My Last Day in New York City
It rained today. Hard. Really, really hard. I had to run the windshield wipers on the highest setting just so I could see out. Hence, I didn’t do everything I had hoped to… Continue reading
It rained today. Hard. Really, really hard. I had to run the windshield wipers on the highest setting just so I could see out. Hence, I didn’t do everything I had hoped to… Continue reading
I often have my students bring in photographs of them at special times in their lives in order to help them spark their memory (and write a small moment story.) I discourage them… Continue reading
I stepped out of the car in New Jersey last night. Home sweet home, I thought. I was coming home to my parents’ house for two nights. I slammed the passenger door to… Continue reading
Credo I believe there is something else entirely going on but no single person can ever know it, so we fall in love. It could also be true that what we use everyday… Continue reading
Found this fun blog post which gives great tips for writing titles. Have fun checking it out: The Sexy Art of Writing Headlines That Kill. (I can envision focus lessons for many different… Continue reading
My husband had left for 14 days for Peru, South America. During the time he was gone, I tenaciously captured our life through photos and blog posts. My son and I didn’t do… Continue reading
Everyone who attended George Ella Lyon‘s Session on Saturday Morning had the opportunity to make a memory after thinking about a drawing a floor plan of a home they’ve lived in. I went… Continue reading
I’m still on my Billy Collins kick. This has been going on since Saturday… I’m just loving his work. Here’s one I especially like: Introduction to Poetry I ask them to take a… Continue reading
I just love Maya Angelou. This one has me thinking — what does frighten me? Certainly not Friday the 13th! <smile.> Life Doesn’t Frighten Me At All Maya Angelou Shadows on the wall… Continue reading
As I walked through my day today, I noticed the small things that people do that we often overlook. For instance, during my layover at O’Hare, I noticed that one of the women… Continue reading
I pulled the grays out but they’re sprouting back again they make me feel old. I wrote this after hearing Billy Collins speak last week. I thought it might be good to write… Continue reading
M. Colleen Cruz wrote a stellar professional book, Independent Writing Projects: One Teacher, 32 Needs, Topics, and Plans. Her book inspired me to get my students going in Extended Day last year. I… Continue reading
Ode to My Second Cupcake You come from Buttercup Bake Shop On the Upper West Side. You sat amongst other delectable creations, Waiting to be picked. Your cake is golden. Your icing —… Continue reading
Here’s the link in case you want to pass this video along to someone else: To join in the Shift Happens Conversation, click here. I particularly like their discussion questions, which are as… Continue reading
I heard Poet Laureate Billy Collins speak today at Columbia University’s Roone Arledge Auditorium. He was fascinating, funny, and filled with ideas for teachers on how to be better teachers of poetry. Here… Continue reading
THE POETS ROOM has nothing in it. No comfortable furniture, no TVs, voices, clocks ticking, nothing except beats of air and blood pulsing through your lungs. You take a clean breath and quietness… Continue reading
Hear the blare of bugles, Hear the beat of drums, Hear the sound of marching feet. Down the street there comes, Playing, marching, Marching, playing, In the sun and shade, All the music,… Continue reading
How many kids do you know that have resumes? Well, I now know five since I just helped to create resumes for five of my former students on Career Kids, which is a… Continue reading