Saratoga students leave their print by publishing animal research book

Saratoga Elementary School’s library will soon feature a new book that has the names of its own students written all over it.
 
Students in Kris Jenkins’ third-grade classroom found out Nov. 16 what it feels like to be published authors and illustrators. Students gathered in a circle and watched with anticipation as Jenkins opened the box of books. 

They wore bright smiles as they received the first copies of “Let’s Explore Animal Research: Mrs. Jenkins’ Class.” They held their treasured books with pride after spending many weeks researching, drawing and writing about all types of animals.
 
Remy and Gideon both said they were happy to look through each colorful page of their books in class. They said it was fun to see all of their hard work displayed in print.
 
“It’s great because I’ve never published a book before, and it’s exciting because a picture of mine was on the book that was published,” Gideon said.
 
“I was really happy that I would finally get my book that I was waiting for a long time,” Remy said.
 
Remy, Gideon and all of their classmates completed a book that featured animals ranging from pandas to blue jays to Persian cats. Jenkins said she was proud of her students for the enthusiastic way they approached the project. She said they had eager attitudes during every step of the publication process.
 
“I knew that they were going to have a lot of fun researching animals, and I thought to myself, ‘What can we do to keep this as a memory for them?’” Jenkins said prior to unveiling the books. “I thought, ‘Let’s publish a book,’ and the students all agreed when I asked them about it. They were really excited to start on it.
 
“I think it gives the kids a real sense of accomplishment to see their work in a book. It’s something that they can keep with them the rest of their lives.”
 
Jenkins said the school district’s implementation of a new Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum series was a major factor in the decision to try publishing a book. The curriculum series provides many resources for students to access both in print and electronic forms. They were able to remotely visit the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., during the research phase of the project, and they used different writing tips to tell the tales of each animal.
 
“The whole CKLA curriculum has just been so amazing,” Jenkins said. “It brings lessons from the whole world into the classroom without the students having to leave their seats. It’s not just me standing up there and talking. The students are actively learning, which is exciting for me to see as a teacher.”
 
Jenkins first contacted a publishing company to see if it would be possible to bring the book idea to life. Students then began learning about the natural world in unit two of the CKLA curriculum. They discovered the difference between warm-blooded and cold-blooded creatures, what carnivores and herbivores are and what types of habitat various animals live in.
 
Jenkins gave each student the freedom to choose which animal they wanted to research. Gideon chose spider monkeys because he saw one at the zoo, and Remy picked pandas because they are her favorite animal.
 
“I really like them,” Remy said. “They’re interesting.”
 
Students discovered information about their animal and wrote a rough draft for Jenkins to look at. She provided helpful feedback to them about their first copies, and they used her guidance to refine their work for the final publication.
 
Students also used their research skills to create detailed drawings for the book. One picture of a koala showed it next to green eucalyptus leaves, and another drawing featured a blue jay perched in a tree on a sunny day. Remy proudly showed visitors her picture of a black-and-white panda smiling under a blue sky.
 
Jenkins sent all of the stories and illustrations to the publishing company after they were completed. She learned in early November that the books were being shipped to Saratoga, and she received a full package of them in her classroom.
 
Each student received their own copy of their work, and Saratoga’s library will also have a copy placed on the shelves. The cover page has a photo of the entire class with their individual drawings, and the inside cover features a “Meet the Authors” page. It includes copied signatures of each student in their own handwriting.
 
Gideon said his first response was to smile when he saw how the book turned out, while Remy said with a grin that she would be putting her copy “in a safe place so no one can touch it.”
 
Jenkins said those positive reactions were why she felt the publishing project was a success.
 
“They know I’m proud,” Jenkins said. “They know I’m proud. It’s them being proud of themselves.”
 
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