A role seldom mentioned that Matthew Perry championed is his portrayal of Teacher of the Year, Ron Clark, who taught an at-risk class in the Bronx. The Ron Clark Story is an underdog-to-victor story, the hero’s journey in dire circumstances where kids are used to adults in their lives quitting on them. Clark believes in…
All posts by Jill M Smith
Perfect Pairing: Hell of a Book with Ghost Boys
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Perfect Pairings, Teacher Resources, Teacher Tuesday, UncategorizedLeave a Reply
Hell of a Book by Jason Mott needs to be in every high school classroom library and on every reading list. The main character is a Black author who is traveling on his book tour to promote Hell of a Book. He is visited by the Kid, who is the ghost of a Black boy…
A Classic to Consider: The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in A Classic to Consider, For Kids, Independent ReadingLeave a Reply
Teachers and students who are looking for a creepy children’s mystery novel this time of year will find exactly that in Virginia Hamilton’s The House of Dies Drear, and its sequel The Mystery of Drear House. As the new resident of a mansion that was once part of the Underground Railroad, young Thomas learns of…
Perfect Pairing: “The Split Cherry Tree” by Jesse Stuart and To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Teachers who are looking for a short story to pair with To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, may find that Jesse Stuart’s short story, “The Split Cherry Tree” works well. In the short story, the protagonist must stay late at school as punishment, which causes his hard-working father to make a visit to the…
Art in the Classroom: Andrew Wyeth
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Art in the English Classroom, Teacher Inspiration, Teacher ResourcesLeave a Reply
Teachers, looking for a filler/one-day lesson? Try using a work of art to inspire creativity. Andrew Wyeth’s Christina’s World is a perfect choice. Viewers cannot help but be drawn into the painting. Who is she? Is she running away, or running toward the house? What do we learn about her from the details in the…
Cookbook Signing with Gina Homolka
Last night I got to meet the author of a series of cookbooks who has made my life easier and tastier since I discovered her during the Covid lockdown. Gina Homolka is the author of seven cookbooks, most recently of Skinnytaste Simple. Not only do her recipes taste good, they are easy to make, add…
August Reads (a little late)
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Care Givers, Monthly Reads, Summer Reading, What I'm ReadingLeave a Reply
Still catching up from a fast-ending summer…In August I read two middle-grade novels and two adult novels. Ashes to Asheville by Sarah Dooley is a book I picked off the shelf at a bookshop/toy store in Waynesville, North Carolina, while on vacation, and I’m so glad I did. The story takes place in about 24…
Summer Reading: Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk
Caregivers and teachers, if you are searching for a middle-grade novel for your student’s summer work or for your bookshelf, Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk is a must read. Ellie and her family have moved to the woods of Maine and her father suffers an accident that leaves him in a coma for months. As…
July Reads
Not a huge pile for July. Kate Morton’s The Lake House is a hefty read with a cast of about forty people across three generations – a lot to keep track of. It’s a great story, especially if you like to get lost in a mystery full of dark family secrets, crimes, and hidden identities.…
Summer Reading
How to Catch a Polar Bear by Stacy Dekeyser Caregivers, if your child is looking for a fun, neighborhood, family adventure, Stacy Dekeyser’s How to Catch a Polar Bear is the perfect choice for that summer reading assignment or long road trip. Mishaps abound as Nicky and his two pals, Ace and Penny, try to…