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…
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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…
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…
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…
On My Bookshelf: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth has, admittedly, sat on my bookshelf for several years, and only recently have I been able to read it. It may be several more years before I fully grasp his meaning. If you keep a journal, as I do, you may discover that Tolle offers several points to consider in…
What I’m Reading: The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel is a welcome change from other novels I’ve been reading. It is narrative non-fiction – a true story written like a novel. I consider it a cross between The Thomas Crown Affair, and Catch Me If You Can. The hard part is deciding if Pierce Brosnan or Leo DiCaprio…
Bookstores & More: The Bear and the Books
On a recent excursion to the quaint town of Hopewell, NJ, I found a children’s bookstore called The Bear and the Books. Their motto is “Books to grow up with” and I find that to be so true – that the books we read as children become part of our identity (I’m channeling Kathleen Kelly…
What I’m Reading: Closer Together by Sophie Gregoire Trudeau
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Bookstores & More, Care Givers, Teacher Inspiration, What I'm ReadingLeave a Reply
On a recent visit to the Strand NYC bookstore, I met Sophie Gregoire Trudeau who was signing copies of her memoir/self-help book, Closer Together. Sophie was easy to talk to, relatable, and kind. Readers will feel her warmth and compassion on every page of her book as she interviews professionals in various fields and combines…
Art in the Classroom: Norman Rockwell’s High Dive
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Art in the English Classroom, Teacher Tuesday, Writing InspirationLeave a Reply
Norman Rockwell’s High Dive is the perfect choice for a ‘back to school’ writing assignment. Writing prompts can be: what I did over the summer; when I did something I was afraid of; when I accepted a dare; when I did something because everyone else was doing it. The possibilities are endless. The boy’s expression…
Short Story Spotlight: “Hearts and Hands” by O. Henry
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Short Story Spotlight, Teacher Resources, Teacher TuesdayLeave a Reply
Summer is the perfect time for teachers to look for new material to enhance their lessons for the upcoming year. As an educator in higher education, I have more flexibility than many teachers in middle school and high school. That being said, adding a short story or poem that is not in the curriculum may…
