Sixth-grade students at Seneca Middle School recently had a unique opportunity to engage with award-winning children’s author Beth Anderson during a virtual classroom visit that brought storytelling and creativity to life.

Anderson, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and a Master of Education in Reading, shared insights from her more than 20 years of experience teaching English as a Second Language before transitioning into a successful writing career. She is the author of several widely recognized picture books, including An Inconvenient Alphabet, Tad Lincoln’s Restless Wriggle, Lizzie Demands a Seat, and “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses.

During the interactive session, Anderson guided students through the writing process, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how ideas develop into published works. She emphasized the importance of brainstorming as a starting point and encouraged students to draw from their own lives when crafting stories.

“Everyone has a story to tell,” Anderson shared with the class. “Your experiences, your thoughts, your voice — they all matter.”

Students had the chance to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of the discipline, creativity, and persistence required to become an author. The visit not only reinforced literacy skills but also inspired students to see themselves as storytellers with meaningful perspectives to share.

The virtual experience served as an engaging extension of the sixth-grade curriculum, blending language arts with real-world application and leaving students motivated to begin writing their own stories.