
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I never know what to expect from book signings, but so far, I have never been disappointed. Today, despite the crazy snow outside and the throngs of people (who apparently come from ALL OVER on buses for this event - yes, it's a thing!), I had a really fun day. The drive home took way too long at 40 mph, partially because of the snow, and mostly because I really couldn't see out of my driver's side. But all's well, and more kids are getting some really powerful new books under their Christmas trees this year!<br />
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Oh, and just sharing some other fun news - each year at this time of year, my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Kids-Science-Experiments-Gravity-Challenge/dp/1580625576"><i>Everything Kids Science Experiments Book</i></a> rises up Amazon's Top 100 list to near the top. It's uncanny, and so cool to watch! Today, it's at #28 (having DROPPED, mind you). Thanks to everyone who helped put it there!<br />
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trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-28751931978513589822015-11-15T23:26:00.000-08:002015-11-15T23:26:04.933-08:00Buzzin' about Books!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslf3-FD5sxdahU5HISz_YnZOeV-y-fRQzKbOyA4Y5g1Iv2huXzLkqB1bgy40tQxVGLTWY6dE9ECxTPLe0Bv2zWz3OrqmqhEldueT2r4tdSDaAPJ2GJp6S0jRefyjIruZVvvEH2vDzTF4/s1600/Pybus+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslf3-FD5sxdahU5HISz_YnZOeV-y-fRQzKbOyA4Y5g1Iv2huXzLkqB1bgy40tQxVGLTWY6dE9ECxTPLe0Bv2zWz3OrqmqhEldueT2r4tdSDaAPJ2GJp6S0jRefyjIruZVvvEH2vDzTF4/s320/Pybus+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Had a great day at <a href="http://www.pybuspublicmarket.org/">Pybus Public Market</a> in Wenatchee last weekend! It was a better turnout than I expected, but what really blew me away was the amount of people at the market overall. It was packed on a November Saturday afternoon. Kudos to Steve Robinson who has built this public market into an events each weekend! Beside us, there was the National Diabetes Day presentations (yoga and a cooking demo, I think), the usual shops that are permanently there, and so many vendors in the aisles selling their art, craftwork, food items, and personal passions.<br />
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As for the books? There were 13 of us, all seated at tables and the vibe was very low-key and approachable. I suspect eventually I will stop saying this, but this was really my first event like this. It wasn't so much about selling books (though ultimately, that IS the goal), but more about giving folks a chance to meet local authors, here the back stories, and if they are so inclined, to buy books.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxK-Mpv20Qmb2PM_v0Fe5BB9wZC3633c-MOJq8zCmtlaViNaAm3-aejCAKaBXXsdppGO-EKZwsCXTQiumr2jKNZXD0QPkp2aD1aDtrdbdsBZgz3t1N5r6RMogz-JvRehWupR1uLUXyvrE/s1600/Pybus+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxK-Mpv20Qmb2PM_v0Fe5BB9wZC3633c-MOJq8zCmtlaViNaAm3-aejCAKaBXXsdppGO-EKZwsCXTQiumr2jKNZXD0QPkp2aD1aDtrdbdsBZgz3t1N5r6RMogz-JvRehWupR1uLUXyvrE/s320/Pybus+3.jpg" width="320" /></a>To her credit, Theresa from <a href="http://www.abookforallseasons.com/home">A Book For All Seasons</a> (more on her later!) did a wonderful job of featuring our books, but also making it possible for folks to visit with us without feeling pressure to buy. Each attendee was given a sheet of paper with all of our names and books on it. All they had to do was stop by our spot, talk with us, and get us to sign their sheet. Once they had nine of thirteen signatures, they were entered into a drawing. And boy, did they come!<br />
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I met some wonderful kids, including Aurelia, Peter and Emmy, and my buddy Eli who ended up with a copy of <i>Fibonacci</i> though his dad only planned on buying my science book. Parents and grandparents who really care about developing a love of reading and learning in the next generation. Really, it was an uplifting day, and a fun day to talk about math, science, and philosophy of education (!). I was proud to sell out of one of my science books, sell all but one copy of the other, and to sell half a case of my <i>Fibonacci Zoo</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fctYWNb5AIzJV_swvHCjLDHo_Hq2FYiwZP3xHj1SsRr4TdkLhX6-jwzo7dxpPuD7uUycbh-55tGNVszGjTUYjTsShaHT9MtWtKWeFP4IanMqHpSdP7R4lI8mvQJ8pUE_5L-d50DaSgE/s1600/Authors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fctYWNb5AIzJV_swvHCjLDHo_Hq2FYiwZP3xHj1SsRr4TdkLhX6-jwzo7dxpPuD7uUycbh-55tGNVszGjTUYjTsShaHT9MtWtKWeFP4IanMqHpSdP7R4lI8mvQJ8pUE_5L-d50DaSgE/s640/Authors.jpg" width="163" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_6I04wkza3Utgz-7TDOjAU9QBu0IQLli4lrtXAe8zG8-EirWk45nm6Z5CAtA3-C8qnytxmty2tq3cagRQWgkFC0cob5Z7qIrdntjxUB7j1IO_yajoqkANIXGEzyf5BtpRgbA3aXUqnE/s1600/Pybus+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_6I04wkza3Utgz-7TDOjAU9QBu0IQLli4lrtXAe8zG8-EirWk45nm6Z5CAtA3-C8qnytxmty2tq3cagRQWgkFC0cob5Z7qIrdntjxUB7j1IO_yajoqkANIXGEzyf5BtpRgbA3aXUqnE/s320/Pybus+2.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
Even better, I got to meet some local authors who have been doing this a lot longer than I have. And most are self-published, which is a growing trend in the book publishing business, but still can be a very challenging way to go. I was honored to meet <b>Wendell George</b> who has written several stories (<i>Coyote Finishes the People, Last Chief Standing, </i>and <i>Raven Speaks) </i>about his tribe's history in north central Washington, <b>Jim Talbert,</b> who has penned a non-fiction account of Lake Chelan's history (<i>Lake Chelan Revisited)</i>, and enjoyed sitting next to <b>Sarah Hartsig</b>, who was sharing her first picture book as both author and illustrator - a lovely, upbeat story of a birthday party (<i>Party for Pepper)</i> for a mouse and all the fun decorations to count at the party.<br />
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And even more fun, Theresa has asked me back to her shop in Leavenworth for their Christmas party December 3 to sign books! And then on December 5, I'll be back up there for another author event. It is heart-warming to connect with a local bookstore owner who supports local authors and is excited about bringing us in to meet the public and share our stories.<br />
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If you think you might be in or around Leavenworth that fir<br />
st weekend after Thanksgiving, please stop by and say hello!<br />
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trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-44530982940899452602015-10-27T22:24:00.000-07:002015-10-27T22:24:14.938-07:00"Think Local Authors First" Book Buzz<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsbMF0DcV7U53TseB4jbLBgDOQy0YtVHaPHWNftKZhD5bPE_TVm4q2ugiRtbMHbrbMeqCStT08W8p94IKrM7NFhv0NWGqoRRjyF39RJ-i8POwhFqC2Xv35eCEfZ5McqK9-bD24Cxy5_c/s1600/Pybus+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsbMF0DcV7U53TseB4jbLBgDOQy0YtVHaPHWNftKZhD5bPE_TVm4q2ugiRtbMHbrbMeqCStT08W8p94IKrM7NFhv0NWGqoRRjyF39RJ-i8POwhFqC2Xv35eCEfZ5McqK9-bD24Cxy5_c/s400/Pybus+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful and fun Pybus Public Market in Wenatchee, WA</td></tr>
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It's coming! November 7, from 11:00-1:00 pm the <a href="http://www.pybuspublicmarket.org/">Pybus Market</a> in Wenatchee, WA will be hosting its semi-annual <a href="http://www.pybuspublicmarket.org/events/think-local-author-first-book-buzz-1100am-to-100pm-2/#.VjBZun6rT4Y">"Think Local Authors First" Book Buzz</a> event. The event is hosted by local (Leavenworth, WA) bookstore <a href="http://www.abookforallseasons.com/home">A Book For All Seasons</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRPrZWrohPk0SDv4e7CKDRJyrwa8gCdXP_eiqZlCW8Bnu4wnT0708zc3gzAKfJFfEj9ECS7kgmLI08-ou6vR5leEJFF217PVqH0hKE-WG-XKxg7u9H9atS0IWsTFeFGDx2lkZ_9-Bv_Y/s1600/Pybus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRPrZWrohPk0SDv4e7CKDRJyrwa8gCdXP_eiqZlCW8Bnu4wnT0708zc3gzAKfJFfEj9ECS7kgmLI08-ou6vR5leEJFF217PVqH0hKE-WG-XKxg7u9H9atS0IWsTFeFGDx2lkZ_9-Bv_Y/s320/Pybus.png" width="320" /></a>At this event, local authors from all over North Central Washington will be on hand to share stories of their stories, to sign books, and do a meet and greet with the public.<br />
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It's been a while since I last got to present <i>Fibonacci Zoo</i> so I am excited to have the public come out, the LOCAL public, and see what it's all about. The weather is still fabulous in our neck of the woods, and Pybus is a rare find. There's lots to enjoy for all ages - I hope you come out and enjoy the festivities!trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-47823921944936715842015-07-28T18:23:00.002-07:002015-07-28T18:23:16.464-07:00Village Books - Fairhaven/Bellingham (WA)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lPfXUBduirIyWsHZCGXb4VIqGnsRpFaVxhY05vzI912e-1V-0vs9EKlZZHYRsgKAJCuzp1ewWRkyZynxc51AeTHc_kfiGYMj52lzFdkiZIrhvugLH14u1QIiMt9xUGjHugngD5cH2Jk/s1600/0727151156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lPfXUBduirIyWsHZCGXb4VIqGnsRpFaVxhY05vzI912e-1V-0vs9EKlZZHYRsgKAJCuzp1ewWRkyZynxc51AeTHc_kfiGYMj52lzFdkiZIrhvugLH14u1QIiMt9xUGjHugngD5cH2Jk/s400/0727151156.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Village Books in Fairhaven/Bellingham (WA)</td></tr>
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I earned my Master's degree from Western Washington University. However, I did so by studying at the Seattle branch, and only traveled to Bellingham for graduation. And that was 21 years ago. So I hadn't been back to this part of the state in a long, long time. I discovered that I had been missing out!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPw9AVOI29PyFlyYIfEAh95sbu6BSjJvySqREy7sxkdvXz-C6I8s3Yc1PpF6Esc3jSPKqCtNb67Mn1wUASBT_XkljCMSZllRZUXFhOoP5cmp38HvPLC_R2G-pi33SdFMo5y1bDpy5Ku3w/s1600/0727151205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPw9AVOI29PyFlyYIfEAh95sbu6BSjJvySqREy7sxkdvXz-C6I8s3Yc1PpF6Esc3jSPKqCtNb67Mn1wUASBT_XkljCMSZllRZUXFhOoP5cmp38HvPLC_R2G-pi33SdFMo5y1bDpy5Ku3w/s320/0727151205.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Readings Gallery at Village Books</td></tr>
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Village Books is a large three-story independent book store, now in its 35th year of operation and it's impressive. Books galore, people galore, and it's also connected to a cafe on its top floor, a bigger <br />
cafe/restaurant on the bottom floor (Colophon Cafe), and a paper/art store (Paper Dreams). And now I hear talk they are expanding to a second store in Lynden later in 2015. The stage was set (literally) for a big visit.<br />
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Alas, the best laid plans... only a handful of people showed up. Here you can see what it COULD have looked like, had the house been packed. It's a lovely place for an author visit - intimate, formal enough, but still informal at the same time. It would have been dynamite with 30-40 people there. But as it was, I tip my cap to those who came, including my former student Sara and her two boys, and I gave them the best I had.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VHx5MLAX-2SuXrVaDdmH0UnFCstboun-uTLJJeZ43qb9HkqPqcuxRAhuVeVYVaDYhO_pVvgELjCtulYdnIW1ZIeiC-nY86D7muylYtm4SojCuE-IPFH20G8YxEeS12WjoGMZEhW-f9I/s1600/Fibonacci+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VHx5MLAX-2SuXrVaDdmH0UnFCstboun-uTLJJeZ43qb9HkqPqcuxRAhuVeVYVaDYhO_pVvgELjCtulYdnIW1ZIeiC-nY86D7muylYtm4SojCuE-IPFH20G8YxEeS12WjoGMZEhW-f9I/s200/Fibonacci+Quilt.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jean Hamilton's first attempt at a Fibonacci Spiral quilt.<br />How great is this??</td></tr>
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I think overall, <i>Fibonacci </i>was very well received. The common theme seemed to be searching for meaningful math books for grandchildren, and I think I hit the sweet spot there. One woman is the mother of a math professor at the University of Utah and was thrilled to be able to buy a book for her grandchildren that would teach them mathematics. Another woman, a quilter, told me she was going to go home and make a Fibonacci spiral quilt. I asked her to send<br />
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me a photo when she finished, thinking it would be at least several weeks, possibly months. She sent me this picture TODAY! She apologized, saying it was her first attempt and future ones would look better. But wow - isn't this awesome?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5D3zdBtINEX99W_3ZDFHVUmfAhWz2cC6rZE1P3cpmfUi0b42MJKllq_KdnvsUqP3tLWEzhzqMLJFR-7I5VaTNPGcKzYsVh5naXGbsrzL2JQyXrFgczrl3KhD5DZnxwfarpccNAu4aLI/s1600/0727151320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5D3zdBtINEX99W_3ZDFHVUmfAhWz2cC6rZE1P3cpmfUi0b42MJKllq_KdnvsUqP3tLWEzhzqMLJFR-7I5VaTNPGcKzYsVh5naXGbsrzL2JQyXrFgczrl3KhD5DZnxwfarpccNAu4aLI/s320/0727151320.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the trail that connects Fairhaven to <br />downtown Bellingham. This may be my <br />favorite spot in all of Bellingham!</td></tr>
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Oh, one other little glitch...they only had a handful of books. I think there were 4 or 5 books available for purchase. And this woman bought three of them. So despite the small crowd, several left without books in hand. They ordered copies, and will receive them in a few days, but it's sad not to be able to have the book signed by the author. I made an executive decision, then, to sign bookmarks and give one to every person there. At its worst, it's great advertising, and at its best, it's something tangible, signed by me, the author, that those without signed books can have.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stone bridge over Whatcom Falls where I enjoyed<br />my picnic dinner. Beautiful!</td></tr>
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My visit to Bellingham was wonderful. I could have explored so many more spots, but really enjoyed several, as you can see below, including the South Bay Trail that arches out over the water as you leave Fairhaven (and end up walking 5 miles round trip after finding myself in downtown Bellingham at the abrupt end of the trail!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR5BFcOM0OESemh7VFuHkhqGwaU2ajxlVDRSaY0LqsadqT7KsZNBHIHPS8zkbbcsEZwXa4qxeEq11WXbccsLFmwGTqAvy18EXpYeDJNdxFjEz6M3pkZZZNSV4Wl8OTC2Eql2PckKoKUY/s1600/0727151847a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR5BFcOM0OESemh7VFuHkhqGwaU2ajxlVDRSaY0LqsadqT7KsZNBHIHPS8zkbbcsEZwXa4qxeEq11WXbccsLFmwGTqAvy18EXpYeDJNdxFjEz6M3pkZZZNSV4Wl8OTC2Eql2PckKoKUY/s320/0727151847a.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whatcom Falls</td></tr>
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Another highlight was Whatcom Falls Park, which is a series of trails through a beautiful forest with the Whatcom Creek bubbling and babbling its way over falls and down into the bay. I love exploring places I don't know and this trip afforded me that luxury.<br />
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You may not be hearing much from me in the coming month. I'm taking some time off to travel and gather my plans for the fall, when I hope to be hitting the school trail in earnest. For now, enjoy the pics, and remember, you can always "<i>Count on Fibonacci!</i>"<br />
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trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-15632734420043959332015-07-25T13:18:00.000-07:002015-07-25T13:18:04.156-07:00Getting ready for Bellingham!Just a quick fun post today. The <a href="http://www.bellinghamherald.com/">Bellingham Herald</a> did a <a href="http://www.bellinghamherald.com/entertainment/article27256039.html">nice write-up</a> for my appearance Monday at <a href="http://www.villagebooks.com/event/tom-robinson-fibonacci-zoo-kids-event">Village Books</a>. Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRi8JEFyJ8RybhGV2xWNRsVlnNpyxyxY1H3KCDR0AJdZ6OIF2ntIVrCg7_ksAr3Sd2jCF987OLVYDPdxLk1zG3xm8DxG0vva9bUqk9KiNhPxdTdQo3BFYbHS1F5EL8Xs9eZc7dtEt59U/s1600/BHamHerald.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRi8JEFyJ8RybhGV2xWNRsVlnNpyxyxY1H3KCDR0AJdZ6OIF2ntIVrCg7_ksAr3Sd2jCF987OLVYDPdxLk1zG3xm8DxG0vva9bUqk9KiNhPxdTdQo3BFYbHS1F5EL8Xs9eZc7dtEt59U/s400/BHamHerald.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-52398633214011182862015-07-20T20:41:00.003-07:002015-07-20T20:41:48.097-07:00Chelan Public Library Summer Reading Program<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CELpji2fKOMhJ2UDS3FJkUwntWr4cX972bAmddP30KUEY9aO0K78b_o-W2L_3c3I5ABbUwZx5nSeUuk4_0TEQe8E_eH62-91iOApT3Vszw06oeoR6oq313Ln80PRL4xo4J2DLgyH-kE/s1600/Library+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CELpji2fKOMhJ2UDS3FJkUwntWr4cX972bAmddP30KUEY9aO0K78b_o-W2L_3c3I5ABbUwZx5nSeUuk4_0TEQe8E_eH62-91iOApT3Vszw06oeoR6oq313Ln80PRL4xo4J2DLgyH-kE/s320/Library+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the crew from my visit to<br />Chelan Public Library</td></tr>
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Further proof that learning doesn't have to stop when school lets out. Last week, about 35 learners and several parents and grandparents came to the Chelan (WA) Public Library for their weekly Summer Reading Program. Jennifer Oatey has them charged up about reading, and in a community where poverty and dis-advantage is common, the learning that takes place through programs like these is incredibly valuable to those kids who want to move ahead in the coming year of school.<br />
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I wasn't exactly sure what or whom to expect for this visit. I've done school visits but this is different, as it's by no means required. In fact, on the day I spoke, it was about 95 degrees outside, beautiful sunshine (like just about every other summer day in Chelan), and the lake was warm and inviting. And yet, come they did.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmlv25Fwd8ScavpvkKkPYXaSvBTvZv5MzdqQNnLFpw60F29219sBV6aIG3p0w3NHvZOwJmQyArZlVpwFrZN0LwKMWfr6cMToVQL7CBnu2DnmGnyLqL_ZtSkCJ9exHk5UCkhksJz8ycKc/s1600/Library+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmlv25Fwd8ScavpvkKkPYXaSvBTvZv5MzdqQNnLFpw60F29219sBV6aIG3p0w3NHvZOwJmQyArZlVpwFrZN0LwKMWfr6cMToVQL7CBnu2DnmGnyLqL_ZtSkCJ9exHk5UCkhksJz8ycKc/s200/Library+2.jpg" width="138" /></a>Ok sure, maybe some came for the raffle drawing that takes place at the end of each week's events. They huddled around the prize table long before I got on stage, debating the merits of each prize. But ultimately they came for the books. And on this day, <i>Fibonacci Zoo</i>, was THE book.<br />
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Jennifer has done a great job of procuring and then featuring my book in the library, inviting patrons to check it out, both figuratively and literally. I noticed the audience was a bit on the young side, more like ages 3-7 than the older kids I spoke to earlier in the year.<br />
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As I am experimenting with different components of my presentation, I had been told to expect ages through maybe 5th or 6th grade. So I added a part about the writing process, about the two-year project that culminated in the publishing of this book. I think I lost some momentum there, but I do see potential for that part of the story with a slightly older audience.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyHe-iTGATfrZpSIJinc3mfj2frJ8grbKcm87VqY90GYGmmlHqXnr8FbMZFAPh-G1M42WpMy_HWGna8dCp8UMh_8rCnBqdeR7QnvhWjeJyGWhOqsTDl-HiJGvQsf-Yg3M9Icuv8xHDos/s1600/Library+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyHe-iTGATfrZpSIJinc3mfj2frJ8grbKcm87VqY90GYGmmlHqXnr8FbMZFAPh-G1M42WpMy_HWGna8dCp8UMh_8rCnBqdeR7QnvhWjeJyGWhOqsTDl-HiJGvQsf-Yg3M9Icuv8xHDos/s200/Library+1.jpg" width="160" /></a>See, my goal, as a speaker, is to be able to tailor my talk to any audience, from the smallest children to the more...ahem...'veteran' readers. So I have to be able to throw in (or out) a variety of stories and messages. So I lived and learned. The kids were so excited to meet each animal in succession, especially so when they figured out that they come alphabetically. And I loved watching the faces of the parents light up when they connected the Fibonacci Sequence (the actual numbers) in their minds.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1LknpCb40yO7pDxrOtc61TbDAOvQETeptAcl0osO8olVdRuEP5p2GYLvwHRzOCKWx4JSg7NN4N2J65Kh33w-bOKWCRzqv6H1Y0s6D7f4LKYjzSChJOnKyiMq7ot0sm7zUaPt5BXOzg8/s1600/Library+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1LknpCb40yO7pDxrOtc61TbDAOvQETeptAcl0osO8olVdRuEP5p2GYLvwHRzOCKWx4JSg7NN4N2J65Kh33w-bOKWCRzqv6H1Y0s6D7f4LKYjzSChJOnKyiMq7ot0sm7zUaPt5BXOzg8/s320/Library+3.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
Was it my best presentation, in the end? Probably not. But I'm learning that you can't throw a no-hitter every time out. As long as I can pitch my team (Team Fibonacci?) to a win, we'll call it good.<br />
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Big thanks to Jennifer at Chelan Library for setting this up for me. And now it's time to branch out from my little community. Next Monday, July 27, I will be in Bellingham, WA, at the famous Village Books, at 4:00pm for an author presentation. Another new experience, another chance to try different combinations out, depending on the audience. I may not know what that audience is until I show up, but sometimes, that's half the fun!<br />
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See you there!<br />
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trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-91395225736338275222015-07-09T17:40:00.002-07:002015-07-09T17:40:47.902-07:00Always something new...So today, out of the blue, I get a package in the mail. It's from Adams Media, my publisher for my two Everything Kids Science Experiments books. Typically, the only time I hear from them is when sales totals are reported, so this was a bit unexpected.<br />
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I open the package to find four copies of these... <i>The Everything Kids Science Experiments Book</i>...in Korean!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8QbteJgQ1n0O96uR73g7qTVPBE0k6iXUBKt39_1xzi2mReOC5OKH9nRVhLTIh13q2okd10bTsqQtndv_x4xbLRknyVg_MRCsD3NjqluRDFmJ5pELkWNv5iKEJZEuW21OUGxAOo4XZ8k/s1600/Korean+Cover+EK+SCience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8QbteJgQ1n0O96uR73g7qTVPBE0k6iXUBKt39_1xzi2mReOC5OKH9nRVhLTIh13q2okd10bTsqQtndv_x4xbLRknyVg_MRCsD3NjqluRDFmJ5pELkWNv5iKEJZEuW21OUGxAOo4XZ8k/s400/Korean+Cover+EK+SCience.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Everything Kids Science Experiments Book...<br />translated and re-designed for Korea!</td></tr>
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<br />It seems my book has a new life, and it's going to be in Korea. Thanks to an observant former student (Scoop Boxly), I have learned that the 'awards' at the top of the page mean, generally, 1) it's a great seller, 2) it's popular in other countries (like...the US...where it was written and published...but perhaps the Koreans who will buy this don't know that), and 3) it's filled with good science.<div>
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I did some sleuthing myself and figured out that the main title (highlighted in yellow) says 'Science Experiments'. Can't find my name on it, but the original cover is there, which is cool.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0jDrAyRbNZT61mU-xJ_KRR0vvWlUIsbD0QfY5DHS4WcA2ocd_m1qKQrRWEAkZ_W0eBTRpZpWkNPM3jRuYku9Hf-B-vn383nb9CfE1dTTsyx6GvmYy7fj7WLeYKpahcAameZJfAISjJo/s1600/Inside+of+Korean+EK+Science.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0jDrAyRbNZT61mU-xJ_KRR0vvWlUIsbD0QfY5DHS4WcA2ocd_m1qKQrRWEAkZ_W0eBTRpZpWkNPM3jRuYku9Hf-B-vn383nb9CfE1dTTsyx6GvmYy7fj7WLeYKpahcAameZJfAISjJo/s640/Inside+of+Korean+EK+Science.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the clearest picture of the inside, but then again, I can't read a word anyway.</td></tr>
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<br />So apparently this is a thing and yes, it just happened. My first book has been translated into Korean. That now makes the third language I've been published in (Spanish language version of <i>Fibonacci Zoo</i>), and a very odd, exciting day for me. I'm not really sure what to do with all the copies I have, but if I ever meet a Korean child who doesn't yet speak English, I'm ready!<br /><div>
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trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-37684809900296210442015-07-07T12:44:00.000-07:002015-07-08T15:41:38.873-07:00Seattle Times - July 7Shout out to the <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/new-to-read-25th-anniversary-edition-of-middle-passage/" target="_blank">Seattle Times </a>for announcing my book in its Local Books section! I'd like to think that my book stands out from the others and might just catch someone's eye.<br />
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<br />trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-75761823746426417222015-06-29T21:10:00.000-07:002015-06-29T21:13:56.069-07:00Village Books - Bellingham, WA (July 27)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYO3eo59U9ian1ePMDtvNvXVoV-ZHm20qnUpOonDaN8GQ46CclvdazkNpyPxTOmSAzYkDkWjUr8XDHR7dr9h4p1mAWrFpcMjHv435xJGTLRbYoJuiMWy3W5kAhGS2GKcNhxcbgqyMApE/s1600/village+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYO3eo59U9ian1ePMDtvNvXVoV-ZHm20qnUpOonDaN8GQ46CclvdazkNpyPxTOmSAzYkDkWjUr8XDHR7dr9h4p1mAWrFpcMjHv435xJGTLRbYoJuiMWy3W5kAhGS2GKcNhxcbgqyMApE/s320/village+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am pleased to announce that I will be traveling to Bellingham (WA) for a "Lit Live" author event/presentation/book signing on July 27. It will all begin at 4:00 pm, and I invite all of you in the greater Bellingham area to stop by for a visit.<br />
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Though this won't be my first visit to Bellingham (I did earn a Master's Degree from <a href="http://www.wwu.edu/" target="_blank">Western Washington University</a>), it will be my first visit to <a href="http://villagebooks.com/" target="_blank">Village Books</a>, and I am really excited to share the story of the <a href="http://www.arbordalepublishing.com/bookpage.php?id=Fibonacci" target="_blank">Fibonacci Zoo</a> with kids of all ages (even those that are bringing their own kids to the event!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zcrSKzlAQdJ89pV7mDZLnint_TWO7ca9kJng4zzUsGrZIoCHLMzUQUrQK7X76Y5Bq28AZZSBHlecKCaDwoKPCAm-QOjeHcflt2mP0oeBuqM21YTzRJxgeeyYCw1s4BB5OTjTDoFhEA8/s1600/village-books-bellingham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zcrSKzlAQdJ89pV7mDZLnint_TWO7ca9kJng4zzUsGrZIoCHLMzUQUrQK7X76Y5Bq28AZZSBHlecKCaDwoKPCAm-QOjeHcflt2mP0oeBuqM21YTzRJxgeeyYCw1s4BB5OTjTDoFhEA8/s400/village-books-bellingham.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Village Books, Bellingham, WA</td></tr>
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<b><i><u>Location: </u></i></b></div>
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Village Books and Paper Dreams<br />
Reading Gallery (bottom level)</div>
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1200 11th St.</div>
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Bellingham, WA 98225</div>
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Phone: 360-671-2626</div>
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villagebooks.com</div>
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<b><i>Date/Time:</i></b></div>
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July 27, 4:00 pm</div>
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<b><i>For more information:</i></b></div>
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events@villagebooks.com</div>
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Looking forward to seeing you all there!!</div>
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<br />trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-55024529482250468412015-06-13T14:14:00.000-07:002015-06-13T14:14:34.500-07:00Blogger ReviewsThe whole concept of blogger reviews is new to me. But I really like it! Arbordale sends these bloggers copies of my book and they post their impressions and review on their blogs. Then, as a fun way to promote the books, they hold a contest to give them away to a lucky winner. The blogger generates traffic to his or her site, and the author (me!) gets recognition for his book and gets potential readers connected to his book.<br />
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I'm <span style="font-family: inherit;">really </span>happy to see the first set of review come in. Here is a sampling:<br />
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<h4 style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">
<a href="http://www.featheredquill.com/reviews/childrens/robinson.shtml" style="color: #0072bc; text-decoration: none;">Feathered Quill Book Reviews - June 2015</a></h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">"This is an excellent book to introduce young students to numbers and patterns. The visual imagery presented in this book will make it easy for students to understand and grasp Fibonacci sequencing. Simply introducing mathematical concepts sans a way for children to visualize them can be a daunting task for many. In addition to Eli's notebook there are small sidebars with the equations and sequence (2 + 3 = 5 and 1 1 2 3 5). The artwork is very vibrant and appealing, drawing one's eye to the animals. In the back of the book there are four pages of activities as well as free complementary activities on the publisher's website."</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Click on the link below to see more excerpts from blogger reviews. In each case, you can click on the blog link to see the full review. And a special thank you to Heck of a Bunch, Connie Withay, Feathered Quill Book Reviews, Chat with Vera, and Outnumbered 3-1 for your time and kind words!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.arbordalepublishing.com/BookReviews/Fibonacci_Review.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fibonacci Zoo blogger reviews</span></a>trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-13301701360514144302015-05-21T08:23:00.000-07:002015-05-21T10:37:21.950-07:00This Is Why I Do What I DoNo big post this time. I just wanted to share this wonderful picture that shows better than any of my words can explain why I write books for children. This is what it's all about!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VCCvzwCT6shNd7CfliGLN9Y852ncX0yXGYcAuQcKQ7wYlSIMJYhDuFBd5xyVlP2RtojzUyNic-R1YzIAl-UfO5N_SWhyphenhyphenv8ddh0LNNDv0oszZWFZqdh59ZhBRaSUYUoLXgtsIW3vTVKU/s1600/Bordners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VCCvzwCT6shNd7CfliGLN9Y852ncX0yXGYcAuQcKQ7wYlSIMJYhDuFBd5xyVlP2RtojzUyNic-R1YzIAl-UfO5N_SWhyphenhyphenv8ddh0LNNDv0oszZWFZqdh59ZhBRaSUYUoLXgtsIW3vTVKU/s400/Bordners.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert reading <i>Fibonacci Zoo</i> to some wonderful children.</td></tr>
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trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-29258078609461269882015-05-19T16:23:00.001-07:002015-05-19T16:23:36.207-07:00Chelan - Morgen Owings Elementary Author VisitWhat a great day to talk Fibonacci! This morning I got to spend 40 minutes each with four different groups of second and third graders, talking about 'the Zoo'. More than 200 students in total. Boy, was I nervous!<br />
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No, not being in front of people talking. I do that for a living as a high school teacher. No, it was being in front of second and third graders that made me a little nervous. See, what is it that really motivates an eight-year old? For some, it's the excitement of coming to school and learning each day - that's awesome! For others, it's just trying to sit still when there is all this energy inside just waiting to get out. For a few, it's a chance to tell another person a story about their life, relevant to the conversation or not. I heard after the fact that 'some famous author was coming to their school to talk about his book.'. My first response was, "Who?" Oh...it was me.<br />
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Fibonacci wouldn't appear to be for the faint of heart. Yes, the sequence is simple enough, but oh, the applications! Still, would it be enough to talk about mating bunnies and zoo animals to keep these youngsters content and still for 40 minutes? The answer was a resounding YES.<br />
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These sweet children were such a delight! They asked questions, told me about their bunnies at home, this time they went to the zoo and saw a gorilla just like the 13 in the book, how a cousin speaks Italian (like Fibonacci) and on and on. No one was really that curious about how the book-writing process works, but then again, these were younger students, apparently really excited to meet a famous author (as soon as I figure out who that is, I will let you know!)<br />
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I think the best part was filling out our 'notebooks' just like Eli did, and discovering the pattern in the process. It was astounding how many of these kids figured out the pattern on their own without any hints or prompting from me. They discovered the animals were coming in alphabetical order, and easily predicted which animal would be next (except for the geese. They were gorillas). But the best part was when the book ended with a challenge to guess how many animals the next exhibit would hold. I was fascinated by the guesses, from a low of 20 to a high of 300. But so many figured out that after 21 comes 34, and they were expecting to see 34 iguanas, which they did, each one beautifully illustrated by Christina Wald.<br />
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I admit - doing four straight presentations is a little tiring, but the adrenaline was pumping, and the smiles on the faces kids discovering a powerful sequence, then successfully drawing their own Fibonacci spiral was what I will remember.<br />
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You know - I think I could get used to this...<br />
trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-80085716013535957112015-05-15T22:08:00.003-07:002015-05-15T22:08:38.542-07:00WWU Woodring Love!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am happy to announce that the <a href="https://wce.wwu.edu/" target="_blank">Woodring College of Education</a> at <a href="http://www.wwu.edu/" target="_blank">Western Washington University</a> (Bellingham, WA), my Master's degree alma mater has featured my book <i>Fibonacci Zoo </i>on its latest alumni news page. Check it out at the link below!<br />
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<a href="https://wce.wwu.edu/alumni/alumni-news-notes" target="_blank">Woodring College of Education Alumni News and Notes</a></div>
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<br />trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-35233444125618328142015-05-10T21:48:00.001-07:002015-05-10T21:48:32.356-07:00Inside Story - Success!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUWDTh9VU25VQOMqbQ07VMKEE6vxiWaR4yn5zS_rqnCJn8GWaPK6SslDv0QqhJVrYImNT1Afvisi_gK9SAQw7pEu4DZtNN7pBZceL1WZzUWeJPa-Yopd-EWEd-hqYXWtvCkbWvDrFp0E/s1600/Inside+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUWDTh9VU25VQOMqbQ07VMKEE6vxiWaR4yn5zS_rqnCJn8GWaPK6SslDv0QqhJVrYImNT1Afvisi_gK9SAQw7pEu4DZtNN7pBZceL1WZzUWeJPa-Yopd-EWEd-hqYXWtvCkbWvDrFp0E/s640/Inside+Cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
What a night! May 5, twenty-eight authors gathered in the UW Bookstore -Bellevue to tout our new books. I don't get rattled all that easily, but this night was something completely new for me. So many people there who knew lots of other people. I felt like I had been invited to a party where everyone knew everyone, and I was the only person new to the group.<br />
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But it wasn't like that at all. We all had our displays set out, ready for us, and the best part of it all was seeing my hardcover books for the FIRST TIME! Hats off to Lee, Donna, Heather, and Katie at <a href="http://www.arbordalepublishing.com/" target="_blank">Arbordale Publishing </a>who went above and beyond to make sure that Andrea (Gabriel, author and illustrator of Wandering Woolly, also from Arbordale) and I had our books for the event. They made it with just a couple of hours to spare!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNGWcmzPwIolOpM5ZAxt05qM5BAVy2H3sFD8ii8Ay-uXyrqAgRg2-W7FfYc2D3r-K7l0zGD3UnFMdZhu_dAszj5wGQifD_FIeOv_cmFsWTTeD-3VAUPXa03CUq6lsRxz2W1s9gPdEQ4M/s1600/Inside+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNGWcmzPwIolOpM5ZAxt05qM5BAVy2H3sFD8ii8Ay-uXyrqAgRg2-W7FfYc2D3r-K7l0zGD3UnFMdZhu_dAszj5wGQifD_FIeOv_cmFsWTTeD-3VAUPXa03CUq6lsRxz2W1s9gPdEQ4M/s640/Inside+2.jpg" width="410" /></a>They told us there was food and wine available to enjoy but a) I didn't find out until it was too late to get any, and b) I was so nervous, I couldn't really eat anyway. What do you do at an event like this? Do people just come up to you and talk to you? Do they actually buy your book?<br />
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What if I sit there the whole night, having driven three hours to get there, to be followed by a three-hour drive back home, and no one wants my book? It's daunting. It's frightening. And it's exhilarating!<br />
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Just before the evening began, I got a sign everything was going to be ok. Jeff (The Drake) Heckel showed up, the first of THREE former students who came to see me and buy my book. What an honor it was to sign the very first copy of <i>Fibonacci Zoo </i>for Jeff and his kids. And then another Jeff (Wood) showed up with his wife. And then it was Bethany and Garrett with their kids and all of a sudden, I felt like a bit of a rock star.<br />
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I got my two minutes to speak, working through the presentation I had practiced, about 28 times while driving over (see earlier reference to three-hour drives...) and while the time slipped away before I could fully finish my story, I was able to close with my key line 'Remember, you can COUNT on Fibonacci!'<br />
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It got a few chuckles, and we moved on. The night was long, but then out of the blue, the lady sitting right in front, closest to me, won a trivia question and went to select her prize from the collection of books we had donated. She picked mine! Wow. I mean, I knew my friends would buy my book, but here was a lady I had never met who wanted, out of all the books she could choose from, mine! Later, when she came to have me sign it, I might have been beaming from ear to ear.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my corner.</td></tr>
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Finally the presentations ended - and by the way, what an incredibly diverse set of stories, experiences, and perspectives. I was and still am incredulous at the talent I saw that night. But then it was the 'free-for-all' time. Well, not like the books were free for all...you still had to pay for them. But the lines started, and the books started moving, I was signing, making conversations with teachers, librarians, book sellers,etc. And it was such a rush! It was not unlike being at a farmer's market or a trade show where you see people approaching and wonder, are they coming to see me? You don't want to seem desperate or needy, but you don't want to blow them off either. It was almost an out of body experience for me. Pictures with my students, dedications to whole schools and classrooms, and just like that it was over, and there I was...with ONE copy left over. I looked around. Some authors had stacks left over. Some sold well. But I sold all but one of mine and I felt like they had gone to good homes or schools, where good kids will get to read about and learn good math.<br />
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Truth be told, afterwards, I was exhausted, emotionally spent. It didn't help that I had taught all day, then driven (how many hours was it?) across the passes to get there. But I was light as air, not wanting the night to end. I said my thank yous, grabbed some M&Ms for the road, and left, wondering when my next event would be, and how popular my book really was going to be. For one night, however, everything felt right.<br />
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<br />trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-32648499816745622672015-04-29T23:07:00.001-07:002015-04-29T23:07:52.691-07:00SCBWI Inside Story - May 5 - UW Bookstore - Bellevue, WATwice a year, once in spring and once in fall, the Western Washington region of <a href="http://www.scbwi.org/" target="_blank">SCBWI</a> (The Society of Children's Bookwriters and Illustrators) hosts a really fun and important event called <b><a href="http://www2.bookstore.washington.edu/_events/events_cal.taf?evmonth=05&evyear=2015" target="_blank">Inside Story</a></b>. Authors from the region gather together to present (alas, very briefly) their new releases, meet and greet the public, sign copies of their books, and much more.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMYZ0bkiVPFBrTMixyUPQ6EylcPDV6K3CoZVSwp0JI60nOGLHOBjpsjoUxZhfccdobGUdTcAviDmE0GYn10xsSmrmEOjw7OMyBk52AP0eLT0WRu50gg3FKPZV54uy3b_gX_mCOImMqXM/s1600/logo-scbwi.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMYZ0bkiVPFBrTMixyUPQ6EylcPDV6K3CoZVSwp0JI60nOGLHOBjpsjoUxZhfccdobGUdTcAviDmE0GYn10xsSmrmEOjw7OMyBk52AP0eLT0WRu50gg3FKPZV54uy3b_gX_mCOImMqXM/s1600/logo-scbwi.png" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLAOThOTipmVAawDU4SNwsfKvxY7oIngk3EHH91nu0hbu68532IxP2IST10ORvzs6lUi_RVFz8VCY2Nuj0zQYHpcC20BbZmGG8CYf0R2RWRIqQdOYXe0D7FZ2Jg6tIxO3l3EW_II-XPg/s1600/Fibonacci+Cover+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLAOThOTipmVAawDU4SNwsfKvxY7oIngk3EHH91nu0hbu68532IxP2IST10ORvzs6lUi_RVFz8VCY2Nuj0zQYHpcC20BbZmGG8CYf0R2RWRIqQdOYXe0D7FZ2Jg6tIxO3l3EW_II-XPg/s1600/Fibonacci+Cover+Art.jpg" height="200" width="170" /></a>I was originally planning on attending the event this past November, but then my release date was postponed to, well, actually, yesterday, April 28!<br />
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INTERLUDE- <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/162855553X/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0KAFMDDAWQ3X3SWBSXFD&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop" target="_blank">Fibonacci Zoo</a></i> is out!! Actually, the books are all in the process of being shipped to booksellers around the country, but I can now finally say, after nearly two years of work on this project, that my book is out and available for sale. Woo-hoo!!<br />
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Ok, interlude over. So now it's almost May, and the time has rolled around for me to attend. The event will be this coming Tuesday, May 5 (just one day after <a href="http://www.starwars.com/may-the-4th" target="_blank">Star Wars </a>day - you sci-fi nerds know who you are) at the <a href="http://www.bookstore.washington.edu/home/home.taf?" target="_blank">University of Washington Bookstore</a> (Go Dawgs!) in BELLEVUE (not the main branch by campus).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNt_dXa9HydzebrqtMNf-j_q8Q9MQDeIntC9lHxxml_esfcuetLT4LcHuTX0XhP_afrxl6-zfEMeQtMyhiVAPGEBM-tmqxjVLB9PIY77Ly7H7gUS9IYw2degPopj_oYSI1hUu01lfiAGk/s1600/4d6b2aaa64d5bfc60cee1ecadcf02b3c67395bb6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNt_dXa9HydzebrqtMNf-j_q8Q9MQDeIntC9lHxxml_esfcuetLT4LcHuTX0XhP_afrxl6-zfEMeQtMyhiVAPGEBM-tmqxjVLB9PIY77Ly7H7gUS9IYw2degPopj_oYSI1hUu01lfiAGk/s1600/4d6b2aaa64d5bfc60cee1ecadcf02b3c67395bb6.jpg" height="87" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: www.starwars.com</td></tr>
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The event runs from 7:00-9:00 and there will be 28 of us there promoting our books. I would love to see some 'fans' out there welcoming in <i>Fibonacci</i> and coming to say hello! We THINK (hope, pray) we will have books there in time for signing after the event, but we're cutting it close. Regardless, you'll get to hear some of the back story behind the writing and publishing of this exquisite book (and no, I'm not in any way biased!) along with many others, and there will be fun for the whole family - details below!<br />
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TUESDAY • MAY 5 • <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7:00PM</span></div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bellevue Store</strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Love children's books? Crazy about kidlit? University Book Store and The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators of Western Washington are excited to present this spring's "Inside Story" event for booksellers, librarians, teachers, and children's book lovers. Featuring over 25 local children's book authors and illustrators, the evening will feature behind-the-scenes looks at all of the authors' and illustrators' most recent or upcoming publications. Additional activities will include fun trivia games, cool prizes, tasty treats, time for book signing, and the opportunity to meet and chat with dozens of talented authors and illustrators from the area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Participating authors and illustrators will be:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Kevan Atteberry, Martha Brockenbrough, Dori Hillestad Butler, Stacey R. Campbell, Andrea Gabriel, Kathryn O. Galbraith, Joanna Gorham, Shannon Grogan, Brenda Z. Guiberson, Steven Henry, Patrick Jennings, Kelly Jones, Doug Keith, Karen Kincy, Sara Nickerson, Margaret Read MacDonald, Craig Orback, Julie Paschkis, Katherine Pryor, </span><br />
<b><i>Tom Robinson,</i></b><span style="font-size: 14px;"> Jeanne Ryan, Suzanne Selfors, Rori Shay, Dana Sullivan, Derek Sullivan, Laurie Ann Thompson, Carly Anne West, and Toni Yuly</span><br />
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<em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 13.3000001907349px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Presented by The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators of Western Washington in partnership with University Book Store.</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks to everyone who has been so encouraging and anxiously waiting along with me for this book to be released. I hope you really like it. I sure do!</span></div>
trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-33988663004025557342015-04-22T23:05:00.000-07:002015-04-22T23:05:53.234-07:00The Golden Wha....?So there I was, minding my business, paging through the latest issue of....well...erm...let's just say it is a popular home decor magazine, aimed primarily at women, which we will call...."GH." Anywho...<br />
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As I was reading about the keys to picking the right size and style for my new chandelier (wondering if people really go out and buy new chandeliers, but realizing that this magazine article indicates they actually do!), I see "The Golden Ratio." Sweet - Fibonacci lives, even in the pages of a home design mag! Well, not so fast...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUmnqBBopCeM0aZWWUeQ1KHjA6G0Zab4gPgSUZkqR9DeTseFMfJlsNcm81_TQgO9dNz_qBgoHsEaYo8j5wreEDWV7_Cwfp8V4kW2eCOOy08oXxqsg3vNTpNOWN3Bqy2m8X48VFTnVUzY/s1600/GH+Golden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUmnqBBopCeM0aZWWUeQ1KHjA6G0Zab4gPgSUZkqR9DeTseFMfJlsNcm81_TQgO9dNz_qBgoHsEaYo8j5wreEDWV7_Cwfp8V4kW2eCOOy08oXxqsg3vNTpNOWN3Bqy2m8X48VFTnVUzY/s1600/GH+Golden.jpg" height="182" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, the Golden Ratio...just what you need to pick out a....wait, is that a chandelier?</td></tr>
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What you don't see here is that in the paragraph above this box in the article, is the text below: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AGjz8a2G2rBipsgPkqgXrEldnZic_KTyQWH_r5pgqxWd82bdSaLz0liS8P56kU2tXTbVSnNfOvP_URl7MC7ViMFf8i_12X4WZb7RVa8iYvUN696AKvFy6Mp9c8k3yT11MmxOt28uCVU/s1600/GH+Golden+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AGjz8a2G2rBipsgPkqgXrEldnZic_KTyQWH_r5pgqxWd82bdSaLz0liS8P56kU2tXTbVSnNfOvP_URl7MC7ViMFf8i_12X4WZb7RVa8iYvUN696AKvFy6Mp9c8k3yT11MmxOt28uCVU/s1600/GH+Golden+2.jpg" height="170" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like a good 'equation' to determine how big your chandelier should be, right?<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So apparently the Golden Ratio is an 'equation', cool. Though, I don't see any equal signs, and I don't even see any variables. Still, 'phi' lives on! Wait. What is that again?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Let's go back to the top image. This so-called 'equation' just says to measure the length and width of the room and add the two numbers up. Change the units to inches and that's the size you want. Um...what about 1.618...? Is that some kind of ratio between the sides of your room? Or maybe how tall and how wide the chandelier should be? Maybe you need to have the number of lights and the number of chairs at your dining table in the ratio we know as phi. Something, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Nope. Nothing at all related in any way to Fibonacci, the actual Golden Ratio, or the number phi. It's just a term someone made up, thinking it sounded <i>math-y</i> enough to catch readers' eyes. Mission accomplished but for all the wrong reasons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Note to 'GH': next time you want to share a mathematical FORMULA (which is what this is, not an equation) and you want to give it a fancy name, make sure that name doesn't belong to something else that actually IS math-y and relevant. This is no Golden Ratio. It's neither golden nor a ratio. It's simply a way to measure your room and pick out a chandelier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Now, if I could only find a chandelier for my 21'x13' room! Wonder how big it would be....</span></div>
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trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-76467007382770587752015-03-29T23:12:00.003-07:002015-03-29T23:46:52.262-07:00Release News!Very exciting news is afoot. This week marked the arrival of my official Advance Review copy (I tell everyone it's the only existing copy in the world, but I have a hunch that might be hyperbole). That means the official release date is now set - April 28!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIRg6Fl6fC9XHDiE9aGTQ_CdS0zZl45hDgRzYnL7J-b2mAOXwPXBtrELIaXwpyknA8GgM40iFBlqQyaD4RUKL28umcpVDC90cuW7spwn3BLSBFrwbi47C3b0qTNx3YxsRM-WO5XIunjE/s1600/Fibonacci+Cover+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIRg6Fl6fC9XHDiE9aGTQ_CdS0zZl45hDgRzYnL7J-b2mAOXwPXBtrELIaXwpyknA8GgM40iFBlqQyaD4RUKL28umcpVDC90cuW7spwn3BLSBFrwbi47C3b0qTNx3YxsRM-WO5XIunjE/s1600/Fibonacci+Cover+Art.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Order your copy of <i>Fibonacci Zooi </i>today!</td></tr>
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Of course, you can always to go Amazon.com right now and pre-order it. Their date shows April 10, so I don't know if they have some secret pipeline to book ordering (they ARE Amazon, after all) or if that's just when they start processing pre-orders. But either way, you can get your copy on order now if you like.<br />
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From Amazon, you have three options:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fibonacci-Zoo-Tom-Robinson/dp/1628555629/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427695215&sr=8-1&keywords=fibonacci+zoo" target="_blank">English paperback</a>: $9.95</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fibonacci-Zoo-Tom-Robinson/dp/162855553X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1427695215" target="_blank">English hardcover:</a> $17.95</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/zool%C3%B3gico-Fibonacci-Spanish-Tom-Robinson/dp/1628555718/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427695215&sr=8-2&keywords=fibonacci+zoo" target="_blank">Spanish paperback</a> $9.95</li>
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But if you would like to look at even <a href="http://www.arbordalepublishing.com/bookpage.php?id=Fibonacci" target="_blank">more options</a>, and maybe learn a little more about me, the supremely talented illustrator <a href="http://www.christinawald.com/" target="_blank">Christina Wald</a>, or <a href="http://www.arbordalepublishing.com/" target="_blank">Arbordale Publishing,</a> just click on the hyperlinks and they will take you where you want to go.</div>
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For an in-depth look at the writing process (for me at least), and how <i>Fibonacci Zoo </i>came to be, please read this <a href="http://www.arbordalepublishing.com/documents/AuthorInterviews/Robinson-AI.pdf" target="_blank">interview</a> (download, if you like!). I am in the process of setting up bookstore and school visits, so anyone wishing to schedule a time for me to come out and present the book, the Fibonacci Sequence in general or its many applications, or just to talk about the challenges involved in bringing a story from idea to the bookshelves, please just message me here, or visit my web site at <a href="http://trobinspire.wix.com/authortomrobinson" target="_blank">Author Tom Robinson</a>.<br />
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Finally, I want to announce that my first official appearance with <i>Fibonacci Zoo</i> will be May 5 at <br />7:00 pm at the University of Washington Bookstore (Bellevue site). The event is called Inside Story and it's sponsored by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). I will have a short time to present my book and the story behind the story to teachers, librarians, booksellers, and anyone in the general public who is interested in new children's releases. I would love to see a lot of Fibonacci fans out!</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Count on Fibonacci!!</span></i></b></div>
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trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4580758432958504636.post-23495723805490585362015-03-13T18:42:00.001-07:002015-03-13T18:45:05.899-07:00What the Flock?!?As we inch ever closer to the release of <b><i>Fibonacci Zoo</i></b>, this happened.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7LOyNfAn_Zn-vgE5CC6GsLtmgLGi0ZXhbq8b6V4TEFQCZGquRHEUNi7x67fBuvxcFg-5K0iJkA1COEb9i7uoRywS-aCCDm2wK7yY_Ul9TCcdiof_3sN_Nj8agWQR1PcgIbYK_9wfH1I/s1600/Flamingos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7LOyNfAn_Zn-vgE5CC6GsLtmgLGi0ZXhbq8b6V4TEFQCZGquRHEUNi7x67fBuvxcFg-5K0iJkA1COEb9i7uoRywS-aCCDm2wK7yY_Ul9TCcdiof_3sN_Nj8agWQR1PcgIbYK_9wfH1I/s1600/Flamingos.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">We were flocked by Young Life last night! Flocking is a fundraiser during which a 'flock' of flamingos (is that even the correct name for a group of flamingos? Hm....time to do a little research!) <i>[Update - a group of flamingos is called, appropriately enough, a "stand".]</i> is surreptitiously left on an unsuspecting family's front lawn, along with an envelope with information about what Young Life is all about, what they are raising money for (usually for sending kids to summer camp), and an invitation to pay (donate) to have the flamingos removed the following night. It's a fun, low-stress way to reach out to the local community, to educate folks about what Young Life stands for (I got my Young Life start in Kent, WA in 1984), and get the kids who will ultimately benefit from the funds raised out in their community.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">But ... it seems they left the wrong number of flamingos (and, apparently, a small white dog that strangely resembles our dog Roxy). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">What's the correct number? If they had visited <b><i>Fibonacci Zoo</i></b> first, they would know. But you don't have to visit the zoo. All you need to do is read the book to find out! Coming next month. </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/arbordalekids?source=feed_text&story_id=10152619143066400" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 21.466667175293px; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">ArbordaleKids</span></a></span>trobinspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05827276638686515256noreply@blogger.com0