On 9th May 2013, Joanna left a comment under my page about Josh Rader’s book ‘Detective Stephy Wephy Holmes in: The Missing Cake’, saying the following:
“I am a fourth grade teacher in Honduras.
This year students selected books for their reading fair. The book Detective Stephy Wephy Holmes in: The Missing Cake, was selected by two fourth graders. They loved the book, got inspired to give their best. They reached out to Josh Rader, author of the book and the class had an interview with him via skype. After the interview kids in the classroom are reading and writing with passion. Highly recommend the book!!”
In subsequent correspondance with Josh, I found out that not only had these kids interviewed him, but also his Brother Jared, who is an author as well, plus, to add to the excitement, Josh and Jared are twins and it was Twins Day in Honduras!
I was intrigued about these enterprising kids and their teacher, so I asked Josh to contact them and ask if they would contact me (after all, wouldn’t YOU be surprised if I contacted you before you knew anything about me?)
They were happy to let me know all about themselves, so without further ado, allow me to introduce them and their Teacher and Teacher’s Aid
Submitted by Joanna Mojica (Teacher)
Our school, located in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, is a catholic, bilingual school, which believes in an integral education with high moral values.
This year in particular has been full of wonderful experiences, for me as a teacher and for my students as well. I actually have 20 students (my fourth graders are nine and ten years old) and I teach them Language Arts, Science and Social Studies classes.
I have always believed that you learn more by doing, which is why I create, with my students, many projects which enrich their learning process.
This year, the students homework for the whole year has been reading and filling their homework log worksheet. Doing a reading log consists of reading a book or short story and doing a summary of what they read. It has been such a success that the kids are even reading during weekends and doing summaries.
Every Friday we select a story from the independent reading list and we read, discuss and do other activities.
We are blessed to have internet in the classroom, plus smartboards and iPads, which have given me as a teacher, the opportunity to create a whole different experience for the kids in the classroom. (The students have their own iPads from the third grade and up.)
The use of this technology in the classroom helps both teachers and students to access a variety of resources and vast opportunities for creating great classes.
We download books in iBooks, so that every day the students have the opportunity to read and explore videos and many other educational apps.
After their interview with Josh and Jared Rader, my students got inspired to read and write more! We are currently doing a comic project, in which the kids have, as a central theme, “No Gossip”. They have been creating their comic strips and stories in pairs and I am really impressed with their creativity and improvement in writing.
Along with the comic project, my students have been writing their own inspirational poems, each student is making their own personal e-poetry booklet, and this week each student will select one poem and video record it.
Parents feel very excited about the experience my fourth graders had in interviewing the authors Josh and Jared Rader; it was an event, as they said, they will never forget.
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
Here I have two friend that tell you Thank you , too
Their names are: Carlos and Fernando
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Hi Guys, hope you are enjoying my blog …
If you look in FREEBIES you will find books from Josh & Jared Rader 🙂
In NEWS FLASH I have a place for Children’s Books …
Why don’t you tell me the authors and books you like, then I can let everyone know about them 🙂
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This is the best blog
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Glad you like it Lizzette 😛
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You’re welcome
I am glad that you answered me
😀😀😀😀😀😃😃😃😃😃😄😄😄😄
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Me TOO 😀😀😀😀😀😃😃😃😃😃😄😄😄😄
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Hello Mr. Chris, I’m a student of Mrs. Joanna’s class and I only wanted to say Thank you
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Hi Lizzette,
Thank YOU, I liked the lovely letter you sent me 🙂
You and your classmates are always welcome to call into my blog at any time 🙂
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As the author of “Sandy’s Dream” I can’t tell how amazing the process this has been.
The responses I received from Joanna’s class, I could feel the emotion behind it.
I’m so glad I could reach out and inspire kids to read and write, to carry out their dreams.
Thank you Joanna for setting up the interview from Honduras, Chris for posting the experience from England.
I never thought the book I wrote in college would have an international influence 🙂
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🙂
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Your words just made me realize how blessed I am for being a Teacher, the feeling is just priceless!!
My mom came to tears when she read your post and comments!!
It’s been such a nice day 🙂
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Your Mom is right to be proud of you Joanna 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Alejandra your words are a blessing to my heart and soul. My fourth graders will always be my heroes!!
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Chris,
I really appreciate you writing a post of my fourth grade class, its been an amazing experience this year.
After my students interviewed the author Josh Rader, their insight to read and write has grown.
I am grateful to Josh Rader, and his brother Jared Rader as well, because of their willingness to reach out to my students.
It was a complete surprise for my fourth graders to see a post on your blog, with all the information and pictures of them.
They all recall they will never forget the fourth grade, for their experiences meeting authors and becoming famous in the net.
They are more than excited for all the opportunities.
Thanks again!
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I’m glad they will have such great memories of their fourth grade Joanna.
But I’m sure Josh and Jared will agree with me when I say YOU are a truly inspiring and resourceful teacher, who is not only the best teacher your class could have had, but a credit to your school and to the Teaching Profession.
Keep in touch and update us from time to time 🙂
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Having a father in the Teaching Profession and friends and family as well, I completely agree with Chris.
Joanna is truly inspiring and resourceful teacher.
She’s the one that makes her kids want to pursue their dreams and become better students.
Thank you Joanna!
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Yes Mr.Chris that’s true, Mrs.Joanna is a resourceful teacher because, for me, in my heart she is a hero.
With her I learned the most beautiful things in the world that a teacher could give me and you know what? She gave me her heart to always follow my dreams and now I’am doing that.
When I grow up I want to be a singer and a fashion designer.
But who teach me to never give up and always work hard? Only one person in the world, Mrs.Joanna, the best teacher I ever had and seen.
Thank you Mrs.Joanna for being always at my side.I❤U
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As the author of ‘Detective Stephy Wephy Holmes in the Missing Cake’, I really enjoyed the interview with the students.
I think I enjoyed it more than they did 🙂
Mrs. Mojica showed me compositions the students wrote of how they are inspired to continue reading and writing.
She even showed me a story one of the students was writing.
Receiving this from the students truly makes writing worth it.
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Thanks for that Josh 🙂
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Chris, this is a truly wonderful venture you’ve started with Spotlight.
Thank you for organizing (contacts, photos, interview) and posting this particular Spotlight on Honduras.
It’s heartwarming to read about children getting excited about reading and writing 🙂
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Their Teacher, Joanna, arranged the interview and sent the photos (more than I can use on my blog)
I just followed up on a comment she left 🙂
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Hello Mr.Chris my name is Alejandra I am one of the fourth grade students.
I really enjoyed this year with my teachers and all the experiences we had.
Now you mark my life to follow my dreams and never give up!
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Incredible experience for the children.
Bring them right to the source of the beloved books, and they will see that authors, are just like they are.
I bet a few of them will stay with writing all of their lives, and of course, reading.
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Their Teacher Joanna said she would let me know how the kids react to the post.
It’ll be a surprise for them this morning 🙂
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Honestly, “Spotlight” is very inspiring.
So many people are “unsung.”
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I hope that it will inspire more authors to meet their fans/audiences, not only at book signings, invited Library Readings or blog interviews, but also using very means possible.
I also hope that any teachers reading it will also be inspired to emulate Joanna and arrange such interviews / school visits, etc.
The more kids that get this kind of experience, the better 🙂
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