O. Henry is perhaps most famous for his short story, “The Gift of the Magi.” I would think that most of us who grew up in the States have read it either in middle or high school, and for good reason. O. Henry was a master of short stories, focusing on a simple problem or…
What I’m Reading: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I’ve recently finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I have to say that I loved it. Reid is a master of creating complex characters that keep readers engaged in the story. Following Evelyn throughout her career and love life was fascinating – a trip through old Hollywood glamour combined…
Writing Resource: The Magic Words by Cheryl B. Klein
Writers of children’s books will benefit from the advice of Cheryl B. Klein’s The Magic Words. Klein offers list after list of practical, tangible, effective advice for every aspect of the writing process from generating ideas to drafting and revision. Her detailed instructions on creating a scene-by-scene bookmap might seem overwhelming, but if you can’t…
A Gem of a Poem: “Chairs in Snow” by E.B. White
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in A Gem of A Poem, Teacher Inspiration, Teacher Resources, Teacher TuesdayLeave a Reply
Teachers creating a mini-lesson on poetry, simile, or imagery can utilize E.B.White’s “Chairs in Snow.” While spring may be an easy choice for writing poetry about nature, using winter imagery may prove more challenging. Yet, White’s poem contains a simile that draws in winter, summer, and fall, and compares them to youth. How many of…
What I’m Reading: In The Great Green Room by Amy Gary
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Care Givers, What I'm Reading, Writing InspirationLeave a Reply
So many of us, I am sure, have “Goodnight Moon” on our bookshelves. When they were little, my children would select three books each night, and “Goodnight Moon” was a popular choice. Amy Gary’s biography of Margaret Wise Brown illuminates the life of the beloved children’s author, whom I used to picture her as a…
Teacher Resource: “The Santa Ana” by Joan Didion
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Teacher Resources, Teacher Tuesday, Writing Inspiration, Writing ResourceLeave a Reply
Joan Didion is an American writer of novels, essays, short stories, and screenplays. In the College Writing class I teach, I include Didion’s essay, “The Santa Ana,” on my syllabus as an example of a descriptive writing. Recent events in California, particularly the fires in Los Angeles, remind me of Didion’s work because of the…
A Classic to Consider: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in A Classic to Consider, A Classic to Consider, Care GiversLeave a Reply
If you are looking for a classic work of literature to cozy up next to the fireplace with a glass of wine or mug of tea, I recommend One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Set in the fictional village of Macondo, Colombia, the story reveals the joys, sorrows, struggles, and suffering of…
Art in the Classroom: Ansel Adams
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Art in the English Classroom, Teacher Resources, Teacher Tuesday, Writing InspirationLeave a Reply
One aspect of natural disasters, such as the current fires burning across Los Angeles, is the need for images of what was there before. Taking photographs has never been easier than it is today. No film, no waiting to get the pictures back. And yet how many of our pictures are meaningful? A potential research…
What I’m Reading: Cher The Memoir, Part One
You don’t have to be a fan of Cher, as I happen to be, to enjoy her memoir: Cher The Memoir, Part One. At 400+ pages, it is a lot of Cher in one place, but anyone who is a fan of Hollywood, music, old Hollywood glamour, or even a fan of the American dream,…
A Gem of a Poem: “Snow Dust” by Robert Frost
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in A Gem of A Poem, Teacher Tuesday, Writing InspirationLeave a Reply
“Snow Dust” by Robert Frost is a the perfect poem to energize kids who are sluggish after break. It is short enough to pair with one or two other poems, but also complex enough to stand on its own. Students can grasp the meaning of the poem and list imagery words. Then they can think…
