More A.C.
Gearing up to visit Mr. Wade's fourth grade classroom today. The focus will be on A.C. Gilbert, whose birthday is this month. We'll do a riveting activity to get going, the read-aloud by the author (me), followed by a kinesthetic comprehension check. All systems are go.
For those of you who don't have a copy of the The Magic of A.C. Gilbert you're welcome to download the Readers' Theater script I wrote, based on the book. It is located under the Workshops tab on the home page of this website. I'll be taking it down soon, so don't wait if you'd like it. Of course, books are still available, too. Print copies can be purchased on this site (see Books tab) and e-copes can be purchased online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble sites.
So Much Nonfiction*, So Little Time
Had a great time at the ORA Winter Institute in Portland this weekend. I was expecting around 50 people for my session, but wound up with 127! SRO!! It was great, and even though we could have used more space for our activities. I might have cut the movement activities because of the numbers, but I believe movement is so important to learning that I wanted to show, rather than just tell about it. I appreciate the participants' cooperation, patience, and eager participation. The Frozen Moments were awesome. I got several questions after the session, and I thought I'd post the answers for all:
What approach do you like for primary grades? I love the Kid Writing concept for kindergarten (see Kid Writing by Felgus and Cardonick) and Interactive Writing for first grade (see Interactive Writing by McCarrier, Pinnell, and Fountas; and Interactive Writing Strategies by Calabrese). I also like the Great Source materials (traits related), and Vicki Spandel's book: Creating Young Writers.
Where can I get copies of The Magic of A.C. Gilbert? Print copies are available on this website under the Books tab. An electronic version is available at Amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.
Will you come to our school to work with our staff? Absolutely! I do professional development presentations for staff and author visits (free class set of A.C. included) for students. See the Real Writing flyer in the handouts for more information.
If you have comments and/or questions, please use the comment tab here, or e-mail me directly at realwriting@comcast.net.
More Poems
Okay, back to work. Well, actually fun, to be more accurate. I'm headed back into the classroom today and will be adding more poems from 4th graders at Willagillespie School here in Eugene. Watch them as they grow right here.
Sunshine
Just returned from a week in Arizona, a perfect place to renew energy and hope. The clear sunny skies are a welcome contrast to Oregon's slate-grey skies and endless rain. Oh, it's really not bad here. The green is outrageous, and then there's the mountains, and the rivers. No complaints, really, except that it's fun to travel and see what it's like elsewhere.
Any writing ideas while traveling? Of course! Spending time in the southwest always inspires my interest in Native American history and the plight of the tribes that lived there. It's a history that disturbs me, and I find myself angry over the wrongs that were committed in the name of expansion and nation-building. I know every story has more than one side to it, but the way the tribes were treated by the U.S. government may be the exception to the rule.
Winter visits the Grand Canyon
Poetry
Ahh, poetry, the economic use of words that have meaning and rhythm. I have always enjoyed writing poems as well as sharing my interest in poetry with kids. I've had the pleasure of exploring this genre with fourth graders at Willagillespie school, and I'd like to share some of their hard work. Feel free to comment, encourage and support these young writers.
First, I'd like to offer one of mine that I shared with the students as we created together. This poem was inspired by a recent trip on an airplane.
Perfume
Silently, it sneaks
into my nose,
hides there
then tiptoes
down to my mouth,
where it ties my tongue tightly
and robs my breath.
Happy New Year!
And a most happy and healthy New Year to all. 2011 was a very interesting and exciting year; I expect 2012 to be the same. A little calmer would be fine, but I'm not complaining. Not only did I get to travel last year (Idaho, central Oregon, San Diego), but I also had a book published (The Magic of A.C. Gilbert) in both print and electronic (my first) formats. 2012 is looking quite good, with two more books scheduled or release, and shortly, too.
Despite being highly focused on house-building matters, the writing life continues. Currently, I'm creating a display for the Eugene Public Library that will highlight the A.C. book. Hope to have it set up sometime this week. A Ferris wheel made from a 1960 Erector Set will be part of the display. If you live in the area, drop by the children's section of the library and check it out.
And Life Goes On
The priorities of life ebb and flow, and writing is certainly a part of that. After reviewing the last several months of work (see previous calender post in which I keep track of my daily writing and writing-related activities), it is very clear that most of my work has been revolved around writing-related work (esp. marketing). While this is inevitable (if you want to sell books) it is quite frustrating.
The fear, of course, is that you will somehow "lose" the composing skill if you are not actually composing regularly. Since most of my efforts right now involve selling books as well as doing the final prep work for getting books published, I have not started a new book. To keep composing, though, I have been working on anecdotal narrative about growing up. While I have no plans for these "shorts" there's nothing to say that they won't become something, sometime. In the meantime, doing this work helps to keep me practicing and helping to improve my skills.
A high priority lately has been the construction of a new home. This began in September, and while I am not actually building it myself, I am helping attend to the many, many details that involve such an undertaking. There are many stories involved in this process and, who knows, there's book possibilities as well.
Bottom line: Everything has book possibilities.
Walls on the rise
Driftwood Reading Council
'Twas a grand visit to the coast and the enthusiastic teachers of the Driftwood Reading Council. The weather was stellar, the company inspiring, and the topic...well, it was my favorite. As usual, I left with more ideas and schemes for learning than I came with. Thank you, folks, for your good humor and your willingness to be active participants. And many thanks to Ann Marineau for organizing the event.
The magical Driftwood Reading Council
To The Sea
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
- John Masefield
Off to "the sea" today, well really the bay - Coos Bay - which is adjacent to the sea (Pacific Ocean). I'm headed there to work with the fine teachers of Coos and Curry counties (southwest Oregon). The topic? You guessed it: Nonfiction. Real writing. I'm looking forward to sharing with them and learning from them. And, of course, visiting the sea, which I don't get to often enough.
And…we’re back!
I'm not sure what happened exactly, but I did a little monkeying around and it appears the site pages and blog are back to normal.