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I, clearly, love the idea Mary Tedrow proposes in her article about investing money in quality writing instruction for our Nation’s students. Please read this article about spending stimulus dollars on writing instruction.    Then, let me know what you think by posting a comment.  Is this where you think a lot of stimulus dollars should [...]

An historic Inauguration Day is rapidly approaching.  Are you reading a book about the transfer of power or about our President-Elect? Will you be watching the Inauguration live with your class and having them write about it in their notebooks?  Not sure?  Check out an article I wrote about ways to celebrate Black History Month, [...]

This makes me laugh.
America has a new cultural icon.
And not a second too soon.

Joe, you're fired (Thanks, John McCain and Sarah Palin!)


Mr. Man, you're hired! (Thanks, Oprah!)


What's a writer's favorite thing in the world?
Right.

A very happy ending.

(and a blessed end to all the insane, this-gun's-for-hire surrogate blather blather blather of terrorists and socialists and communists and elitists; what a difference 63.7 million votes make)

I keep reading and rereading the news today to make sure that I wasn't dreaming. To make sure that the results stuck and to feel a sense of connection with the rest of the country and the world. I am in awe of the international reaction and feel a sense of America's importance in a way I've never experienced. So many were looking to our nation to see what we would do. Many have commented that Obama, a single human being, does not bring change to America, it is a changing America that made Obama the President-elect. This is close to how I explained it to my boys.

I told them that America is growing up. She is learning to judge people by who they are and not just what they look like. She is learning to share and be kind to others. She appreciates intellectual conversation. Below is the part of Obama's speech that resonated for me, especially when that huge crowd responded with "Yes we can." I called out too. Did you? Click for the entire transcript.

"This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She is a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election, except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons, because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin. And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America: the heartache and the hope, the struggle and the progress, the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed, yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the Dust Bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge inSelma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We shall overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the Moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there's so much more to do. So tonight let us ask ourselves, if our children should live to see the next century, if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time -- to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope; and where we are met with cynicism and doubt and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can."

Showing-off My "I Voted" Sticker Originally uploaded by teachergal I woke up at 4:37 a.m. Nope, don’t have to be up yet, I thought. I turned over and attempted to go back to bed. By 4:40 a.m., I realized it wasn’t going to happen. I rolled over, grabbed my iTouch, and started checking [...]

I remember the Election of 1992 like it was yesterday. I was in tenth grade, just back from a summer program at Wellesley College where I studied the presidential election for three solid weeks. I also had Mr. Wilcox for Honors American History I who was the first teacher that made history COME [...]

Many teachers have the kids write letters to their future selves at the start of the academic year (to be opened in June). I’ve never been one of those teachers, but I’m starting to think I need to be… at least where this historic election is concerned. Here’s what I’m thinking (while trying to [...]

This afternoon, I’m going to teach a Social Studies Lesson about voting I found on Scholastic.com. It’s a lesson about having kids persuade adults to vote in a non-partisan way. I created a PowerPoint to go along with the lesson. Feel free to use it if you’re interested in teaching the same [...]

I’ve blogged a bit about the upcoming election. Tonight’s final Presidential Debate will most likely focus on the economy (Rightfully so considering the DJII’s 733 point drop, the fact that people are losing their jobs left and right, and that states, like Massachusetts, are facing unprecedented budget deficits). However, as educators, it’s important [...]

 I'm actually sharing this Obama video for a writer reason. About 2/3 of the way through, Senator Obama is sitting with the speech writer making edits. Before the camera goes into the room, we see a sign that says Edits Changes we can believe in. I thought you all would appreciate that. The family interactions are also so sweet.

Yesterday I was talking writing with maedwen. She has recently read a book called "Burning Down The House" recommended by an agent I heard at the PCCWW. It's a great book about the craft of writing. In the book, the author talks about writing a story that has absurd elements. Something that compels the reader to turn the pages.

But it's hard for fiction to keep up with real life these days. All the absurd twists and turns. It's gonna get ugly over the next thirty days. I for one am over the attacks that draw deeper wedges in a country that needs to come together to solve big problems.

That's why when pundits start discussing gambling habits of the candidates it leaves me wondering about our fourth estate. Where are our watchdogs? Forget the pit bull.

Kevin, Creator of Day in a Sentence, used a new technology, Jog the Web, to showcase everyone’s posts this week. I was fascinated with the ease at which I was able to navigate through the websites of the Day in a Sentence Contributors. In fact, I liked Kevin’s Jog so much that I [...]

Check out this CNN Overview on McCain and Obama’s Stances on Education.

Derwent COLOURSOFT colored pencils on board
ebay

You know how you get into a rut and never try anything new? Like, you always order the same thing at your favorite restaurant. Or the same coffee drink. Or buy the same brand of (fill in the blank).
And use the same colored pencils.

Yesterday I tried the Inktense and hated them (but to be fair, I didn't use them the way they're really intended to be used, otherwise I'm sure they'd be fine.)

Today I looked at my tin of Coloursofts and thought "Why don't I use these?" What am I afraid of?" So I did, and I loved them! I loved them as much as I hated the Inktense.

They're soft and go on fast.
I'm not saying they're going to replace my beloved Polychromos, but they will definitely find a space alongside them on the shelf, rather than tucked underneath other things I don't use much.

The sun was out this morning and the birdies were singing. Now its all grey and cold again. But I felt like doing a bit more color on this one.

I also put it up for auction instead of in my store, just to be different.

#15
Graphitints on board
on ebay

I'm having my old storm-damaged back fence taken out today, and my yard is littered with dead fence boards and other detritus. So that's what inspired this piece.
Such cheery subject matter!

I wonder if I'd done these pieces in July, if they'd be blooming with color, and would I be using Inktense or Coloursoft pencils instead?