This week, I picked up Lola Schaefer’s picture book, Frankie Stein, (illustrated by Kevan Atteberry) – what a wonderful twist on the usual Halloween fare!
Frankie’s proud parents are delighted when Frankie arrives in the world on a “bright, sunny day,” but “Oh, my,” his mother exclaims, “He’s…cute.” And he truly is!
Not to be dissuaded, however, [...]
One of the great things about Halloween is the many fun books I get to share with my students. For some (not so strange, I guess!) reason, I have two overflowing GIANT storage tubs of books for the month of October. Two favorites that I read this month:
Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman, Illustrated by S.D. [...]
A writing friend shared this quote from Einstein and reminded me of the way I am connected to others, depend on others, find meaning in others.
I am grateful for those “crossed paths.” Each has a part in who I am and who I will become.
Excerpt from You and Your Fellow Man by Albert Einstein
Many times [...]
Tonight, I didn’t get to my desk until after 8 pm. Last night, it was even later. After a full day, it’s easy to excuse myself from writing by saying that I just don’t have the energy. That I can’t think well at night. That I’m kidding myself when I believe that if I just [...]
Read full post...Sometimes gems of inspiration come when you least expect them. Last night’s Chinese-take-out-so-we-could-watch-the-vice-presidential-debate brought another reminder with implications for both my teaching and writing lives.
In today’s standards-based, high-pressured, “no-child-left-behind” environment, it’s easy to let the constraints of time and curriculum overwhelm my teaching day. The fact remains that there’s a bookload of “hard-core” curriculum to [...]
I've lived and traveled around the world, but now make my home in California.
By day, I teach; evenings and many weekends, I write.
My teaching, reading, and writing eventually led to a degree in Language and Literacy, and later, an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.