Retired teacher turns author
For Hub City Times
SPENCER — After 12 years as a secretary and eight years as a Title I aide, Frieda Oelrich would become a first-grade and kindergarten teacher. Here she taught and molded the dreams and aspirations of hundreds of students until her retirement in 2004.
Not satisfied with retirement, Oelrich continued with subbing, volunteering, and teaching summer school. One activity she always was doing was working with her students in writing a book.
The students would dictate the sentences as Oelrich would write them down. She would then make copies of the book for every student to have.
This writing bug would not let Oelrich rest in retirement. Thinking back to all those years and the lessons she taught her pupils, she remembered the students who struggled with particular sounds or had a difficult time pronouncing certain letters. The children she was privileged to teach gave her the inspiration to write a book. She could still teach by writing books.
Oelrich’s first book, “Renee Raindrop,” tells the story of a young raindrop who starts falling to Earth and becomes scared that she will not see her mother anymore. Through the story, Renee’s mother tells her about the process of evaporation.
The struggles some children had saying certain letters launched Oelrich into her second book, “The Cow Who Couldn’t Say Moo.” Florence could not say moo like other cows because she struggled with the letter “M.” With the help from a new friend, she conquers her struggles with “M.”
A children’s book would not be complete without illustrations. Brooke Webb, a freshman at Thorp High School, helps Oelrich in that department. Oelrich discovered Brooke through a literacy contest.
Oelrich’s books can be found at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and from the publishers. They are in Kindle form as well.
Oelrich will be at Book World in Marshfield for a book signing on May 6.
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