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My Biggest Fan
If you know me, you know that my husband, Randy, is always bragging on me, supporting me, and celebrating my writing. Today is Randy’s birthday, and I’m spending the whole day celebrating with him! He gets so short-changed, having his birthday right before Christmas. And even at Christmastime, he finds ways to cheer on my
A Holiday Wordsmiths Gathering
A couple of weeks ago, my writing group, the Wordsmiths, did our little holiday get-together. Great food (can you say whiskey truffles?), laughter (lots), small & lovely gifts, and talking about books and works in progress. We were missing two comrades-in-pens, but other than that, what a lovely afternoon! Thanks, Joyce Sidman, for hosting. It
Poetry Friday Anthology for Science–remix!
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’ve shared Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell’s awesome Poetry Friday Anthology for Science here before, and now there’s a new edition. Teachers requested a non-grade-level-edition for kids, and Janet and Sylvia delivered. Introducing The Poetry of Science: The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science for Kids!
Great Gourd! [15 Words or Less Poems]
Hi, 15 Words-or-Less-ers! Ready to wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less? (guidelines here) Here’s a picture I took at the grocery store just before Thanksgiving. These gourds were huge! Granted, that mini-pumpkin with the crow on it is pretty small, but it was between tennis ball and baseball size. These gourds
Poetryaction for Blizzard
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Well, we’re going from fire to ice. Yesterday, I shared an image for 15 Words or Less that some of you wondered what it was. I thought it resembled frozen flames, and y’all saw fire, ice, hearts, hands, and more in it. For those of
Ice on Fire [15 Words or Less Poems]
Hi teachers and writers! I’m offering something new in January for people who want to write (published, pre-published, no desire to be published–you are all welcome!) but who aren’t getting the writing done that they want to. It’s a low-cost Closed Facebook Group that will be full of encouragement and checking in to set and
Poetryaction for Please, Mr. Panda
Oh, my goodness. My writers’ group, the Wordsmiths, met yesterday for our holiday gathering. The laughing! The food! The good advice! Hope you are all enjoying some holiday gatherings with your teacher colleagues and/or writing friends, too! Please, Mr. Panda is a quirky little book! To be honest, I thought Mr. Panda was a bit
Poetryaction for Ben & Zip
OK, I know a beach book and poem isn’t exactly seasonal, but…a five-minute imaginary trip to the beach might be just what you long for, now that we’re knee deep into December! I used to be in a crit group with author Joanne Linden, and I was SO thrilled when Ben & Zip, a charming
Poetryaction for Bedtime at the Nut House
Happy Hannukah to everyone celebrating! This week, I’m going to be sharing poetryactions. Quick poems written in reaction to picture books. I hope you like them! My house feels a little like The Nut House right now, mostly because of holiday stuff and book stuff. It’s all good and cheerful! But a little bit crazy:>)
The Light, a Poem Honoring CLA and Reading Teachers and Researchers
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’m reflecting on groups today. First up, the Poetry Princesses, aka Poetry 7, aka Poetry Sisters. We are Liz Garton Scanlon, Tricia Stohr-Hunt, Andi Sibley, Tanita S. Davis, Kelly Fineman, Sara L. Holmes, and me. And we’ve been writing poems of a selected form each
Key Lime…Pie? [15 Words or Less Poems]
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines are here)! Here’s the key lime pie I shared yesterday from a Lerner author dinner during NCTE. Looks a little odd, but oh my goodness, it was heaven. This picture makes me think of: My frequent cooking disasters–which both look AND taste a little…weird
Great Speeches and Great Chats — NCTE, Part 4
You’ve heard about my Friday sessions (Passion-Driven Research and Into the Poem), my Friday night, and my Saturday morning session on Revved for Research. I just wanted to share a few favorite moments here from the rest of Saturday: Marilyn Singer’s exuberant acceptance speech for the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, including
The Road to Hell Is Paved With Technology Problems — NCTE, Part 3
So, Friday night, Marilyn Singer pondered whether the road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions, but Saturday morning I determined the the road to hell is paved with bad technology! I was part of three panels at NCTE, and I was thrilled to be part of each. Alyson Beecher, who put together the
Penguins, Nerds, Swing Dancing, and the Road to Hell — NCTE, part 2
I shared a bit about my NCTE Friday last week, and I just wanted to tell you about Friday night, which was a great time. I went to the Penguin Nerdy Cocktail Hour, which was a cocktail party (generally, my least favorite thing in the whole world). It was fun! I now know enough people
Fierce, a Thanksgiving Villanelle
This villanelle isn’t about the holiday of Thanksgiving, but it is about how thankful I am for the wild world around me, even when I don’t get to explore that wildness very often. So I’m posting it today and leaving it up for Poetry Friday, too:>) Carol at Carol’s Corner has the Poetry Friday Roundup,
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Are You Looking For?
Go to my Poetry page for:
- National Poetry Month projects through the years
- Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
- Introductions to several favorite poetry forms