I wouldn’t be surprised if when you picked up our book and wondered to yourself, “Every clue counts? I guess this is a mystery book?” What is it about mysteries that seem to make life so interesting? I think it is because, as humans, our curiosity about the mysterious things in life seems to never end. Think of when you walk through a grocery store and watch the people around you. You might ask yourself: Where did they come from? What makes them so happy? What makes them sad? Do they have problems like me? What do they enjoy doing for fun? These are the kinds of questions that are asked by a curious person. I have always loved a great mystery story, almost as much as I love being an elementary school teacher. Teaching can be one of the grandest forms of mystery solving. Every year teachers have a new set of twenty-five plus students who have different personalities, interests, friendships, likes, dislikes, and home life. Some students love being at school while some students struggle to know why what they are learning is even important.
 

Mystery books are wonderful to read, but the mysterious story behind Every Clue Counts is a highly unique one. It began long before the characters in this story were created. Working with 5th graders can present all sorts of challenges. However, the class of 2016/2017, in Room 210 at Downes Elementary, proved to me that teaching and working with 5th grade students could be a much different experience than what I expected. Room 210 inspired me to see that students who are allowed to do what they love can work together to make something amazing. I recently heard an interesting quote from a movie:
 

“Sometimes it’s the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine.” - The Imitation Game

I couldn’t possibly imagine that a group of 5th grade students would be able to write a Sherlock Holmes themed story that included nine chapters and student drawn illustrations. This project was a journey of “Why not?”, as the 5th grade class pushed this project to be as excellent as it could be. Please know that creating this book took a lot of hard work, time, and effort. Many of the chapters in this book were inspired by the classic tales of Sherlock Holmes, which were written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. However, there are a few chapters that were completely designed by student ideas and by student writing. We hope you enjoy the journey of Every Clue Counts, as we hope it inspires you to do something that no one can imagine.

Bryan Andress
5th grade Special Education Teacher
Downes Elementary School
Newark, Delaware