It’s Teacher Appreciation week, and all week long we’re celebrating the wonderful teachers in our lives! Scroll down for more stories about special teachers from Soaring ‘20s creators.

We’re also running two book-bundle giveaways just for teachers this week @soaring20spb on Twitter!

Click here to go to the Upper Elementary bundle contest.

Click here to go to the Lower Elementary bundle contest.

Celebrating Our Favorite Teachers

MARY WAGLEY COPP

I had so many wonderful teachers. The ones that I remember the most, probably the ones that I also learned the most from, were those who were FUN! Making learning fun is a key to keeping most kids engaged in your topic. Monsieur Matson, my ninth-grade French teacher, was funny, likable and cheerful. We all loved going to his class and we all loved learning French! Merci Monsieur Matson!

— Mary Wagley Copp, author of WHEREVER I GO, illustrated by Munir D. Mohammed (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)

KELLY CAREY

Brenda Webster’s fifth-grade classroom bubbles with creative learning. She celebrates Taco ‘bout Books, Poetry Pizza, and Starbooks Café days. Her classroom is lush with comfy reading spots and every student is allowed to discover a love for reading and their own gifts for storytelling. I am grateful for the chance to be a part of her classroom as a #KidsNeedMentors author. 

— Kelly Carey, author of HOW LONG IS FOREVER?, illustrated by Qing Zhuang (Charlesbridge)

CARRIE FINISON

I had many dedicated teachers through the years, but one who stands out is Paul Esposito, my high school Latin teacher. He went far beyond helping us sort out Latin declensions — he oozed enthusiasm for the language and all things Roman. Even though it was hard work, the class never felt like a chore, or a bore. And it turns out that learning to scan the meter in lines of Latin poetry was great preparation for writing in rhyme!

— Carrie Finison, author of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS, illustrated by Brianne Farley (Putnam)

KJERSTEN HAYES

Every year, my second- through fourth-grade teacher, Marcy Vancil, took her classes on pretend, but real-to-us, traveling adventures. We wrote journals, read about places we “visited,” and even figured out exchange rates for money. One year we made our classroom a time machine and “traveled” back in time! Marcy made the world and my imagination come alive. 

— Kjersten Hayes, author of THE ELEPHANTS’ GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK, illustrated by Gladys Jose (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky)

ELISA BOXER

As a painfully shy child, I was always getting comments on my report cards like, “too quiet,” and “She just needs to come out of her shell,” and “If she would just get her nose out of books and talk to the other kids . . .” And then there was Susan Young, my first- and second-grade teacher who nurtured my love of reading and embraced my shyness and sensitivity. We followed similar paths, both teaching yoga/meditation and writing books. Here’s to those teachers who reflect back our true selves!

— Elisa Boxer, author of THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger (Sleeping Bear Press)

Craving more Teacher Appreciation stories? Check out Monday’s post, and swing by the blog Friday for round three. We also want to hear your stories. Please share in the comments!