tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87626442973999995402024-03-06T02:54:17.657-05:002 Happy TeachersBy Ann Marie and ErinAnn Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-85400733292146310252022-08-30T07:59:00.004-04:002022-08-30T07:59:59.856-04:002 Happy, but exhausted, Teachers!<p>Apologies to all for our long absence. Your 2 happy teachers have been 2 overwhelmed teachers since COVID-19 hit. We went virtual, then we went hybrid, and now we are back in person, mostly masked for the year. My, how things changed. We do hope that you too are surviving and managing to find some normalcy in these difficult days. Please continue to visit our site and use our resources when planning for your 2022-2023 year, which should surely be one of your best! Hang in there. We can do this!</p>Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-7744268039786151352020-03-23T09:00:00.000-04:002020-03-23T09:00:03.886-04:00Boredom Busters for Distance LearningWe’re on week two of being out of school and we already miss our students. We sent them <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IaATJYOqUdJPIoTfhvUzjts4YE9PsHjf/view" target="_blank">these ideas to keep boredom away</a> and to help parents who might need activities. Of course, we want to share with all of you. These are tough times indeed. Sending out positive vibes and prayers for good health for everyone. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Writing ideas:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">*If you do not have much paper at home, see if you might still have any old journals or the kindergarten journal from last year, or use the back of things you receive in the mail such as envelopes or letters. Use the backs of old school papers, the inside of cereal, rice, or pasta boxes, or brown grocery bags. If you run out of paper, all of these ideas can be done orally. Let your child tell their answer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Make a list of the food you have in one cabinet or the pantry. Then arrange the words in ABC order. First graders should be able to alphabetize 8-10 items by the first letter. If you’re looking for a challenge, try using some words that start with the same letter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Write about the night you found a bear in your bed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Make a list of 15 of your favorite foods. Ask someone else in your house to tell you their favorite foods. Compare your lists.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Write about a cat that came to your home to be your new teacher while school is out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Tell about you and your best friend who happens to be an elephant. What do you like to do together? How are you the same? How are you different?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Write a workout routine for yourself (and brothers and sisters if you have them.) Include sit-ups, jumping jacks, push-ups, and running in place. Don’t forget to tell how many times each exercise should be done. See if you can get someone in your house to do it with you each day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. Watch a TV show or movie. Write a review where you tell others how you feel about it and if you would recommend it. Tell how many stars you think it deserves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Write down the name of every family member you have. Next to their name tell why you love them. Share this with your family at dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Math ideas:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Practice patterns with cereal, M&Ms, blocks, coins, or things in nature such as sticks and pebbles. Make patterns such as AB, ABC, ABCD, ABB, ABBCD, or ABCC. Create more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Write out your own addition or subtraction facts. Then set a timer and see how fast you can answer them. Ask an adult to check your answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Make addition or subtraction facts for someone else in your house such as an older brother or sister. Set a timer and make THEM write the answers as fast as they can. Then pretend you are the teacher and check their work. If they get any wrong, teach them how to do it correctly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Draw your favorite shape. Walk around your house or yard and see how many places you can find your shape. Put tally marks every time you see it. How many tally marks did you have altogether?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Practice counting backwards. Start at an easy number such as 20. Then start at higher numbers like 67 or 93. See how fast you can go. Use different voices: baby, monster, robot, or tiger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Make a schedule for yourself. Draw clocks or write the digital times to show when you will complete each task. For example, 8:00 Wake up, 8:30 Eat breakfast…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. Make up addition and subtraction word problems about your family and friends. Don’t forget to circle or highlight the important information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Count by twos while marching in place. See how high you can count. Try to get to 110 but go higher if you want! Do it a second time and march faster.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Other ideas:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Read anything!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">2. Find two objects in your house such as, stuffed animals, shoes, or forks. Make up a conversation between the two objects. They can talk to each other about what they will have for dinner, or what they plan to do tomorrow. Perform the conversation for someone in your house.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><br /><br /><span style="background: white;">3. Build a fort. Ask your mom or dad what blankets, pillows, towels, or coats are okay to use. After you make your fort, crawl inside and pretend you are someplace far away. Where is it? Do you speak a different language? What will you eat in your faraway place? If you don’t have anything to build a fort, crawl into an empty bathtub, a closet, or under a table.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Call a friend or family member who doesn’t live with you. Tell them 3 things you like about them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Draw pictures or do a craft. Use old scraps, items from recycling, or even empty paper towel or toilet paper tubes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Take a walk around the house. What do you see? Count how many pieces of furniture you have. Or help someone in your home clean up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. Write a commercial for your favorite food or toy. Perform it for your family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Make up a song about how you feel today. Sing it for your family or call a friend and sing it for them.<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Technology ideas:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Learn how to draw by following along with this family. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGM_VhNXMmo&fbclid=IwAR3yPZXAZYXjibbylKseildWdCl-0-LcUBdWg2pfbTB76hpTRUvKSZiw98c&app=desktop" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGM_VhNXMmo&fbclid=IwAR3yPZXAZYXjibbylKseildWdCl-0-LcUBdWg2pfbTB76hpTRUvKSZiw98c&app=desktop</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Practice flexibility and mindfulness with Cosmic Kids Yoga. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Review and extend math skills at <a href="http://www.splashmath.com/" style="color: #954f72;">www.SplashMath.com</a>. Parents can sign up for free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Learn about animals, space, the fifty states, and more at <a href="https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/" style="color: #954f72;">https://kids.nationalgeographic.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Listen to celebrities read some great books at <a href="https://www.storylineonline.net/" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.storylineonline.net</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. ABCYa has TONS of math and reading games organized by grade level. No need to sign up for anything. <a href="https://www.abcya.com/" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.abcya.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. Highlights Kids has everything from easy-to-follow recipes to jokes to science questions. <a href="https://www.highlightskids.com/" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.highlightskids.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Do you like podcasts? <u>Smash, Boom, Best</u> and <u>Brains On</u> are two great ones! <a href="https://www.brainson.org/" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.brainson.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">9. Who doesn’t like escape rooms? Can you break out? Check out some free activities from BreakoutEDU at <a href="https://www.breakoutedu.com/funathome" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.breakoutedu.com/funathome</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-1545061799349559542019-11-17T12:04:00.006-05:002019-11-17T12:04:58.961-05:00Bears Make the Best Math BuddiesWe are super excited about this post! We’ve developed a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fy24ETtE-eRNhiLrcLZGzWU4-8-Nn5DB/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Book Bite</a> for Carmen Oliver’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bears-Make-Best-Math-Buddies/dp/1684460794/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=carmen+oliver&qid=1574008640&sr=8-4" target="_blank">BEARS MAKE THE BEST MATH BUDDIES</a>. This adorable math book allows for more than math in the classroom so we just had to share. If you love this book, she has <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bears-Make-Best-Reading-Buddies/dp/1623706548/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/138-9509851-1418303?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1623706548&pd_rd_r=b5f7f73b-6806-4064-a1a6-2685994a4857&pd_rd_w=o09Mj&pd_rd_wg=9Ecjf&pf_rd_p=09627863-9889-4290-b90a-5e9f86682449&pf_rd_r=CX93RQW58WRH637EDF37&psc=1&refRID=CX93RQW58WRH637EDF37" target="_blank">BEARS MAKE THE BEST READING BUDDIES</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bears-Make-Best-Writing-Buddies/dp/1684460816/ref=pd_bxgy_img_3/138-9509851-1418303?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1684460816&pd_rd_r=b5f7f73b-6806-4064-a1a6-2685994a4857&pd_rd_w=o09Mj&pd_rd_wg=9Ecjf&pf_rd_p=09627863-9889-4290-b90a-5e9f86682449&pf_rd_r=CX93RQW58WRH637EDF37&psc=1&refRID=CX93RQW58WRH637EDF37" target="_blank">BEARS MAKE THE BEST WRITING BUDDIES</a> coming in January. These books make great buddies for our students!<br />
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Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-14213639139876435822019-09-30T06:00:00.000-04:002019-09-30T06:00:05.542-04:00Pick a Picture Book AuthorFall is off to a great start because we have an interview with <a href="http://www.patriciatoht.com/">Patricia Toht</a>, author of many irresistible picture books. Read on to find out when she started writing, why she does it, and what the future holds for her. We’ve also included a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iz3kGiC-_K_h5d6ScQwPHQ5BjdST0z6a/view?usp=sharing">Book Bite</a> for PICK A PUMPKIN, her latest book, which just happens to be perfect for this time of year!
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;"><b>1. How long have you been an author?</b></span></span><br />
My path has been a long one! When I meet with students, I like to tell them that I started writing before the turn of the century, then I laugh as their mouths drop open. Shortly after I graduated from college, I had a brief go at writing for children (around 1986), but I didn’t try in earnest until 1995, when I stopped working full-time for awhile to stay at home with my four children.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>2. What made you want to become an author?</b></span><br />
I fell in love with children’s books as a bookseller first. I opened a children’s bookstore in the Chicago suburbs in 1988. Seven years later, Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Super Crown bookstores all moved in a few miles away and siphoned off enough sales to sink us. But my love of selling books eventually grew into a love of writing books.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>3. Tell us about your most recent book, PICK A PUMPKIN. Where did you get this idea?</b></span><br />
I took a poetry class with Illinois poet Heidi Roemer, which reawakened an affinity for poetry. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pick-Pumpkin-Patricia-Toht/dp/1536207640/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2M8WWPU6EZCO4&keywords=pick+a+pumpkin&qid=1569805136&sprefix=pick+a+%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1" target="_blank">PICK A PUMPKIN</a> began as a shorter poem about selecting the perfect pumpkin, and it eventually grew into carving a jack-o’-lantern, too. Researching picture books about pumpkins, I couldn’t find any that focused on that process, and I hoped there was a need in the market for a book like that. I soon wrote <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pick-Pine-Tree-Patricia-Toht/dp/0763695718/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2M8WWPU6EZCO4&keywords=pick+a+pumpkin&qid=1569805136&sprefix=pick+a+%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-2" target="_blank">PICK A PINE TREE</a>, too, and submitted them as companion books.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>4. Authors get rejected a lot. What do you do when you get rejected?</b></span><br />
Believe me, I don’t always take rejection well! But I read a book by Steven Pressfield called <i>The War of Art</i>, and this quote has always stayed with me:<br />
“So you’re taking a few blows. That’s the price for being in the arena and not on the sidelines. Stop complaining and be grateful.”<br />
I try to remind myself of this. And I’ve also grown to know that writing can be a numbers game. The more you write (and submit), the greater your chance that something will resonate with an editor.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>5. You’ve already written PICK A PINETREE and PICK A PUMPKIN. Will there be another PICK A ___ book in the future?</b></span><br />
I have a few ideas, but that editor is not interested right now. She wants me to diversify my writing a bit, so I’m working on different things.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>6. What’s the hardest part about writing picture books? What’s the easiest?</b></span><br />
The easiest for me is coming up with ideas, although I throw out a lot of ideas before I find a really great one. The hardest is the first round of editing with my editor because I’ve worked so hard to make the manuscript the best (I think) it can be before I submit. I can be a crabby re-writer for a few days after my first editorial letter!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>7. Can you tell us anything about what you’re working on now?</b></span><br />
I have two more books that are in the illustration process. TAXI, GO follows a taxi through the stops and starts of its day, and will be illustrated by Maria Karipidou. TOGETHER WITH YOU is a celebration of grandparents and grandchildren, and pairs me up with Jarvis again!<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">8. What do you do when you’re not writing?</span></b><br />
I’m a library associate in a big, busy middle school. I love it! But I do miss my days working at the public library where I led family storytimes. For me, there’s nothing like a room of “littles” to make my heart happy!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>9. What advice would you give someone who wants to become an author? </b></span><br />
It’s not new advice – READ, READ, READ! Because I owned a bookstore, I read hundreds of picture books each season to discern which ones to purchase. I eventually developed an internal sense of picture book rhythm and length, and learned about certain elements like page turns and the “rule of three.” I still check out loads of picture books from my local library. Also, I know that I always have more to learn, so I read craft books, attend conferences, and work with critique partners to improve my writing. (<i>I write for the <a href="https://groggorg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">GROG blog</a>. To learn more about page turns, the rule of three, and how to make a “dummy” of your picture book, check out my posts.</i>)<br />
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Bio: <b>Patricia Toht</b> is a poet, picture book author, and school library associate. She once owned a children's bookshop before turning a love of books into a love of writing. She is the author of four picture books - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-Aboard-London-Patricia-Toht/dp/1847808573/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1Y8OCPF9SL9FN&keywords=all+aboard+the+london+bus&qid=1569805331&sprefix=all+aboard+the+lon%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1" target="_blank">ALL ABOARD THE LONDON BUS</a>, illustrated by Sam Usher, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dress-Like-Girl-Patricia-Toht/dp/0062798928/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=DRESS+LIKE+A+GIRL&qid=1569805360&sr=8-1" target="_blank">DRESS LIKE A GIRL</a>, illustrated by Lorian Tu, and PICK A PINE TREE and PICK A PUMPKIN, illustrated by Jarvis. Find her online at <a href="http://www.patriciatoht.com/">www.patriciatoht.com</a>, on Twitter as <a href="https://twitter.com/PatriciaToht">@PatriciaToht</a>, and Instagram as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/patricia.toht/?hl=en">patricia.toht</a>. She is represented by Julia Churchill at A.M. Heath (London).<br />
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Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-9965075153276108692019-09-11T16:01:00.000-04:002019-10-28T19:10:06.726-04:00How Sweet it is to Be Sorted by YouI’ve got a new favorite unit. Every year when our sorting unit comes up I try to think of ways to keep it interesting with my first graders. Last year one of my coworkers jokingly mentioned that we could sort with Oreos. Because of my deep love for the cookies, I ran with the idea!<br />
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In Virginia we have to sort by size, shape, color and thickness. Luckily, Oreos can be used for all of these! I bought both chocolate and golden Oreos of the regular, mini, and thin varieties. I also snagged Oreo Thin Bites and Nabisco’s Oreo Cookie 100 calorie packs (because they’re shaped like hexagons!). I made packs for my students that contained one of each kind of cookie and then called out various ways for them to sort. (Please excuse the messy picture. I took it before I realized I'd write a post about it.)<br />
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**Update- I cannot find the 100 calorie packs anywhere this year!! I'm going to grab some chocolate teddy grahams to have a different shape instead.<br />
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We started off sorting by one trait and <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11WM42-DXuNf7Z_0r-Qos4TRxLU3e9Jmw/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">used this chart</a> to keep things organized. Then the students flipped it over and we sorted by two traits. For this, we just made neat piles on the blank back of the paper.<br />
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It was a pretty sweet lesson if I do say so myself. ;)
Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-87563619780104569072019-09-03T05:00:00.000-04:002019-09-03T05:00:01.371-04:00The One & Only Wolfgang<span style="background-color: white; color: #663366; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Happy Book Birthday to THE ONE & ONLY WOLFGANG! Steve Greig, Mary Rand Hess and Nadja Sarell have created one incredible book about one incredible family. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oSbvlQwfxCnPabMBgtel3rZM-ePSzj9i/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Here are some activities</a> you can complete after reading to extend the fun!</span><br />
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Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-21081127179238224172019-09-01T20:15:00.000-04:002019-09-01T20:15:37.763-04:00Alphabet Snack SortingLast year I taught summer school for the first time and was looking for a fun, meaningful, and delicious way to wrap up the last day with my soon to be kindergarteners. I began searching Pinterest for snack ideas because, let’s face it, everything is just more fun with food. After a few minutes of coming up empty handed I saw a picture of a snack mix that included Alpha-Bits cereal and it hit me- An alphabet sort using tasty treats!<br />
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I immediately began to think of every snack I’ve ever given my son that had letters on them. I created my shopping list and off I went. After searching through eight different stores I had to give up on the idea of Apha-Bits, but still had a good mix of salty and sweet.
Here’s what I included in my snack mix:<br />
Mini Alphabet Pretzels (from Wegmans)<br />
Alphabet Cookies (from The Dollar Tree)<br />
Scrabble Cheez-Its<br />
Mini M&Ms (sorted as the letter M)<br />
Cheerios (sorted as the letter O)<br />
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I made charts on 17x11 paper and had students get a few spoonfuls of each ingredient in our snack mix. Then they went back to their seat and sorted. I had a few who needed a bit of extra support, but most were able to match the letters to their mat independently. They had so much fun I’m planning to do this activity again with my first graders at the beginning of the year!<br />
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Happy Snacking!<br />
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Erin
Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-50616065986319152782019-06-28T11:22:00.000-04:002019-06-28T11:30:30.759-04:00Ten Things Teachers Should Do During the Summer and Ten Things You’ll Probably Do AnywayIt’s summer and we still can’t get away from the To Do List phenomenon that seems to plague teachers! We’ve decided to share ours with you. It’s broken in two parts. Choose one or both! If you think of more ideas we’ve forgotten feel free to share them in our comments section! You can <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pddTmPe2qsyz8Qv4Md_Y9uuMFGLoGFbv/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">download our list</a> and use a fun pen to check off what you’ve done! Happy summer! <br />
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<br />Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-74835911169814052382019-05-26T14:34:00.000-04:002019-05-26T14:35:11.634-04:00I'm Done! Are You?“I’m Done!” How many times do teachers and parents hear that phrase? <a href="http://gretchenmclellan.com/" target="_blank">Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan</a> has managed to create a character who sounds exactly like half the kids in my class! Little Beaver thinks he’s done building the dam and continues to join his friends in play. His parents have to keep reminding him that he isn’t quite done yet. This back and forth is so relatable to young readers. My students even started repeating the phrase long after the book ended in a voice they thought Little Beaver might use. I created <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IGinWRb1A__V3S0bW6gYKIgySbls7-6b/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">a few extra ideas</a> if you’d like to extend the story past your reading time. Get your copy of the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Im-Done-Gretchen-Brandenburg-McLellan/dp/0823437051/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">here</a>!<br />
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Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-32118303960888267932019-05-13T21:28:00.001-04:002019-05-13T21:28:37.638-04:00Twinderella, A Fractioned Fairy Tale and a Book Bite<a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0399176330/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3"><u>Twinderella</u>, A Fractioned Fairy Tale</a>, by <a href="https://twitter.com/CoreyPBNinja" target="_blank">Corey Rosen Schwartz</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/deborahmarcero" target="_blank">Deborah Marcero</a>, is our most favorite fraction book ever! Seriously, our grade level had one copy to start, thought we were going to share it, then –Poof– everyone insisted on having their own copy! This charming math story conquers fractions as parts of a region and parts of a group. We couldn’t ask for more. The text is just the right length and tells a succinct, attention-grabbing fractioned fairytale. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w0ZidZnHDwYDifDZgMh5sE-Y2n7T0q7h/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">We even made a book bite</a> for it so we could extend the use of the book. Have fun!<br />
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<br />Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-27735873602225743312019-05-07T06:30:00.000-04:002019-05-07T18:55:34.072-04:00A Perfect Interview <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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An adorable new picture book just hit the shelves and we have an interview with the author, <a href="http://www.jodimckaybooks.com/" target="_blank">Jodi McKay</a>. PENCIL’S PERFECT PICTURE is a great classroom read-aloud and a cozy bedtime story. The illustrator, <a href="https://thebrightagency.com/uk/childrens/artists/juliana-motzko" target="_blank">Juliana Motzko</a>, created an irresistible Pencil and gave life to many other school supplies. After reading the book, we had our students draw their own perfect pictures. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807564761?pf_rd_p=f3acc539-5d5f-49a3-89ea-768a917d5900&pf_rd_r=7GFA34SR04RTAFPYHN0M" target="_blank">Get your copy today</a>!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">1. How long have you been an author?</span><br />
I feel like I’ve always been an author. I was the kid who wrote stories and plays for my friends, and then as a teen and eventually as an adult I always managed to add creative writing into my school work and career. I started to write seriously though in 2013 when my son went to kindergarten and I had a little more time on my hands to learn the craft of writing and practice those skills.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">2. What made you want to become an author?</span><br />
When I first gave writing a shot I was 19 and at that point I wanted to be an author because of the way writing made me feel. When I started really writing at 35 I wanted to become an author because I saw how reading made my son feel. He loved (and still does) to read and so reading books and telling stories became an important part of how we connected and how he explored his own imagination. I had to be part of something that had such a significant effect on him.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">3. Tell us about your most recent book, PENCIL’S PERFECT PICTURE. Where did you get this idea?</span><br />
Pencil’s Perfect Picture started out as a companion book to <i>Where Are The Words?</i>, my first book. In the end of <i>Where Are The Words?</i> the Period says that Pencil can help finish the story by drawing the perfect pictures. While my editor liked the story, she suggested that we make it a stand-alone and add a family touch. I definitely agreed with that vision and so I gave Pencil the goal of drawing a perfect picture for his dad. The rest of the story takes Pencil through art school where he asks the other artists like Paintbrush, Marker, and Pastel what makes their pictures perfect. His inability to get a straight answer combined with his dad’s reaction to Pencil’s picture was my way of telling kids that art is meant to be fun and there is no standard of perfection. What makes art perfect is that it comes from the heart.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">4. Authors get rejected a lot. What do you do when you get rejected?</span><br />
Ugh, rejection can really hurt sometimes! I usually give myself a minute to deal with the loss of the excitement and hope that comes with submitting a beloved manuscript. After that I move on to the next story that makes me feel just as excited and hopeful.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">5. Both of your picture books have a pencil as a character. What’s up with you and pencils?</span><br />
Hahaha! I know, right? I promise that I am done with the pencil, and probably art supplies as well. I have to keep the punctuation going though, can’t have a story without punctuation.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">6. What’s the hardest part about writing picture books? What’s the easiest?</span><br />
For me, the hardest part of writing a picture book is making sure that I don’t get so wrapped up in the plot that I forget to include the heart of the story. It’s really easy to create the superficial stakes behind the character’s main goal, but adding in the underlying emotional risk or motivation takes a little more thought, actually a lot more thought.
What comes easiest is probably the story structure. I’m not sure if it’s because of my relatively organized nature, but I know how to structure a story pretty well and well enough to be able to break from it occasionally and still have it work. It’s the first thing I look at when I revise and the first thing I talk about when I give critiques.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">7. Describe what it’s like to hear the news that you’ve just gotten a book contract.</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">8. Can you tell us anything about what you’re working on now?</span><br />
I am in the final stages of revising a story with my agent that I really like even though I can’t stand to think about the main character. It’s… a spider (*gags*). I know, “why would you write about such a disgusting character?” Well, sometimes we have to push ourselves a bit. I just hope it goes out on submission soon so that I don’t have to keep thinking about it. (Blech)<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">9. What do you do when you’re not writing?</span><br />
I read a ton! Thank goodness for the library or we would be in some massive book debt. I also try to stay active to counter the hours spent writing or reading and I have a ten year-old and a goofy dog who keep me out and about.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">10. What advice would you give someone who wants to become an author?</span><br />
Embrace patience; patience with the process of writing, patience with publishing, and patience with yourself. There really isn’t much that happens quickly in this world of writing and if you expect it to be then it will become more frustrating than rewarding. So, while you are in the midst of practicing patience, find ways to take your mind off of what you are waiting for. Go for a walk, spend time in the children’s section of the library or bookstore, be creative in other ways, or write about something other than a story- like answers to interview questions :0)<br />
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Bio: Jodi McKay lives in Michigan with her husband, son, and two furry friends. She is the PAL coordinator for SCBWI-MI, and is active in several online writing groups. She has two books published by Albert Whitman & Co., WHERE ARE THE WORDS? (2016) and the forthcoming picture book, PENCIL’S PERFECT PICTURE (May, 2019).<br />
Jodi is represented by Linda Epstein of Emerald City Literary Agency.<br />
Want to chat with Jodi? You can find her here:<br />
Website- <a href="http://www.jodimckaybooks.com/">www.JodiMcKayBooks.com</a><br />
Email- Jodi@JodiMcKayBooks.com<br />
Facebook- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JLMcKayBooks/">https://www.facebook.com/JLMcKayBooks/</a><br />
Twitter- <a href="https://twitter.com/JLMcKay1">https://twitter.com/JLMcKay1</a>Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-23376657715640724782019-04-12T20:56:00.001-04:002019-04-13T21:29:20.475-04:00Going to School with Little Larry and Mary Rand Hess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/MaryRandHess" target="_blank">Mary Rand Hess</a> is a New York Times bestselling author and we got an interview with her! She’s sharing inside details about her approach to writing, her published books, and her current work in progress. One of the coolest reveals is about her latest book, <a href="https://shop.nationalgeographic.com/products/little-larry-goes-to-school" target="_blank">LITTLE LARRY GOES TO SCHOOL</a>, the story of an orphaned chimp. Enjoy the read! Thank you, Mary!<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">How long have you been an author?</span></b><br />
I have been writing seriously for over 25 years. Right out of college, I started writing for newspapers, magazines, and literary journals, and then made my way to screenplays, picture books, and young adult novels.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>What made you want to become an author?</b></span><br />
In second grade, we had to present a book report. I adapted <i>Charlotte’s Web</i> by E.B. White into a puppet show, making my own puppets and performing an abridged version for the class. I remember getting a standing ovation, and to my surprise was asked to perform it again (and believe me, I was not the teacher’s pet). It was in that moment I knew the power of storytelling. By fifth grade, another teacher told my mother I was destined to be an author. I rejected the notion at first because I wanted to be on stage singing and playing the piano.<br />
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But in truth I had always loved telling stories. Whether it was putting on puppet shows (thank you, Mr. Rogers), plays, or creating storyboards, it was enchanting to orchestrate a world of make-believe. In that world, anything could happen—I could even become a rock star. It wasn’t until I was twenty-years-old that I realized my fifth grade teacher was right, I was born to be an author.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Tell us about your most recent book, LITTLE LARRY GOES TO SCHOOL. How did this book come together?</span></b><br />
I was approached by National Geographic to coauthor<i> <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Little-Larry-School-Gerry-Ellis/dp/1426333161/ref=sr_1_5?qid=1552262435&refinements=p_27%3AMary+Rand+Hess&s=books&sr=1-5&text=Mary+Rand+Hess" target="_blank">Little Larry Goes to School (The True Story of a Timid Chimpanzee Who Learned to Reach New Heights)</a></i> with <a href="https://twitter.com/GerryEllisPhoto" target="_blank">Gerry Ellis</a>, who is a renowned wildlife filmmaker, photographer, and writer, and whose work has appeared in National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, New York Times, Ranger Rick, and more. Gerry and I became fast friends and bonded over the adorable Little Larry. Gerry shared his amazing photographs and accounts of being up close and personal with this little chimp (who found a way to fit in with the other chimps, while learning to be brave). It wasn’t long before I felt like I knew Gerry and Little Larry well.
Gerry has spent countless hours documenting the lives of great apes, including young chimpanzees like Little Larry. If you love the wild and you love great apes, Gerry’s your person!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Authors get rejected a lot. What do you do when you get rejected?</b></span><br />
Rejection stings a little... sometimes a lot, but it is a part of the journey. When I receive a rejection, I like to listen to music to process my thoughts and feelings, and then I usually write a stanza of a new poem, or dig out an older one I’ve been working on to get my mind on the important ingredients of creating and revising. I also love hugs from my family and dogs. And when I’m really feeling down in my blues, I compose on the piano. I think rejection is a necessary part of the process and makes us more thoughtful creators. And when time has passed and I feel wiser, I take out that rejected piece and give it another shot at success.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>What’s the hardest part about writing picture books? What’s the easiest?</b></span><br />
Picture books are definitely not easy to write. Many people have met the fate of trying to write a picture book and realizing it was not as easy as they thought. The hardest part for me is deciding how to execute a story in a picture book, and cutting back on words that I love and want to keep. Writing poetry has been good practice and has helped me understand the importance of the economy of words when it comes to a picture book. The easiest part is brainstorming characters, story ideas, and storylines, because ideas tend to be endless. Sometimes I think I’ll never get to them all.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Describe what it’s like to hear the news that you’ve just gotten a book contract.</b></span><br />
It’s like a friend stopping by for a surprise visit and bringing you a birthday cake and a present, even when it’s not your birthday.
It’s also like... “Well, it’s about time!”<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Can you tell us anything about what you’re working on now?</b></span><br />
I just finished up a book called <i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/One-Only-Wolfgang-rescue-family/dp/0310768233/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1552263075&refinements=p_27%3AMary+Rand+Hess&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Mary+Rand+Hess" target="_blank">The One and Only Wolfgang: From Pet Rescue to One Big Happy Family</a></i> with my friend Steve Greig of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wolfgang2242/" target="_blank">@wolfgang2242</a> Instagram fame. The story is about Steve’s real-life family of senior dogs, chickens, a rabbit, and a pig named Bikini. These pets, who were once “unadoptable,” but are now “unstoppable” together, show us what it means to be a big quirky family, where everyone belongs. I’m thrilled to say the book releases September of this year!<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">What do you do when you’re not writing?</span></b><br />
I LOVE hanging out at the beach with family, visiting with friends, taking naps with my dogs, baking, listening to copious amounts of music, and composing and riffing on the piano while my dog sings.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>What advice would you give someone who wants to become an author?</b></span><br />
Write the story that you can’t get out of your heart and mind. Write about characters, settings, and storylines you feel passionate about. Read lots of books in all different genres, and revise, revise, revise! Know that everyone will experience rejection—it’s part of the creative process. Keep writing and believing that you have the power to inspire with your words.<br />
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<b>Need some fun ideas about what to do after reading <i>Little Larry Goes to School</i>? <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XuBOUvqaaEfwGzim6Leh_2QVpGTxwEnq/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Check out our book bite</a>!</b><br />
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Bio:
Mary Rand Hess is a poet, screenwriter, mixed-media artist, and New York Times bestselling author of notable and award-winning books such as <i>Solo</i> and <i>Swing</i> (Blink YA), coauthored with Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander, <i>Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures</i> (National Geographic Children’s Books), also coauthored with Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido, <i>Little Larry Goes to School</i> (National Geographic Children’s Books), written with renowned photographer, writer, and filmmaker, Gerry Ellis, and the forthcoming picture book, <i>The One and Only Wolfgang: From Pet Rescue to One Big Happy Family</i> (Zonderkidz), coauthored with Steve Greig of @wolfgang2242 Instagram fame. She is currently at work on a few novels in verse, picture books, and screenplays. Mary lives in California with her husband, teenage sons, and two quirky dogs (one of whom sings while she plays the piano). Visit her at www.maryrandhess.com.Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-73448448023654026172019-04-08T06:00:00.000-04:002019-04-08T06:00:01.815-04:00Easter Egg AnimalsIf you’re like me, you have plastic Easter eggs tucked away somewhere… just in case. Since I started teaching I’ve tried really hard not to become a teacher hoarder (some years more successfully than others) and this means <a href="https://2happyteachers.blogspot.com/2014/01/throw-out-thursday.html" target="_blank">getting rid of things I haven’t used in years</a>! So when I came across my leftover stash of Easter eggs, I almost got rid of them. Then inspiration hit and I made Easter Egg Animals!<br />
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My first thought was a bee. I used a black marker to draw on some stripes and a white pipe cleaner to make some wings. I tucked the ends of the pipe cleaners into the egg and when I put the two halves together they stayed nicely in place. Some googly eyes made the perfect finishing touch.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Then I picked up the pink egg and I knew it should be a pig! I grabbed a pink pipe cleaner and used some Krazy Glue to attach the legs. Two small pieces for the ears were tucked into the egg like the wings of the bee. This egg had tiny holes in both ends, of which I took full advantage. A curly tail went into one end and a thumbtack with the end cut off went into the other. To make it stay, I used a small piece of eraser on the inside. I love that it still has a hole under its nose so that it looks surprised.</span><br />
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With the green egg I had left, I made a frog. More pipe cleaners helped to make his feet and tongue while small white pompoms became his eyes.<br />
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Not only have I used these eggs as Easter decorations, but I’ve also used them to hide around the classroom and practice positional words, to inspire engineering projects and to serve as reading buddies for students.<br />
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If you have even more eggs leftover, you should do a Pinterest search on teaching ideas using Easter eggs. There are tons of other ideas. (I highly recommend the <a href="http://www.bonbonbreak.com/diy-easter-egg-word-family-game/#.WJlB7rYrKRs" target="_blank">Easter egg word families</a> or <a href="http://thirdgradeexperience.blogspot.com/2011/04/synonym-and-antonym-egg-hunt.html" target="_blank">synonym and antonym egg hunt</a>!)
Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-61102353483857229592019-04-04T07:01:00.000-04:002019-04-04T07:01:54.592-04:00How to Track and Easter Bunny- A Book BiteWell, <a href="https://www.suefliess.com/" target="_blank">Sue Fliess</a> is back on the scene giving tips for finding one of our favorites…the Easter Bunny! <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/1510744290/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i6" target="_blank">HOW TO TRACK AN EASTER BUNNY</a> is written in rhyme at a perfect pace to keep your students engaged! There are some amazing ideas in the back too! We’ve written a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_3W0LTuRX0SpuT2PuQeReYnO3UrIqVoj/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">mini book bite</a> to give you activities to accompany this book at home or school! Hip-hop-hooray!<br />
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Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-89995126872096246762019-02-16T19:46:00.001-05:002019-02-17T11:36:11.204-05:00Yes, Dragons Get Colds Too!This book, <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N4HT3KM/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0" target="_blank">DRAGONS GET COLDS TOO</a>, is hot off the press,
dragon breath and scales included. The hilarious <a href="https://twitter.com/RebRoan" target="_blank">Rebecca Roan</a> has written an irresistible book full of laughs and tips for taking care of your sick
dragon. The illustrations from <a href="http://www.charlessantoso.com/wp/" target="_blank">Charles Santoso</a> are
eye-catching, and endearing. We’ve created <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JtsGgi8HDVULvtld8em8MfwtsfQ2UrVB/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">some hands-on fun</a> that will go right
along with your copy of the book. Tip: Your dragon will not get well without
this step-by-step advice!<br />
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Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-76724180784350315042019-02-09T21:30:00.000-05:002019-02-09T21:30:04.669-05:00Staff Motivators to Survive the Winter DoldrumsIf you are an educator, then you already know that January and February are looooong months. Especially if you live in a region where you don’t get any snow (i.e. SNOW DAYS)! We’ve created some ways for you and your staff to escape the winter blues.<br />
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-Fill snack size baggies with mini-marshmallows and make sticker or paper labels that say “Snowman Poop,” “Marshmallow Kisses,” or “Cloud Fluff.” Pinterest has lots of label ideas! Place them in staff mailboxes when no one is around to see you!<br />
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-Decorate the staff bathrooms. Hang snowflakes (made by your students) and quotes about happiness and being inspired. Ask your students to give you some quotes of their own. (These usually get lots of laughs from staff members.)<br />
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-Sponsor a staff scarf exchange. Invite everyone to clean through their closet or drawers looking for that scarf (or scarves) they never wear anymore. Encourage everyone to wash the scarf before the exchange. Pick a day to bring in the scarves and display them on the table. Then go shopping for a new scarf! (Also, you get to keep a scarf for every scarf you bring in. If you bring in three scarves you take three!) You can also do it anonymously where each participant chooses a name and gives a scarf to the person they choose. No matter which way you exchange, pick a day where everyone wears their new scarf to school. Take a group picture as a keepsake for everyone. If you happen to have any leftover scarves, donate them to a local charity.<br />
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-Hot Chocolate Friday: Meet up in the lounge or library to drink hot chocolate. Everyone can bring their favorite kind or ask your PTO or social committee to sponsor the event. Use your hot chocolate Friday to talk about your weekend plans NOT the stressors of work.<br />
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-Host a book exchange. Encourage staff members to clean out their bookshelves looking for books for both children and adults. Bring the books in and display them on tables. Have some browsing time then choose your new book(s). For every book you bring in you take home the same amount. Post pictures on social media to spread the book love and to inspire others to have book exchanges too.Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-66216572068799792802019-02-03T07:00:00.000-05:002019-02-03T07:00:07.250-05:00A Chat with Laurie WallmarkWe are extremely lucky to have the talented <a href="https://twitter.com/lauriewallmark" target="_blank">Laurie Wallmark</a> on our blog! She has wowed us with her books, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ada-Byron-Lovelace-Thinking-Machine/dp/1939547202" target="_blank">ADA BYRON LOVELACE AND THE THINKING MACHINE</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Hopper-Computer-People-Shaped/dp/1454920009" target="_blank">GRACE HOPPER: QUEEN OF COMPUTER CODE</a>, and now she has another must-read. Thank you, Laurie, for giving us an inside look into your writing life and your most recent book.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>How long have you been an author?</b></span><br />
I’ve been writing for about twenty years now. My first book wasn’t published until 2015, though.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>What made you want to become an author?</b></span><br />
Unlike many of my kidlit author friends, I wasn’t interested in writing as a child. I was a math and science kid all the way. Other than a few poems and songs, the only writing I did was for school assignments. One day, I had an idea for a middle grade novel, so I decided to see if I could transform that idea into an actual book. I did, and that book became the first step on my path to being a writer. It’s now one of my trunk novels, hidden away, never again to see the light of day.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Tell us about your newest book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hedy-Lamarrs-Double-Life-Hollywood/dp/1454926910" target="_blank">HEDY LAMARR’S DOUBLE LIFE: HOLLYWOOD LEGEND AND BRILLIANT INVENTOR (PEOPLE WHO SHAPED OUR WORLD)</a>. Where did you get the idea?</b></span><br />
I’m always on the lookout for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) whose achievements have been overlooked. In fact, I keep a list of possible subjects for future biographies. Hedy co-invented a vital piece of technology that helps keep our electronic communications safe from hacking, yet most people only know her as a movie star with a pretty face. I wanted to share the achievements of this amazing inventor with the world.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Authors get rejected a lot. What do you do when you get rejected?</b></span><br />
It’s hard to have your work rejected, but I try to tell myself that a rejection is only one person’s opinion. Somewhere out there is an editor who will love my book as much as I do. She just hasn’t met my book yet.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>All of your published books are about women. Do you have more women-centered books yet to be written?</b></span><br />
I have two more women in STEM books coming out in the next two years. The first, Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Mathematician, tells about the life and achievements whose work solves problems as different as calculating the path of a planet or a spinning football. The second book hasn’t been announced yet, so all I can say is it’s another unsung woman in STEM.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>What do you do when you’re not writing?</b></span><br />
Read. Read. Read.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Describe what it’s like to hear the news that you’ve just gotten a book contract.</b></span><br />
It’s incredibly exciting to receive a call that says an editor has fallen in love with your book. (See my previous answer about rejection). Together, you will work to bring out a book that hopefully kids will love, too.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>What advice would you give someone who wants to become an author?</b></span><br />
A writer writes. You need to work at your craft if you want to become an author. In addition, it helps to develop a thick skin to cope with those inevitable rejections.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Here is a sneak peek at some of the pages from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hedy-Lamarrs-Double-Life-Hollywood/dp/1454926910" target="_blank">HEDY LAMARR’S DOUBLE LIFE: HOLLYWOOD LEGEND AND BRILLIANT INVENTOR (PEOPLE WHO SHAPED OUR WORLD)</a>:</b></span><br />
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Award-winning author Laurie Wallmark’s debut picture book, ADA BYRON LOVELACE AND THE THINKING MACHINE (Creston Books, 2015), received four starred trade reviews (Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and School Library Journal) and many national awards including Outstanding Science Trade Book and Cook Prize Honor Book. Her picture book biography, GRACE HOPPER: QUEEN OF COMPUTER CODE (Sterling Children’s Books, 2017), earned a Kirkus star, is a Parents’ Choice Gold Medal winner, and is on several public libraries’ “best of” lists, including New York. Her recently released book is HEDY LAMARR’S DOUBLE LIFE (Sterling Children’s Books, 2019). Laurie has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from VCFA. You can find Laurie on the Web at <a href="http://www.lauriewallmark.com/">www.lauriewallmark.com</a> and @lauriewallmark.Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-68565704445532419132019-01-30T20:06:00.000-05:002019-01-30T20:07:50.129-05:00Staff Valentines: An Act of Kindness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Valentines Day is quickly approaching. I love the little notes and cards my students make for me. I’ve had one in particular hanging by wardrobe for seven years now. This year, my class will be spreading kindness across the school by making valentines for the entire staff! It’s been a few years since I’ve done this, and I’m excited to revisit the idea.<br />
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First, I get a current staff list from the office to make sure I don’t leave anyone out! From specialists to custodians, cafeteria helpers to gen. ed. classroom teachers, everyone goes on the list! Then I make a Word Doc for the SMARTBoard so that we can all read it easily from around the room. I make sure there’s enough space next to each staff member’s name for me to write the name of the student who chooses to make a valentine for that person. (This helps kids with spelling and provides me with a way to keep track of who’s working on what.) As students pick various teachers, I try to look for connections (She was my sister’s fourth grade teacher! I go to his classroom for reading!) to make the valentines as meaningful as possible. Students trace and cut out hearts using construction paper, write a message and decorate the valentines. Then it’s time to deliver some smiles!<br />
<br />Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-65543559834745954452019-01-09T08:00:00.000-05:002019-01-30T20:07:57.526-05:00Do You Want to be a Ninja?<a href="https://twitter.com/SueFliess" target="_blank">Sue Fliess</a> (<a href="http://www.suefliess.com/">http://www.suefliess.com</a>) has done it again! She’s written another can’t-resist, must-have, children’s book called, <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0762463317/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i4" target="_blank">Ninja Camp</a>. Her talented illustrator, <a href="http://www.jentaylor.net/" target="_blank">Jen Taylor</a>, has created the perfect pictures to take every reader on an authentic ninja camping experience. We wrote a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sx6sSXS8OP9VaBDzweSGzEhUYjP6IGAH/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Book Bite</a> to help you and the kids in your life, can become “ninjas of the night” too!<br />
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Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-32586490667430027432018-12-11T21:56:00.001-05:002018-12-11T21:56:45.412-05:00Mrs. Claus Takes the ReinsWe are in the final stretch to Winter Break and desperately trying to hold the attention of our excited students. Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/SueFliess" target="_blank">Sue Fliess</a> for coming to the rescue with your new book, <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/1503936988/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2" target="_blank">Mrs. Claus Takes the Reins</a>!<br />
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If you have kids in your life, put on your Santa hat, grab your boots, and go get your copy today. Then <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/10_sT_XF7jkxuttZioWqNexa2RhJuPVP-/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">try our activities</a> to go along with the story. This book and these ideas are our survival kit for the next couple of days! Ho, ho, go Mrs Claus!<br />
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Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-16123820904574365872018-11-04T07:00:00.000-05:002018-11-04T16:49:42.168-05:00Boring Sentence Repair ShopHow many times have you looked at your students’ sentences and thought, “These sentences are too short,” or “They don’t give any details?” We experience this quite often in first grade where we constantly see sentences such as, “I like ___” or “___ is nice.” BOR-ING! This is why we created the Boring Sentence Repair Shop.<br />
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Just like a car that needs repairing, our boring sentences can go in the shop in shambles and come out like new! The repair shop itself is simply a piece of poster board with a clip-art picture of a repair shop glued to it. Then the entire poster is laminated to last longer. The repair shop process works best when done as a whole group or in small groups. As a class, we brainstorm a simple sentence such as, “I like to eat cookies.” Then we write the boring sentence on a sentence strip and cut off the blank space left at the end to highlight how short it really is. We read it together, shout “BOR-ING!” and we get another strip. (Make sure it’s long!)<br />
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We start brainstorming ways to “repair” our sentence. For instance, we might ask, “What are some synonyms for like?” Then we choose or vote on one of those words. We ask questions relevant to our boring sentence topic. “Why do you like to eat cookies?” “What kind of cookies do you eat?” “What is a stronger or better word for ‘eat’?” “Where do you like to eat your cookies?” We go back and forth with ideas eventually settling on the best verbs, adjectives, and nouns we can conjure up. An example might be, “I adore devouring gooey, warm, chocolate chip cookies.” We write our repaired sentence on the long strip; sometimes we even have to tape two strips together.<br />
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Here comes the hokey part, but we swear they eat it up every time. We put the new sentence behind the repair shop poster board. Then we say something such as, “Let’s reread our boring sentence.” Afterwards, slide it behind the poster board. Then say, “So we repaired out boring sentence and now it’s ready.” Slide the new sentence out from the other side of the repair shop with a “Ta-da!” and read it together.<br />
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After reading, compare the two sentences by getting oral feedback from the students. Create a bulletin board to display your sentences no matter how often you do them. Make sure to organize them with a clear before and after connection. Then sit back, eat a gooey, warm, chocolate chip cookie, and watch the improvement on individual sentence writing.
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<br />Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-67889396559533881872018-10-21T12:07:00.001-04:002018-10-21T12:10:20.851-04:00Haunted Halloween- A Book BiteCheck out our latest Book Bite. We’ve taken <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/1338045334/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i10" target="_blank">HAUNTED HALLOWEEN</a>, by <a href="https://twitter.com/SueFliess" target="_blank">Sue Fliess</a>, and created activities for educators and parents. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kZWqpWd6bb5qNHnXRcooLYkfmOn0gP1h/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Download our ideas</a> and have a spooktacular time!<br />
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<br />Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-41962020546371555762018-10-10T18:29:00.000-04:002018-10-10T18:29:23.229-04:00A Haunted Halloween with Sue FliessThe poetically prolific author <a href="https://twitter.com/SueFliess" target="_blank">Sue Fliess</a> has a new book just perfect for young Halloween lovers. We thought this would be the perfect time for <a href="https://2happyteachers.blogspot.com/2016/07/looking-for-great-author-study-or-new.html" target="_blank">another interview</a> with her!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Since this is our second interview with you we are going to dive a little deeper into your life as a writer! </b></span><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you as an author?</b></span></span><br />
Once I was doing a reading at a bookstore, and when I was done and taking questions from the kids, this one 7-yr old boy asked me if I wrote the book. I said “Yes,” and he looked very puzzled. Then he said, “But, are you alive?” Turns out, he was under the impression that authors are usually dead. So, lucky me, I was the first ‘alive’ author he’d ever met!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Do you prefer to create your stories on paper or on the computer?</b></span><br />
Well, actually, I create them in my head first! If they seem like they actually make sense, then depending on where I am, I either type them on my computer, or I might send myself an email with the idea or just jot it down on a small notebook I keep in my purse, for exactly that reason.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">You have written two books about Halloween. Why?</span></b><br />
I absolutely love Halloween! I own several wigs and costumes and usually go all out on Halloween with decorations. My first Halloween book, <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Goblin-Hood-Sue-Fliess/dp/0448489333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539135755&sr=8-1&keywords=goblin+hood" target="_blank">Goblin Hood</a> was inspired by my son, who at the time, could not pronounce bow and arrow – he said ‘bone and arrow.’ I immediately asked the question: What type of creature would use that? My brain made a Robin Hood connection, and a creature/goblin character came to mind, and it just fit! For <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Haunted-Halloween-Sue-Fliess/dp/1338045334/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1539134267&sr=8-2&keywords=haunted+halloween+book" target="_blank">Haunted Halloween</a>, which is my new board book, I wanted to write a very young Halloween story, and I remember trying to challenge myself to use as few words as possible. Believe it or not, I wrote it before I wrote Goblin Hood, which came out in 2016. Sometimes that’s just how it happens. I thought it would be fun to add a counting element to the story of 5 trick-or-treaters, and thankfully it worked!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>We love your board book, HAUNTED HALLOWEEN. What’s your favorite page and why?</b></span><br />
My favorite page is for the number 8. Eight gargoyles. Cauldron boils. I think I should get a ribbon for getting ‘gargoyle’ in a rhyming picture book, ha!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Tell us about one of your Halloween costumes from your childhood.</b></span><br />
I was Casper, the friendly ghost and my sister was Minnie Mouse!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>What’s your next book to be released?</b></span><br />
My next book is already out, so I’ll tell you about both that one and the one coming in January. <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Mrs-Claus-Takes-Reins-Fliess/dp/1503936988/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539135709&sr=8-1&keywords=mrs+claus+takes+the+reins" target="_blank">Mrs. Claus Takes the Reins</a> (another holiday book!), illustrated by Mark Chambers and published by Amazon/Two Lions Press, came out September 18. It’s about Santa getting a sniffle and deciding to call off Christmas. But Mrs. Claus says she’ll take over the job for the night. It’s fun and funny, and the illustrations are adorable.<br />
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Santa says,<br />
“I’m stuffy. I’m sneezy. I’m slow as a yeti.<br />
My big ho-ho-ho isn’t holiday-ready.<br />
We must cancel Christmas, oh what a disgrace.”<br />
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Mrs. Claus answers:<br />
“I have a solution. I’ll go in your place!”<br />
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And in January, I have a rhyming picture book coming from Running Press Kids called <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0762463317/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i7" target="_blank">Ninja Camp</a>, illustrated by Jen Taylor. In Ninja Camp, a diverse group of girls and boys attend a ninja camp, where they hope to become Ninjas of the Night. As they learn new skills, they are challenged by the rival camp, Ninjas of the Dawn, and must defend their camp’s Shadow Blade. I’m happy to tell you that even though they lose the Shadow Blade briefly, they get it back and become official ninjas as a team.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Do you have a special snack or drink you like to have while writing?</span></b><br />
Coffee. Oh, and coffee.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>What are you working on right now?</b></span><br />
I am working on two stories. A build-upon picture book based on a famous nursery rhyme, and a new—wait for it—holiday book that I’m under contract for that will be out fall of 2019.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>How does your dog, Charlie, play a role in your daily writing routine?</b></span><br />
He’s my rock. My support system. Okay, that’s not totally true. But he is my faithful housemate while I’m writing. Sometimes I will bounce ideas off of him, and he wags in approval. That said, he did inspire a book that I wrote earlier this year about a boy and his dog as they grow up together, that I’m really hoping will find the right home. It’s like nothing I’ve ever written before.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>Out of all of your books, which one do you like the best? Why?</b></span><br />
Oh, gosh, this is a tough question! Right now I have 2 favorites, but if you ask me next year, it will likely change: <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0807549827/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i9" target="_blank">Mary Had a Little Lab</a> and Mrs. Claus Takes the Reins. I think all the women-empowerment activity going on has catapulted them into the lead, and also inspired my writing.<br />
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Thank you so much for "hanging out" with us today!!!Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-14631797471465629502018-09-03T07:00:00.000-04:002018-09-03T07:00:00.783-04:00Fun Ideas for Testing TimeWe know what you’re thinking. How did Ann Marie and Erin ever think they could use the words “fun” and “testing” in the same sentence? Trust us, we have a plan. If you’re like us, you spend an overwhelming amount of time testing your students. Yes, there are standardized tests but what about other school system and state mandated tests, not to mention your own classroom assessments and screeners? Many times these tests must be given one-on-one; so what do you do with the rest of the students? We don’t want to distribute a bunch of worksheets to keep the students away from our testing area. Instead we came up with <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VqxWeWezmRWyidYdGI9i0t28QzdPnVCQ/view?usp=sharing">a list of ideas to keep our students challenged, entertained, and productively occupied.</a><br />
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Try some of these ideas and add your own. Testing occurs all year so grow your list until the last day of school. Then it will be time to make your own list for summer: Fun Ideas for Relaxing. Ann Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8762644297399999540.post-38476701106626139532018-08-28T07:00:00.000-04:002018-08-28T07:00:04.880-04:00Tropical TuesdayI came back from my vacation on a tropical island and really struggled to let go of the relaxed atmosphere. It was hard to say good-bye to the beach towels, tropical music, and don’t even get me started on the coconut and pineapple. I decided to bring that tropical feel to my classroom every Tuesday with Tropical Tuesday. I give my students permission to bring beach towels (or any towel) and sunglasses if they have them. I also provide towels, (I asked friends and colleagues for donations from their used beach and pool towels) and a couple of beach chairs.<br />
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On Tropical Tuesday, the students spread towels all over the room to work on, some wear sunglasses, we play relaxing beach music, and eat tropical snacks. We try food such as dried coconut, plantain chips, and pineapple. We even eat goldfish and mini Mounds candy bars. The students love the change of pace and I enjoy living the island life.<br />
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Ann MarieAnn Marie 'n Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12528177767358687650noreply@blogger.com0