-
A Poem
My blogging goal is to put positive stuff out into the world, so at first I hesitated about posting this poem I wrote.
And then I thought....if it makes someone think twice about the children who suffer each day...and then that person makes an effort to be a force of change for a child...well, what is more positive than that?
The Quiet One
( Read more... ) -
Friday Five
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill
I agree, Mr. Churchill. Here are five things I've learned:
ONE:
Sometimes life throws things in our way for which we are not prepared. Other times we create our own hurdles. What matters is how you navigate these problems. There is no fault ( Read more... ) -
Book Recommendations: From My Students to Yours
Recently my students compiled a list of their favorite books they’d read to share with friends and family. I posted last year’s list and it was viewed many times by relatives wanting gift ideas for teens, librarians, and other teachers. Please feel free to post on FB and spread the news on Twitter. My students would love if you linked here from ( Read more... ) -
Best Friends
I wish that everyone could have friends like mine! My writing career has flourished because of them. Kate Messner planted the seed, started me on the journey, and mentored me along the way. Other friends have read my manuscripts, critiqued my work, encouraged me, and provided me with opportunities to learn, to share, or conduct research.
But here is ( Read more... ) -
Book Review: LAWN BOY
Book Review: LAWN BOY by Gary Paulsen
One of the favorite books in my 7th grade classes right now is LAWN BOY by Gary Paulsen. Just Paulsen’s name alone is enough to get a student to try this book, as most of them know his novel HATCHET from a read-aloud in elementary school. Students love his accessible writing and fast-paced plot lines. In one ( Read more... ) -
Review: WARP SPEED by Lisa Yee
Review: WARP SPEED by Lisa Yee
I fell in love with Lisa Yee’s writing when I read MILLICENT MIN, GIRL GENIUS years ago. Since then, I’ve shared her novels with my students and they love them, too. Fortunately for us, she has graced her readers with a steady supply of great material over the years. Her latest, WARP SPEED, continues the laughter by ( Read more... ) -
Lesson Questions
As I prepared one of my new learning units for the upcoming school year, I evaluated the plans using questions I consider with every individual lesson and overall unit. Here are ten of the initial considerations. Since this list is a just starting point, perhaps you might share one or two of your own questions?
( Read more... ) -
Who Women Marry
They say women marry men who remind them of their fathers.
Hmmm…let’s test this theory using my daughter’s fiancé & her dad (my husband):
Fiancé: Loves to eat & cook - Favorite meal to cook = steak
Father: Loves to eat & cook - Favorite meal to eat = steak
Proof: When Fiancé is coming for visit Father buys specialty cheese for taste testing
Fiancé: ( Read more... ) -
Dancing with Daddy
When my daughter Stephanie was a little girl, she would stand on my husband’s feet and twirl around the kitchen to the song Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle. “When I get married, Daddy, we’ll dance to this song,” she’d say.
Earlier this month, Stephanie and I traveled to Saratoga with my best friend from college Pam and her lovely daughter ( Read more... )
