Here is a picture of me, Sandy Carlson, in the second grade. Before I started kindergarten, I used to tell kids I was called Sandy because I ate sand. I was disappointed when I found out that wasn’t true.
I was born in Michigan, lived in Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota, New York, and am now back in Michigan. I have traveled to all but two of our United States.
As a kid, I hated reading. I’d much rather of told stories to my friends. That said, I now love to read — did I mention love? — and have even became an author! I suppose my favorite author is C.S. Lewis. He wrote for both kids and adults, and was very smart. I’m even part of this huge organization called SCBWI — the Society for Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators. Yay!
As a kid, I hated school. I was always afraid I’d give the wrong answer. Besides, I’d much rather of been outside. Even so, I became a teacher… in schools.
I have climbed mountains, and swum in oceans. I cleaned oil off of turtles from the largest inland oil spill in USA history. I’ve outrun a wildfire while backpacking, hid from a tornado in a basement, cleaned up debris from a hurricane, and outwalked the incoming tide at Fundy Bay.
Besides teaching 1st, 2nd, and 5th grades, as well as special education (K-8) and literacy, I have my master’s degree in guidance and counseling. AND I have substitute taught every age from preschool through eighth grade. I’ve also worked a camp counselor, and as a Youth Education Specialist for both a children’s garden and a natural history museum. I’ve led writing workshops for middle school and high schoolers.
I’ve always loved singing, but wasn’t too good on the piano. It was too big to carry around with me, anyway; so I taught myself how to play the guitar… so I could sing sort of on tune.
I have one husband, who is my very own hero, and two sons who are all grown up, and really cool. We’ve had lots of pets in our houses, but right now the only “pets” I have are our backyard animals – birds, black squirrels, rabbits, deer, raccoon, and lots of bugs.
What I like best is learning new things. And I like sharing things I learn… with you!
(And here’s what I look like today, showing you where I’m from.)
