Fifth-graders in Michele Svihovec's class at Solheim Elementary School puzzled over a list of words.

Author Brian Cleary had them making new words out of the list. Limes posed no problem, as a majority of the class came up with slime, smile and miles. But danger was a bit of a stretch. Some of the students came up with gander and ranged, but garden and grande were harder to come up with.

"Some words were hard and difficult,"fifth-grader Andrew Mahlmann said.

"I couldn't find any (words) for danger," his classmate Mariah Eriksen said.

The students also worked on rhymes and other tricks for writing. Cleary is a senior editor for humor at American Greetings and an author. His books include poetry and lessons on parts of speech, Svihovec said.

"It inspires kids to write, and motivates them," she said. They also had a chance to see a professional writer in person, which could give them hope for any aspirations, she said.

He gave a last-minute classroom presentation at Solheim Wednesday. He will give a schoolwide presentation today at Solheim, one of several he has given in the district this week. He is giving a public presentation at 7 p.m. today at the Bismarck Public Library.

The students enjoyed having a guest speaker in class.

"That's pretty cool," fifth-grader Sierra Schaefer said. "It doesn't happen very often."

Their teacher had read them some of his books, and some of his books are available in the school library.

The writing exercises were a little different from their normal writing work, Mariah said. The students regularly jot ideas down in journals - "Like moments you'll always remember," Schaefer said.

The students see writing as an important skill.

"You'll have to do a lot of writing in college," Mariah said.

"And high school,"Andrew added.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)