Official Interview: Todd Sherman

[kandscreeley]

Today's Chat with Sarah features Todd Sherman author of What Did They Say?

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1. What do you do when you aren't writing?

I usually watch baseball on television or undertake physical therapies. I was diagnosed with MS in 2002, and I no longer walk or drive. I meet with former students for coffee every once in a while. My daughter drives me and I get around in an electric scooter.

2. What made you decide to write a book?

Funny, but I never intended to write a book when I was a teacher. Even when I was collecting quotes, it was never with the intention of putting them together in a book. I was a reporter for 11 years before I became a teacher. I was taught to write my stories short. A friend of mine, who has authored two children's books, suggested it. He knew I wasn't doing well in retirement.

3. Let's discuss your book What Did They Say? Can you give us a short synopsis for those that aren't familiar with it?

It's a compilation of more than 600 outlandish quotes – and the stories behind many of them – from eighth-graders in my classroom. I taught eighth-grade language arts for 23 years. Part of the curriculum included quotation marks, so when a student said something a little silly, I asked them to write what they said on the whiteboard in the front of the room complete with quotation marks. The practice became incredibly popular.

4. Over how many years did you compile these quotes? Which is your favorite?

We listed them the final 13 years of my career. I really wish I would have begun "Quote of the Day" sooner. The book would be bigger and more of my students would be represented. There are so many good quotes that I cannot choose just one – I don't want to mention one student over others. I do say which quotes are my favorites in the book, but I don't list them. I just write that the quote is a favorite of mine when it comes up.

5. What is the biggest lesson you've learned while teaching?

That you teach children, not your subject. To be a good teacher, I learned that you have to get to know your kids. It really doesn't matter how well you know the subject that you're teaching them. You have to know your students.

6. What lessons did writing this book teach you?

Patience and organization. Before I got a MS I used to be able to type 55 words a minute. I can't do that anymore and so my thoughts go faster than I can type them into the computer. And when I first started logging the quotes I listed them each year and gave them to my students at the end of the year. I had to reorganize them for the book, because I thought the book wouldn't be as good if I just listed the quotes by year.

7. Did you write this book just to be entertaining or is there something that you wanted your readers to learn?

Definitely to entertain, especially in today's world. I wanted people to be able to sit down, read the book and be entertained and relax. If there's anything people should learn it's that kids of middle-school age are actually a lot of fun. When you tell people that you teach middle school, they usually say, "Wow, that must be really tough." It really wasn't. I enjoyed teaching eighth grade.

8. What are you working on now? Any follow-up books?

I wrote several short stories for my students, but not enough to fill an entire book. I have written a few memoirs about interesting things that happened to me as a journalist and teacher, but those wouldn't fill an entire book, either. So I have two half-books in the works, but neither are close to being finished.

I like to end with lighter questions.

9. What was your favorite subject in school growing up?

Definitely English. I had some really good teachers, too.

10. What's your favorite superhero?

Captain America. I even have a favorite quote: "If you get hurt, hurt 'em back. If you get killed... walk it off."

11. What book could you reread and never get bored with?

Probably Jaws, by Peter Benchley. I read it several times as a kid.

12. If you could talk to one animal, which one would you talk to and why?

A river otter. I always wanted to know why they are always smiling.