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Posted 21 Comments on Paint a Portrait with Words biography

Paint a Portrait with Words

Jen Bryant is a biographer whose recently released picture book, Above the Rim, is a worthy mentor text. Jen stops by TWT to chat with Stacey about some of the most important things kids can keep in mind when they’re researching and writing stories about famous people or everyday heroes. Watch the interview, look through some excerpts from her newest picture book biography, and then leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball.

Posted 71 Comments on 10 Books Celebrating Black Joy and Daily Life craft

10 Books Celebrating Black Joy and Daily Life

While books about oppression, struggle, and suffering are of critical importance to read and discuss with children, so are books about Black joy and about the daily lives of Black children. I’ve curated a list of ten new (i.e., published in 2019 and 2020) texts that focus on Black people living life. Depending on who your students are, these books could serve as mirrors, windows, and/or sliding glass doors.

Posted 56 Comments on How to Deal with “Too Much” Energy in the Classroom + a Book Giveaway ADHD

How to Deal with “Too Much” Energy in the Classroom + a Book Giveaway

Every writing workshop I’ve ever taught or consulted in has had at least one child who is in perpetual motion. Many times, that child is the kid who talks their classmates during independent writing time, interrupts their teacher during a writing conference, or cannot respect their peers’ space in the meeting area. The first few weeks of school are the perfect time to begin conversations about living in a classroom community where all learners have different needs.

Susan Verde, author of Unstoppable Me, chats with Stacey about the ways we can build classroom writing communities that welcome kids with who are often seen as having “too much” energy.

Posted 30 Comments on The Essence of Ada: The Story Behind a Picture Book Biography of Ada Lovelace Author Spotlight Series

The Essence of Ada: The Story Behind a Picture Book Biography of Ada Lovelace

Did you know that Ada Lovelace was able to imagine how a machine could not only calculate any number you gave it, but also create music and visual images–100 years before computers were invented? Read the story behind the story with author Tanya Lee Stone who steps into our Author Spotlight today.

Posted 58 Comments on An Interview with the Author of Come with Me + a Giveaway current events

An Interview with the Author of Come with Me + a Giveaway

As educators, we are uniquely positioned to teach children to respect and love each other. We have the power to show them how to make the world a better place. We can shape the next generation of children so they will choose to be accepting of people who look different, have a different set of beliefs, or originate from a different cultural background. This is an enormous responsibility, but we are fortunate if we can do this work to bring about change in our corners of the world.