Visiting Author Reinforces Positive Behavior

Award-winning children’s author Julia Cook brought her books, her lessons about good behavior and her dogs, Jake and Angus, to Nashua, Topping and Winnwood elementary schools Sept. 27-29. Cook writes about common kid topics, such as tattling, interrupting, taking risks, injury prevention, personal safety, bullying and even nose picking! Her titles include “A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue,” “Bully Beans” and “My Mouth is a Volcano.”

Nashua, Topping and Winnwood use the Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) system to teach students appropriate behavior and then reward them for following the rules. To fund Cook’s visit and purchase copies of her books, teachers from the three schools won a Dr. Dan Kahler Innovative Teaching Grant from the North Kansas City Schools Education Foundation. The grant-winning teachers are: Mark Dieckman and Amy Kralik, Nashua; Sarah Christus, Topping; and Susan Bartlett and Stephanie Hurt, Winnwood.

Cook, a former teacher and guidance counselor, writes practical and fun stories that make a positive difference in children’s lives. Visit her website at http://www.juliacookonline.com/index.html.