Small Reads for Brighters Days
Just wanted to briefly share two fantastic children’s lit events in the Twin Cities in February. These are awesome events for teachers (and both earn CEUs), writers, and kidlit lovers. They are each $40. First up, on Feb. 1, is Books for Breakfast! I love this book bonanza event and am so happy to be […]
Hi, teachers! I’m sharing some thoughts on how using some game strategies in your classroom can free kids up to be braver, more creative writers. You can check it out at Mackin’s Teacher Talk blog here. Enjoy! “As a former eighth-grade English teacher, I realize that you have SO MUCH to fit into so little […]
Happy Poetry Friday! Last Saturday, I got to be part of the 2019 Poetry Blast! I had last gone to ALA, to be part of this same event, in 2013. At that time, I was sharing my first two poetry collections, Stampede and BookSpeak! And I was totally overwhelmed. (Thrilled but overwhelmed.) This year, I […]
Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Last week, I was honored to spend three days with 4th and 5th graders playing with poetry. We wrote 15 Words or Less Poems, Paint Chip Poems, Things To Do If You Are… Poems, I Am Poems, Found Poems (using pages from National Geographic that […]
If you’re an educator who shares and reviews books online or in person, Lerner is offering a digital peek at my next picture book, LION OF THE SKY: HAIKU FOR ALL SEASONS. Haiku meet riddles in these 24 poems. From baseball to apple, snow angel to kite, seasonal hallmarks speak in haiku to give clues […]
Over the past two weeks, I did three storytimes at libraries in the East Central Region of Minnesota. It was great to meet families and celebrate kids as readers, as (mostly) preschoolers and toddlers swooped like bats, bloomed like flowers, made monkey noises, did toothpaste art, and echo read my books and poems. But a […]
Seriously, nothing makes me happier than seeing teachers, librarians, or kids having fun with my books. Check out this awesome performance of “Calling All Readers” from BOOKSPEAK!, posted on Twitter by teacher Liz Evans. Thanks, Liz and you other wonderful readers!
Wednesday, June 20, is World Refugee Day, and I wanted to share a poetry-writing activity I did with 3rd-8th graders in case you’re looking for a writing activity with one of your summer programs (or in years to come). Almost every year, I teach at Success Beyond the Classroom’s Young Authors Conference at Bethel University […]
Whether you already love poetry, write and/or teach poetry, or are totally intimidated by poetry, this Twitter chat is for you! Come by tonight from 8-9 Eastern Time to join in the discussion and share and learn! Just search for the hashtag #WonderChat or #NYEdChat to keep up with the fun. I’m so glad Carol […]
One of the very best things about being an author is when your own work inspires readers to create! On Instagram over the weekend, a mom and her daughter (I think this is the relationship) shared this image: Parla wrote that she and Brighton were inspired by an Author Access event I did with the […]
