Rooster Morris PO Box 269 Rockdale, Texas 76567 800-866-2685 roosterrdz@aol.com  News & Views November 2009   It Takes a Community!   Rooster performing at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts       My wife and I just completed a thirty-six-day tour of visiting schools. We saw first-hand the results of loving leadership and involved communities. Teachers and principals proudly gave us tours through their schools. Some of the school buildings were well over fifty years old, yet they appeared to be brand new. One cafeteria had been remodeled, having the atmosphere of a fine dining Bistro. Parents and community volunteers had pitched in to make this possible for the children. Every inch of these schools reflects the foreknowledge that if our children are going to have a chance, we must team-up and go the extra mile, all of the time!       Educational budget cuts versus the ever-growing population of youngsters; how will schools survive?       I don't have the answers-but some people are doing great things and making a difference in spite of it all. The people who are making the difference today for America's tomorrow possess incredible leadership skills, positive attitudes, and high expectations. You can feel it the minute you walk in the front door of the school. You can feel it when you stand in front of a gymnasium full of young people who are excited about what they are learning.       People ask me how we do what we do. "Isn't it hard to be on the road all the time?" I have to say that the terrific schools we perform for give us the energy and inspiration to keep going.       One principal that we see every October told us she was retiring next year after 30+ years in education. We hated to hear that, but she is leaving a legacy of great teachers who will continue to instill the love of learning and students who will continue to soak up the knowledge that is being put in front of them. The principal left me with a quote that is now in writing above my desk: "We must provide students with experiences that allow each one of them to see the possibilities."       At one school we walked into, the principal met us at the door. She took us to the gymnasium where all the students were gathered for their morning assembly. She led the Pledge of Allegiance and then recognized students who were wearing smiles that day. She told each student, "You are the author of your day. How will you write it? How will you illustrate it?" It makes me wonder what these students will do with their lives. They are given great food for thought every morning. The principal knows what she is doing and according to her teachers, does it every day!       It is humbling to work with great leaders that are shaping this nation's future. It is an honor to be involved in showing students the possibilities. As long as we are able, we will continue to 'be on the road' and in front of new faces every day!       We extend best wishes to everyone for a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday.       Until next time,         Rooster Morris Programs & Schedule   Chat with an Author   Our newest program allows students to chat with Rooster via Instant Messenger. Your students can compile their questions and Rooster will answer them. Sessions are 30 minutes to one hour. Rooster uses Windows Messenger but is willing to use other programs if necessary. Rooster is also set up with Skype and would love to have his first 'chat' with students. If your school has Skype capabilities and would like to interview Rooster, email Jody and be the first school to use this new technology!   Teacher Workshops   Rooster has developed a workshop just for teachers that includes the teachers writing as a modeling exercise. Rooster has found that when he gives a writing workshop and the teachers write with the students, the students perform better. Teachers have said, "Thank you for the fresh new ideas. I can use them every day!"   Author Visit   The students will see and hear for themselves how Rooster went from being a horse rider to a book writer; from a reluctant reader to a creator of a children's series. Rooster will share how reading to kids was the inspiration for him to begin writing and how it was kids who helped him overcome his fear of writing. The reading program includes Rooster performing readings and songs from his books. He will bring the characters to life with incredible voices, music, and sound effects. Rooster interacts with the audience by asking volunteers to help him perform some of the songs from the Axle Galench series. The kids get to share the microphone and perform in character while the audience cheers them on! Rooster speaks about the importance of habits. He encourages the kids to read and write every day so they can be experts in school. Rooster's program is filled with practical strategies to help students truly Succeed with Reading. Rooster performing with students at a school     The intriguing and compelling story of Axle Galench becomes a personal experience as the audience enters into the saga of this little boy's journey into the land of Bedlam. What better way to show your students how much fun reading can be than to watch a published author do just that?   Targeted audience is 1st grade to adult.   Writing Workshop This 60-minute session helps students with the writing process. Beginning with getting those first great ideas down on paper in list form, to adding dialogue, and then writing an actual essay based on an imaginary event, this workshop gives students skills that will last them a lifetime.  Rooster will ask for volunteers to read their stories to the group. This workshop is a GREAT CONFIDENCE BUILDER for students and teachers, alike!     PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 2-3, 2009       Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts       Amarillo, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 4-5, 2009       The Ritz Theater       Wellington, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 10, 2009       Daulton Elementary       Mansfield, Texas       Follow-up Writing/Revision Workshop ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 11, 2009       B. J. Smith Elementary       Mesquite, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 12, 2009       Crow Elementary       Arlington, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 13, 2009       Peaster Elementary       Peaster, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 17, 2009       Calvert ISD       Calvert, Texas       Follow-up Writing/Revision Workshop ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 23, 2009       Bullard Intermediate School       Bullard, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 9, 2009       Mills Elementary       Hobbs, New Mexico ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 10, 2009       Stone Elementary (AM)       Southern Heights Elementary (PM)       Hobbs, New Mexico ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 11, 2009       Broadmoor Elementary       Hobbs, New Mexico ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 14, 2009       Ventana Ranch Elementary       Albuquerque, New Mexico ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 15, 2009       Bel-Air Elementary (AM)       Albuquerque, New Mexico       Arroyo del Oso Elementary (PM)       Albuquerque, New Mexico ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 12, 2010      Bales Intermediate      Friendswood, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 19, 2010      Crouch Elementary      Arlington, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 25 & 26, 2010      Mary Martin Elementary      Weatherford, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 27, 2010       Ikard Elementary       Weatherford, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 28, 2010       Crockett Elementary       Weatherford, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 29, 2010       Honey Grove Elementary       Honey Grove, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 4, 2010       Roosevelt Elementary       Norman, Oklahoma ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 5 & 6, 2010        Southwest Regional IRA Convention        Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 17, 2010       White Oaks Elementary       Fairfax, Virginia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 18, 2010       Oak View Elementary       Fairfax, Virginia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 19, 2010       Rolling Valley Elementary       Springfield, Virginia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 2-6, 2010       Peoria Schools       Peoria, Arizona ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 12, 2010       Mary Michael Elementary       San Antonio, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ April 7-9, 2010       New Mexico Library Association Conference       Albuquerque, New Mexico ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 14, 2010       Valley Hi Elementary       San Antonio, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 11, 2011        New Mexico Regional IRA Conference        Albuquerque, New Mexico ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 17, 2011        Childress Elementary        Childress, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   For more information about Rooster's programs, visit www.laid-back.com or call 800-866-2685. Video & Media   To watch Rooster's videos on YouTube or read articles from newspapers, click on the appropriate link below: Photos from the Wellington Ritz Theater Radio Interview Alamogordo Newspaper Article Starlight Starbright Staten Island Advance Article Axle Galench Book Trailer   Rooster performing at a school! To download and read media articles, click here. The articles are listed on the right side of the page. Land of Enchantment Award Nominee   Axle Galench in Search of Barnsfoggon  has been named to the New Mexico Land of Enchantment Award Reading List  for 2009-2010! TCA Deadlines Rooster is on the TCA's Touring Roster. This means that schools and libraries can apply for a mini-grant to help cover Rooster's fee and expenses.   For performances occurring: September 1 - December 14, 2009 the application deadline is August 1, 2009. December 15 - March 14, 2010, the application deadline is November 1, 2009.   March 15 - June 14, 2010, the application deadline is February 1, 2010.   June 15 - August 31, 2010, the application deadline is May 1, 2010.   There are special funds available for programs hosted in the Rio Grande Valley and in the Midland / Odessa area.   For more information about mini-grants, you can call TCA at 512-463-5535 ext. 0, or call Jody at 800-866-2685, or email jody@laid-back.com. Quotes from the Audience "It was fun to see how excited the kids were about a real author coming to visit our school! I read The Gate of No Return to both my classes prior to Rooster Morris' arrival. My students were completely enthralled by Mr. Morris' singing and reading at the school-wide assembly. Having the honor to participate in his writing workshop created such a meaningful experience for my students...it was the icing on the cake to a fun and educational day!" Jessie Hitchcock 5th Grade Teacher Peaster Elementary Peaster, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Children in the Texas Panhandle were delighted and inspired with the 'Adventures of Axle Galench' from author, Rooster Morris! His program encourages children to read, write and pursue their talents. Rooster literally touched hundreds of lives throughout the Texas Panhandle with live audiences and through a simulcast opportunity from the Globe-News Center to children in Miami and Dumas school districts. We look forward to his return to the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts!" Ali Tiegs, Executive Director Window On A Wider World Amarillo, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   "We loved you being in our school today. One of my teachers told me the coolest story right after you left. She said, 'I have one little girl that cries every day when we write. Today she wrote almost a page and her story was picked by Rooster to be read. What a thrill that was!' I know stories like these make your job even more rewarding. Thanks again!" Janet Wood, Principal Childress Elementary Childress, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I have a 6th grade student who is crazy about Axle Galench. He is keeping a list of unfamiliar words and writing definitions for them. He's very impressed that I have an autographed copy of the second book. I was fortunate enough to attend a performance of Rooster's at an elementary school in Dalhart a few years ago. Please put me on the e-mail list. I want to order the next book as soon as it comes out!" Kay Arp 6th Grade Language Arts Fannin Middle School Amarillo, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Of course I was thoroughly entertained--Rooster Morris' visit was wonderful. His ability to change his voice to fit all the characters in his stories is amazing! But the most wonderful thing of all was watching the 4th graders during the writing workshop. Everyone was highly engaged as he showed them how to use their imaginations and "voice" to create their own stories with relative ease. Everyone was writing intently and everyone produced a composition! Thanks again for a fabulous experience. Rooster and Jody are exceptional people who are providing an exceptional service for students."   Rosanna Webb District Librarian Lindsay Elementary Lindsay, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Thanks, Rooster & Jody!  The Ritz auditorium was alive today! At times you could hear a pin drop as Rooster read, then the room would burst into giggles. We could 'feel'  the students' enthusiasm. Thanks for a great show." Francis Schmidt, President Wellington Ritz Theater Inc. Wellington, Texas   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Today was wild! The Ritz with Rooster was wonderful! The students loved Rooster, his sounds, music, being on stage--he had them spellbound with his story. They listened so carefully! Teachers all agreed it was most enjoyable. I love to hear that!" Barbara Bartlett WOWW Representative Window On A Wider World Globe-News Center for Performing Arts Amarillo, Texas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "We loved Rooster. The teachers were so impressed--I have heard only good feedback. We want you to come back in the future!" Ellen Brown Crow Elementary Arlington, Texas Join Our Mailing List! Rooster's Bookshelf Rooster is currently reading: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood by Mike Artell Consumer Reports Magazine Isreal's Tribes Today by Stephen M. Collins Barbarians at the Gate by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar Past Newsletters September 2009 July 2009 March 2009 February 2009 Author Visit on DVD If your school is unable to host an author visit, consider purchasing Rooster's DVD of one of his live performances. Recorded professionally in Carrollton, Texas, this DVD begins with Rooster telling the story of how he became a writer. He then introduces the characters from his series and includes a reading from The Gate of No Return. Members of the audience help Rooster perform several of the Axle songs. This hour-long program will bring Rooster and Axle to life for your students! Click here for more information. Rooster is working on the edits of Axle Galench and the Spin Lizard Rescue. We are still planning a January release. We will send an email with the exact date soon, and at that time, we will accept pre-orders. We wish all of you a blessed Thanksgiving,   Rooster Morris and Jody Logsdon LBW Media, Inc.