Why Super Pets

 Some people have asked me why super school pets? Why not super students or teachers? I have had class pets for many of the years that I have been a teacher. Everyone loves a class turtle, fish, guinea pig or lizard. I worked at a school where pets were common and a lot of classrooms had them. It wasn't uncommon to see students taking a pet home for the weekend. One day a students asked, "What do you think the pets do when everyone goes home at night?" That was an amazing question and it sparked some ideas on what they actually do each evening. 

The idea turned into a writing assignment for the students and it was a hit. It was then and there that I decided that Super School Pets should be a book series. The first book introduces the characters and the school. The first adventure is fun, funny and has lots of twists and turns. The second books takes the pets into battle with a group of moles. They handle the situation but use kindness. What's next? You will soon find out. Who do you think the pets should meet next? Should they wear capes? 

Let me know in the comments.

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New Book Super school Pets

The day at Sunset Ridge Elementary School is done. The last lively students and tired teachers have left for the day. Everyone will return tomorrow for more fun teaching and learning. The cafeteria staff has cleaned the kitchen and prepped for the next day’s delicious meals. The custodians have finished shining the floors and spotlessly cleaning everything in the building. They have dimmed the lights for the evening, and all of them have left to go home with their families.

Minutes after the lights are turned off... they come back on and the Super School Pets jump into action. The Super School Pets keep the school safe. The idea for this book cam from a writing assignment with my students. They really didn't like to write and my co-teacher and I always have to find exciting things for them to write about. One day we thought what do our turtles and guinea pig do while everyone is gone. We came up with an idea to have the students write about what adventures they might have in the evenings. We staged a few pictures of our pets in the media center, at the copier machine, on the computer, in the teacher lounge and at the front door. We also had the custodian come into the classroom and announce that we better have our pets locked in at night. He told the students he had video footage of them all over the school. The students loved it and wrote some amazing stories of what fun the pets had at night.

This is the first book in a series for the Super School Pets.

New Book: San the Superior Scientist

My new book is about an amazing scientist name San. She is an amazing scientist who wants to change the world in some way, shape or form. San and her best friend Trinity enter the science fair with plans to beat out the boys from her class. The girls speed into a plan that makes for science history. Here is a small excerpt.

Some people say I shouldn’t like science since I’m a girl. I’m Sandra Coco Simmons and I say those people can kiss my perfectly round Afro puffs! I believe, you have to pursue your passions and science is a passion for me. Some of my classmates call me San the Scientist but I call myself San the Superior Scientist. Part of my love for science comes from my dad who is a science professor, and the other part comes from my desire to invent incredible new discoveries. My dream is to create some amazing science inventions to make the world a better place in so many ways, shapes and forms and I’m going to do it wearing my pink goggles and glitter Chuck Taylors.

San the Superior Scientist will be out soon. This book is for girls, boys and anyone else who has big dreams. 

The Birth of The Dream: A Civil Rights Story

One year I had a very interesting class. It was an inclusion class where I had a mix of gifted students, typical students (but is anyone actually typical?) and special needs students. This class soaked up all we had to teach and asked for additional chances to do extra projects. The students told me that they wanted to do an extensive Black History month project. It turned into a living museum. These students questioned so much of the learning and asked for more information on every subject.

A line in a text book changed their lives and mine. It said During the Civil Rights Movement there were riots in Los Angeles and Detroit. The students knew I was from Detroit and asked me what had happened during the riots. I told the students I would speak to my mom and aunts who were adults during that time and get back with them. I was a small child during this time period and only remember bits and pieces. I was actually interested myself and I knew that this was the class that would not let me forget about it. I started with some research online and then moved on to questioning my relatives. As I learned more about what happened I knew that I had to write this story. That was the beginning.

It is really amazing how a book comes to life. I never intended to write a book but the story would not leave me alone. Many students and book clubs have enjoyed the dream. I hope many more will enjoy this historical fiction story that brings the riots right to the front door.

Getting the Courage to Write!

Getting the Courage to Write

This year I am teaching 1st graders. I have spent most of my teaching career working with 4th, 5th and 6th grade student, and I loved it. In the older grades they can tie their own shoes, zip their own jackets and there is very little nose picking, and I loved it. There are a few things I love about my 1st graders. They come in happy everyday and they are eager to please. This comes in handy when it is time to try something new. Even though they can't spell very well and they often lack the ability to write a complete sentence but, they love to write. We start by drawing a picture and then write about it. My students have so much courage to dive in and get going. I often think of them when I need to get started on my writing.

I have been writing since I learned how to string a sentence together. As a young girl, I would write poems and short stories. When I was in high school I wrote all kinds of things including sci-fi thrillers. Over the years, I have started writing fiction and non-fiction pieces. Everything from self-help books to autobiographies to kids picture books. There are a lot of unfinished projects in my closet. When people say writing is easy, they are crazy! Writing is hard, scary and nerve racking. Coming up with ideas and making them sound exciting is insane. It takes a boat load of courage. Yet, schools require 1st graders to write a well written piece of work and they have to courage to at least try.

Teaching older children to write is very hard. Teaching adults to write is very hard. I start my students off by telling them to just tell their story. Speak out loud and tell their story. Most people have no problem telling about what has happened to them at the grocery store, that weird dreams they had last night or that funny joke. I often have to tell myself to grab my courage and just tell my story like I'm a 1st grader.