For many third graders, math is a struggle, and fractions are trouble! But here is help. For homework, have them read this book. Wilson can’t understand fractions, so his mother makes him go to a tutor every Saturday morning. He is humiliated. He keeps his tutor a secret from everyone. But he is surprised that … Continue reading Review of Fractions = Trouble! by Claudia Mills
Write Everyday–Right?
Yes, yes, I know writers are supposed to write everyday. When I am working on a specific project and have a deadline, that’s not too hard to do. In that case, what’s hard for me is to STOP writing and get up to stretch, guzzle some water or make something halfway nutritious to eat. On … Continue reading Write Everyday–Right?
Book Review of Our Last Great Hope by Ronnie Floyd
This book is a reminder of our purpose here on earth, if we call ourselves Christians. Our commission is to spread the news of God’s mercy and forgiveness, and his ability to rescue us. Yet we are distracted by our busy lives, entertainment, our fears, and by our many church-related activities. Ronnie Floyd’s passion for … Continue reading Book Review of Our Last Great Hope by Ronnie Floyd
Writing Contests
Since I seem to be motivated by deadlines, I have been using contests to force me to get my homeless writing projects out the door. I like the limitations on word counts and time imposed by the deadlines. Contests also inspire me to brainstorm, outline, draft, write, edit, rewrite and submit a brand-new story or … Continue reading Writing Contests
Review of Upside, by Bradley R.E. Wright
Upside: Surprising Good News About the State of Our World by Bradley R.E. Wright, PhD I’m always interested in hearing good news, but rarely expect positive reporting about the state of the world because I see so much in the television broadcast that discourages me. In fact, I approached this book with a bit of … Continue reading Review of Upside, by Bradley R.E. Wright
What I Did on my “Summer Vacation”
This June, after a couple months of manageable aches—which were probably aggravated by aquacize, carrying heavy groceries, and a very aggressive therapeutic massage—I was suddenly in agonizing pain. And that surprised me, because I thought I was “doing everything right”. In January I had decreased my work week at my job from 5 days a … Continue reading What I Did on my “Summer Vacation”
Understanding math a la Sir Cumference
A book review of Cindy Neuschwander’s Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone Ages 8-12 Young Radius finding King Arthur’s Sword Edgecaliber Our cast of characters in this book includes Sir Cumference, his wife, Lady Di of Ameter, their son Radius, and his friend, Vertex. From the first look at the title, through the … Continue reading Understanding math a la Sir Cumference
In Heaven
Surrounded by treasures from the used book sales...... The above were published in 1905, 1922, 1921 and 1920, respectively. The book below was published in 1923 or earlier (only have an inscription to go by). This reader was published in 1897. The 3 above were published in 1912. All of them gems!!!
The Institute of Children’s Literature
The Institute of Children’s Literature Long, long ago in the spring of 1996, I found an ad about the Institute of Children’s Literature in West Redding, Connecticut, offering their course on writing for children. I was impressed that they required their students to take an aptitude test before accepting them, so I decided to take … Continue reading The Institute of Children’s Literature
Warm weather means book sales are sprouting up
With the temperatures rising—finally!—the rummage sales are blossoming all over town, and my favorites are the huge city-wide used book sales. What could be better than 100,000 used books all in one place at bargain prices?! I don’t have to actually need any books to get excited about these, I just like being there to … Continue reading Warm weather means book sales are sprouting up
Happily Writing 