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I love short weeks. When Friday comes it feels like a nice surprise. Below are some links to help you ease into another weekend.  As for me, I’m off to D.C. and if you are local you should check out the Capitol Celebration at the National Mall, Regina Spektor is just one of the great acts that are part of the celebration.

A harsh critique of J.K. Rowling from an author who has his own series about a little boy with extraordinary powers.

The coolest bookstore in Beijing.

The best cartoon for geeks like me. (A long day in front of the computer and I end up like this.)

Can you teach writing? Kureishi says no.

Twelve years of reading magazines.

The biggest drawing in the world!

The NYTimes embraces the internet.

What was your camp experience like? I was never as miserable as this author.

How to unleash your creativity.

Just how many calories are in that bite?

Wow this is installation art I really want to see.

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by Renee Kirchner, Teaching Tips Contributing Editor

A rebus story is a story that is not just made with words. It is a story that combines words and pictures. The picture can represent an entire word or part of a word. The reader will have to sound out each syllable of a word when they read the rebus story.

This type of story writing is an excellent way for young writers to begin writing stories. They can draw pictures for some of the longer words that give them difficulty.

The best way to begin to write a rebus story is to write out the entire story in words. Then go back and read the story out loud to yourself. Listen to each syllable of each word. For example: Sunday (This word could be represented by a picture of the sun and the word “day”).

Use the following story starters to write a winter rebus story.

1. I was sledding down a giant hill when suddenly….

2. Sharp icicles hung from my garage. I saw the neighborhood bully walking by just as some of the icicles started to break loose. He….

3. I made a nice round snowman dressed in a hat and scarf. When I woke up the next morning he was missing. What happened to him?

4. I was skating on the pond by my house when suddenly the ice cracked. I hollered and hollered for help. I started slipping into the freezing water…

5. Describe the most beautiful sunset you have ever seen. What were you doing while you watched it?

6. In my hometown it never snows. I knew it would take a miracle to get snow on Christmas Eve. The weatherman said it might happen this year …..

7. I had never been snow skiing before. I went to ski school and you will never believe what happened to me. I started down the hill….

8. My friend dared me to stick out my tongue and touch it to the freezing cold light pole. Now I am stuck. What will happen to me?

9. The animals and birds outside of my house must be very cold. Here is what I did for them.

10. My goals for the New Year are….