Gathering Inspiration from Mentors
Here’s an idea for using art to inspire students who are reluctant to use mentor texts. After all, creating something beautiful — inspired by someone else’s work — is something artists, and writers, often do.
Research is My Friend by Lauren Castillo
Lauren Castillo, a Caldecott Honor author and illustrator, kicks off this year’s Author Spotlight Series with a piece about how important research is to her artistic process.
Art Journaling – A Summer Holiday Writing Idea
Are you worried about how much learning loss in writing will greet you after the summer break? Has your idea bank of ideas to gone dry?
Picture books are art forms.
I spent a weekend in the woods learning about picture book art and design at a workshop led by educators from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and the Highlights Foundation.
I hope you’ll join CHALK-A-BRATION
On the last day of each month, Betsy hosts CHALK-A-BRATION. This is a celebration of chalk art and poetry. If you want to play (and I hope you do), the … Continue Reading I hope you’ll join CHALK-A-BRATION
Step into a biography with an author-illustrator team + a giveaway
Every now and then a book comes along I want to tell everyone about. When I say everyone, I mean blog readers, my family, friends, teachers with whom I consult, … Continue Reading Step into a biography with an author-illustrator team + a giveaway
Link with Love + Words that are Speaking to Me
I recently came across this new initiative called Link with Love. Basically it is a group dedicated to giving credit where credit is due. Check it out and then read … Continue Reading Link with Love + Words that are Speaking to Me
Bits of This & That
Remember this letter that Allie sent to Eve Bunting last fall along with The Ghostly Scary Mystery she wrote dedicated to Eve Bunting? Allie got a response! Yes, there was … Continue Reading Bits of This & That
Journey Around a Topic
Earlier this month, The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice, which is written by Wendy Pfeffer and illustrated by Linda Bleck, was released by Dutton Children’s Books. The Longest Day … Continue Reading Journey Around a Topic
Believing In Them…
I’ve been going back-and-forth over e-mail with one of my former fourth graders for the past week. She started sixth grade last week — middle school. I can hardly believe … Continue Reading Believing In Them…
Slice of Life Buttons
Here are some buttons you can use if you want to proudly display your participation in the Slice of Life Challenge. 🙂 Also, feel free to use these with your … Continue Reading Slice of Life Buttons
Exchanging “Kind Words for My Classmates”
I had a remarkable day with my students yesterday on so many levels. However, the “Kind Words” Exchange was incredible. I recorded some of their reactions to the Exchange. (Can’t … Continue Reading Exchanging “Kind Words for My Classmates”
Ruth’s Memoir Monday: High School Art Class.
I walk into my favorite class of the day, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are floating through the air, She grew up in an Indiana town, with a good lookin’ mama who … Continue Reading Ruth’s Memoir Monday: High School Art Class.
Holiday Gifts
I was listening to the John Tesh Radio Show as I drove to Ceramics Class last night. A segment entitled “What Are Kids Asking Santa for This Year?” came on … Continue Reading Holiday Gifts
Stacey’s SOLS: Contest
I noticed the clay menorahs sitting on the “to-be-fired” cart in the Arts Room when I arrived at Ceramics Class this evening. I didn’t think twice about them ’til I … Continue Reading Stacey’s SOLS: Contest
Homemade Stickers That Promote Writerly Habits
I’ve been thinking about investing in a sticker machine for quite some time now, but couldn’t justify it. However, when I thought about how much I’ve been paying for stickers … Continue Reading Homemade Stickers That Promote Writerly Habits
S.I.H. Class Starts Tomorrow
Just a reminder, for those of you that signed up and will be joining Ruth and I (and probably 50,000 other people), that the Stories in Hand Class begins tomorrow. … Continue Reading S.I.H. Class Starts Tomorrow
Stories in Hand
Ruth just convinced me to sign up for a free online course called “Stories in Hand,” which you can read more about by clicking here. The course is a hybrid: … Continue Reading Stories in Hand
A Little Copywriting
This afternoon, I’m going to teach a Social Studies Lesson about voting I found on Scholastic.com. It’s a lesson about having kids persuade adults to vote in a non-partisan way. … Continue Reading A Little Copywriting
frustration.
This weekend, during rest time, I heard a few sobs from my youngest daughter’s room. The sounds were odd, so I went to check on her. As I approached her … Continue Reading frustration.
