MY FIRST LIEBSTER AWARD!

I feel like I have just won an Academy Award! Thank you Jennifer Young for awarding me the Liebster Blog Award. First off the Liebster award is an award designed to bring traffic to bloggers with fewer than 200 followers That would be me! I am suppose to share 5 things about myself. So I decided to tell you things you would not normally know to keep it fun. So here they are:


1) I love to travel- I have been to 7 countries- My goal is to visit all 7 continents
2) I sing on a Praise Team  at a  Baptist Church.
3) I love hot tea with milk----anytime of day--- during any season.
4) I' ve had a broken hip, 2 broken arms and 2 broken legs at the same time- Just call me "Titanium Teacher."
5) I love to write in rhyme.


Let me end, by quoting from one of my favorite movies Hope Floats, "My cup runneth over."


And I pass the Liebster Blog award onto......... Please hop on over!

Jackie Castle

Linda Black

Donna Martin

Louise Nottingham

Kirsten W. Larson

Read to Me challenge book 2

• Author: Amanda Noll    
• Illustrator: Howard McWilliam
• Published in 2009 by Flashlight Press
• 2011-2012 GA Book Award Nominee 

Synopsis:
One night, when Ethan checks under his bed for his monster, Gabe, he finds a note from him instead: "Gone fishing. Back in a week." Ethan knows that without Gabe’s familiar nightly scares he doesn't stand a chance of getting to sleep, so Ethan interviews potential substitutes to see if they've got the right equipment for the job—pointy teeth, sharp claws, and a long tail—but none of them proves scary enough for Ethan. When Gabe returns sooner than expected from his fishing trip, Ethan is thrilled. It turns out that Gabe didn't enjoy fishing because the fish scared too easily.

Critique from Room 502:


My second grade boys are hard to please, but when I pulled this book out to read...
they were hooked. Howard McWilliams's illustrations are creative and entertaining.
My squirmy boys sat like statues waiting for me to turn the pages so they could see the next new monsters. ( Note to self: I need to pick more books like this:) This read aloud was very engaging- lots of ewwww and gross! The kids from room 502 gave it a two thumb up and and an all around  10.


I loved this book too! It created great turn and talk conversation between my students. It did not stay in the "teacher's favorites" box very long.  I actually had to put a waiting list on the board. Now that's when you know you have chosen a good book.  


Happy Reading!

Read to Me Picture Book Challenge

Picture Book Number 1
Bats at the Beach

Written and Illustrated by

Brian Lies 

How delicious-oh, how sweet,

To feel warm sand beneath our feet.

Quick, set up-spread blankets on sand!

We want to get going when fun is at hand.

                                      

We hurry down to test the ocean.

Don't forget the moon-tan lotion!

What's the first thing we should do?

So many games before night's through.

This is a delightful book written in rhyme about the adventures bats have at the beach. My students loved this book. The illustrations captivated them and kept them laughing. This is the first time in a read aloud that they did not want me to turn the page. They wanted to look at every detail Brian Lies added to every picture.  So did I! On a scale of one to ten, my students gave this book a thumbs up and a big 10.  It will definitely be a favorite for your child too.

January Checked Off !

I have finished my January draft for 12x12x12 challenge. Actually I did two this month.  I have entered one story in the Highlight Fiction Contest.  The category: A funny story inspired by an unsual newspaper headline. The headline read Elvis the Crocodile Steals Lawnmower. My story is titled,"Don't Feed the Crocodile."
                                              
                                           

                                                     
Let me know if you have entered the same contest and what your headline inspired your humorous story. If you want to still enter this contest make sure your story is postmarked by Jan. 31st.  Here is the link.HIGHLIGHT FICTION CONTEST


Happy Writing:)

Miranda Paul / Miranda "Sibo" Paul: Focus Friday: RHYME (and perfect picture books)

Miranda Paul / Miranda "Sibo" Paul: Focus Friday: RHYME (and perfect picture books): It scares some writers. Others can't write without it. If it's good, it's brilliant. Anything less than perfect, the whole sto...

Read to Me Picture Book Challenge

I have taken on another challenge for the 2012 year.  Now I have made the commitment to read  200 picture books( Harvesting Level) this year to a child.  I have a wonderful audience, my 14 second graders.  They will love this challenge. :) I will post monthly the names of the books I've read and students'  delightful comments. Here is the link.

http://www.theresabook.com/2012-picture-book-reading-challenge/

Happy Reading and Writing.

It Only Makes You Better

For Christmas, my supportive husband, paid for one of my manuscripts to be critiqued.  I thoughtfully chose the piece that I thought was my most creative.  My heart felt like it was in my throat as I pressed the send button. This was the first time anyone other than my critique group would be  reading my work. I was to receive my critique back via email. That day I checked my email at least 15 times.  Finally it arrived about 8:00 p.m.  On one hand I was so excited and on the other hand I was afraid to open it.  As I began reading it, my throat tightened, it was beginning to feel like a rejection letter.  Paragraph after paragraph of  noted things about the development of my protagonist.  My first response was disappointment. At one point in Laura's critique she said, "I hope this doesn't make you feel bad", that was the defining moment for me.  All the things she pointed out were to make me a better writer.  My disappointment turned to encouragement.  So thank you Laura Backes!

Challenge Alert!

I just signed up for a new writing challenge.   I  have to try to write a story a month for the next 12 months in 2012.  They do not have to be a final draft but a complete story.  Anyone else up for this challenge and wants to join me just check out the link below. The deadline to join in January 29, 2012.  I have never done a writing challenge before, it sounds like it is going to be fun.

http://writeupmylife.com/2011/11/30/12-x-12-in-2012-picture-book-writing-challenge/

Cheryl Wilson Velasquez shared a link.

A Good Query Letter is Like a Skirt

writeupmylife.com

Andrea Brown, president of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency won the award at the Big Sur in the Rockies workshop for giving the funniest advice on queries: "It should be like a skirt. Long eno...

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Anxiously Waiting!

Tomorrow Laura Backes from Children's Book Insider is critiquing one of my manuscripts.  I am so excited to hear from her.  This is one of my favorite pieces.  Good or bad, I don't care just glad to get a professional opinion.  I have been doing a lot of research for my nonfiction book.  This is a very fun project.  I am even getting my 2nd grade class involved.  We are doing a manatee unit and they want to adopt one of the manatees from the Save A Manatee Club.  They are helping me and they don't even know it.  I am listening to their conversations and the things they are excited about.  These are the things I will definitely put in my book!

New Year , Fresh Start!

Today is January 1st, 2012!  I am not one to make New Year Resolutions because I know myself to well. My intentions are commendable but that is just about as far as it goes.  My motto for 2012 is "New Year -Fresh Start." There are only 4  things I want to accomplish this year.( not in any order)

1. Invest more time on me.

2.Invest more time with my Family

3. Invest more time studying  the Bible.

4. Write something every day.

  I don't want more money,(you can't take it with you),  and don't want more things, (I have too many to keep up with now) If I can do those 4 things, I will be happy! I want  to live this year with no regrets.

                                                Happy New Year !