Ms. Bixby's Last Day blog tour

I am honored to be part of the blog tour for this wonderful book by John David Anderson. This is the story about three young sixth graders skip school and go on a madcap hero's journey to visit their teacher in the hospital who is going through cancer treatment. It is a heartfelt, but not overly sentimental or treacly story about the impact great teachers can have on our lives.

Which of course, has led me to think about all the great teachers in my life. I wouldn't say that one particular teacher in my K-12 education stands out from all the others because there was such a sense of love and community at the school I attended (which is where I now currently teach) and as a result, I feel like all of my teachers helped shape who I am today. 

But the teachers who stand out the most to me, most likely due to recency and proximity, are my grad school professors. For my entire life I have always been a good student and motivated to do well in school. But truth be told, like so many kids, I took education for granted. I didn't understand just how important it was. Through middle school, high school, and my undergrad, I looked forward to the day when I didn't have to go to school anymore. 

But then I went to grad school and I started studying the things that I wanted to learn about, and suddenly a fire had been ignited inside me. I realized that education and learning mean so much more when we can choose our own destiny. And because of that, I think of how I can use my students' interests and passions to fuel their own learning desires. So I'd have to say that all my professors in the English department at Eastern Michigan University were my Ms. Bixby, but in particular, my adviser, Dr. Cathy Fleischer (pictured with me above) who not only helped guide me on my educational path, but in my career as well.

 
Watch this Walden TV Video inspired by Ms. Bixby's Last Day: 


Read an excerpt from the book.


Visit the other stops on the Ms. Bixby's Last Day blog tour:

6/2/2016	Nerdy Book Club
6/3/2016	Next Best Book
6/6/2016	Walden Media Tumblr
6/7/2016	Teach Mentor Texts
6/8/2016	This Kid Reviews Books
6/9/2016	Read, Write, Reflect
6/10/2016	Flashlight Reader
6/13/2016	Julie Falatko
6/14/2016	A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust
6/15/2016	About to Mock
6/16/2016	Kid Lit Frenzy
6/16/2016	The Hiding Spot
6/17/2016	Unleashing Readers
6/20/2016	Ms. Yingling Reads
	Novel Novice
6/21/2016	Maria's Melange
	Novel Novice
	All the Wonders
6/22/2016	Lit Coach Lou
	Novel Novice
6/23/2016	Novel Novice
6/24/2016	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
	Novel Novice
6/27/2016	Librarian's Quest
6/28/2016	Educate.Empower.Inspire...Teach
6/29/2016	Bluestocking Thinking
6/30/2016	Mindjacked
7/1/2016	All the Wonders