MECHANIC FALLS – Third-graders at Elm Street School had a children’s author, Jennifer Richard Jacobson, work with them for four days due to a grant from Auburn Manufacturing and L/A Arts.

Jacobson shared her techniques for developing a character in a story as well as using a graphic organizer to help them plan a “rule of three” story format to be incorporated in their own stories. Students were guided in writing a story, which contained obstacles for their character to overcome.

After successfully completing this task, each child shared his or her creative piece in a “celebration circle” with Jacobson on her last morning with them. They received lots of positive feedback from her.

Before Jacobson left that day, she held a special “book signing” autograph session on her books, “Winnie Dancing on Her Own,” “Moon Sandwich Mon” and “Truly Winnie.”