What
schools have said about Mike visits.
"Have you ever heard the song, "Angels Among Us"? Well, we think he is an angel among us! We have missed him today. He did a wonderful job with the students. One of my 3rd grade teachers did the riddle book activity with his students this A.M. He said it was awesome because even some of the struggling students came up with great riddles using the plan that Mr. Thaler taught them. His assembly was entertaining and fun for the students but they also learned quite a lot! But, I will say the most impressive part of Mike Thaler is his heart of gold. He made a lasting impression on our lives."
Jo Beth James
Media Specialist
Royston Elementary School, Royston, GA
I wanted to thank
you so very much for helping to plan this wonderful Mike Thaler event!
It was a terrific "Valentine's Day from the Black Lagoon!"
He got all the students so excited about writing and really inspired
them to believe in themselves!
The
morning assembly went off without a hitch! He entertained us all
(all 1,060 students and over 100 teacher/staff members) with his
storytelling and riddle making. We loved that he got the students,
teachers, and staff involved with his presentation! This was very
meaningful for all that was there!
Following the assembly, Mike Thaler autographed our library books, created
a beautiful, inspirational poster for the library, and was able to start
our Author's Chair in the privacy and quiet of the library. We found
out that he really wanted to try to visit with our fully self-contained
Special Education class if there was time. We tried, but we were on
such a tight schedule that we couldn't fit it in. We were so touched
and impressed with Mr. Thaler's compassion and his soft-spot for our
special needs children. He went out of his way on several occasions
to speak to, autograph, and just hug them! What a wonderful heart he
has!
It was great keeping company with him and learning a little more about his
life and personal views on things!
Mr. Thaler is very patient and gracious towards all students!
I know that like myself, many students and teacher/staff members,
were inspired to write and believe in our dreams!
Dori
Seatriz
Media
Specialist
Milike Elementary, Mililani, HI
“On behalf of all of Fircrest Elementary, we wish to thank you for the outstanding day we had when you visited with our students. Your humor, story telling, and imagination captivated everyone from Kindergarten age to our “hard to please” sixth graders. All were absorbed hearing your tales, seeing your use of cartooning to visually support characterization, and learning about your writing process….”
Shari
Maricotti
Principal
Fircrest Elementary School, Vancouver, WA
“Today I had the most fun with a sixth grade class that I have had in a long time. Using the riddle method you presented in the assembly, we wrote a riddle book - - our first ever! The students displayed such great enthusiasm I was amazed and delighted”
Ruth WitteMedia Specialist
Evergreen School District, Vancouver, WA
“I am writing to thank you for the visit to Kinnaman Elementary this past spring. I would highly recommend your large group riddle-making sessions to other schools that are interested in inspiring others to write…”
Jenny
Takeda
Librarian
Kinnaman Elementary, Beaverton, OR
“I thought I would let you know how the response was to your week long presentations throughout our school corporation. The response from the students, teachers, and administrators was fantastic!…”
Jim HendricksonFederal Programs Supervisor,
Warrick County School Corporation, Boonville, IN
“You positive and energetic style combined with your creativity serve to inspire students and staff.”
Scott Mills
Principal, Lakeview Elementary School Gillette, WY
“We are still basking in the success of our Young Authors Celebration. Your visit to our school was un paralleled in promoting a love of reading and writing”
Jane R. GaidosPrincipal,
W.W. Robinson Elementary School, Woodstock, Virginia
"The assemblies that you put for our students created an enthusiasm and excitement for reading ad writing that is a joy to use"
Wink Miller
Principal' Faye Wright Elementary School
Salem, Oregon
"The educational values of your presentations are too numerous to list. In addition to the interest in reading books, a love of language, spelling, word structure, sentence construction, and the use of reference tools were highlighted through the student activities. For the staff, the workshops have opened up many avenues for further classroom exploration."
Robert
N. Clegg
Principal
Park Lane Elementary School, Darby, Pennsylvania
"Your presentations and activities with students brought home the notion that motivating students to writes need not be an arduous, if not futile, task. Rather, as you so clearly illustrated, writing is a natural expression which students enter with ease if given an opportunity to write about that which interests and captivates them."
James
Buck
Principal
Eagle Creek Elementary School, Estacada, Oregon
"Your part in helping us meet our primary goal of encouraging our students to write exceeded our expectations."
Beverly
Estis
Project Teacher
Las Flores Elementary School, Ridgecrest, California
"With such a wide range in the students you spoke to
(kindergarten through fourth grade), many of the teachers were a bit
concerned... Not a chance. I have never seen our students so engaged - you
really had them enthralled."
Amity
Bateman
Librarian
GideonHausner Jewish Day School, Palo Alto, California
What conferences have said about Mike's programs
"We want to thank you for your excellent presentation of 'Reading, Writing, & Riddling' at the 1984 Catskill Area Writing Workshop held at the State University College at Oneonta. Your enthusiasm, sense of humor and focus on how learning can be fun were warmly received by the teachers participating in the workshop."
L.J. HeldmanConference Coordinator
State University College, Oneonta, New York
"The two hundred teachers who packed his last session late on Friday afternoon were some of the happiest and most involved teachers I have ever seen at a conference."
Ruth E.
Stiehl
Past President
Oregon Educational Media Association
"On behalf of the Montana State Reading Council, I am writing to thank you for your presentation of "Riddle Making Workshop" at the 1999 MSRC Reading Conference. Your willingness to share ideas, personal insights and materials with a record 1.208 educators from across the state defines your deep level of professional commitment."
Melody
Nansel
1999 Conference Chair
Montana State Reading Council