On Evaluations

Last Thursday I spoke with fifth graders at Elmhurst School in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Below is a summary of their feedback on my presentation:

What they enjoyed most:
• Learning the science
• Seeing photographs from my research trips
• Information on beachcombers
• Hearing about the interviews with scientists
• The fact that I am local
• Seeing the F&G (folded and gathered copy) of TRACKING TRASH

What was least important:
• Talking about the bleaching of the toys

What they would like me to add:
• More discussion on the stages a book goes through
• More information on bees*

Evaluations help me to see my visits from the students’ and teachers’ point of view and, in turn, to create presentations that will have meaning for both groups. When I look at feedback from a number of schools over the course of the year, as I am doing this week, presentation formats are tweaked, altered, and even reborn.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the students and teachers at Elmhurst School. Your feedback is much appreciated. And, for the record, I cannot wait to bring you more information on bees …

*Coming Not-Soon-Enough: THE HIVE DETECTIVES, by Loree Griffin Burns (Houghton Mifflin, 2010).