Writing a School-Wide Book: The Jimmy Journey

In case you haven’t noticed from the picture, Jimmy is quite a bit taller than the rest of my 4th and 5th grade students. He’s too bit to fit in a chair and he’s kind of always in the way. So we (or rather I) decided that while Jimmy is visiting our school, he should get a chance to visit lots of different classrooms where he can enjoy lots of different adventures.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Nope.

Before Jimmy visits a class, there’s something the students absolutely must know about him . . . Jimmy wants to be a writer. That’s why he’s come all the way to Earth to visit our school. You see, he heard about the Writer’s Lab. He’s pretty bummed out that the Lab is closed this year (me too, but that’s a long story for another time), so he’s asking for our help. He wants to write his very own book and we get to help!

Each classroom he visits will take a photo with him and write about their adventures. The upper grade (or at the very least my own students) will act as typesetters and editors, when needed.

At the end of the year, we’ll compile all of these Jimmy Journey stories and “publish” a book. Each class who participates will receive their very own book to read again and again. Best of all? They get to KEEP their book. And one copy will go into the school library. How fun is that?!

Maybe Boring Bob will have to make a similar trip. Or maybe Bob and Jimmy can travel together. Who knows?

Do you have a “Jimmy” in your school? Or maybe Flat Stanley? Be he (or she) big or small, tall or short, look for an opportunity to create a shared experience that will spread excitement and magic around your own campus. The more we can get kids (and teachers) writing, whether it’s modeled writing or shared writing, the better off we’ll all be.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Find your own version of Jimmy. Stuffed, inflatable, 3D printed, etc.
2. Create some sort of backstory for your character. Consider writing a letter for each class to read when it’s their turn to host your character. Write this letter in first person, so each class feels special that they were chosen and can understand their task. Include details about how to care for the character.
3. Give very strict deadlines for when your Jimmy must leave the class. Otherwise, the character may linger too long and get hurt or lost. Don’t forget to include where to “send” their story. This would be a great time to discuss the postal service, elements of a letter, and how to mail a letter.
4. Provide some sort of thank you reward for each class who participates. Give each student a pencil to keep on writing, or a popsicle or popcorn participation party, or maybe a miniature version of your character to keep in the classroom.
5. Get your parents, PTA, and school involved. Post photos and details about your character’s adventures on social media. Don’t forget to include a hashtag so people can follow the adventures online.
6. Maybe invite the district personnel to participate as well. This would be an excellent time to get your superintendent and other district staff members to film a short video explaining the different jobs they do. You can show these videos during Career Day.
7. Have a plan in place for how you’ll reproduce and bind your book. There are digital options or you can copy it and use a book binding machine. I purchased our book binding machine with our IFT grant funds, but they aren’t too expensive. Ask PTA to help with a purchase.
8. Host a Publishing Party day. Invite students to buddy up with a class from a different grade to share their own stories.

If you jump on the Jimmy Journey bandwagon, let me know. Tag me in any social media post updates so I can follow along online.