One of the burdens carried by children's literature is the expectation that it is supposed to be didactic, that it is supposed to teach a lesson. "What lesson do you want children to take away from your book?" is a question I get all the time about my children's books. Yet, I have never been asked that question about any of my books for adults.
I happen to share my day of birth with a very tragic shipwreck. During the early hours on April 15th, 1912 the RMS Titanic sank into icy waters.
I recently spoke with Don Brown, author of the nonfiction book All …
In this post I’ve highlighted four specific literature-based activities that a substitute teacher can use to engage students—merging books, technology, and fun.
The first book by Ashley Bryan that I can remember picking up is Sing to the Sun: Poems and Pictures (HarperCollins, 1992). I was immediately attracted to the bold, colorful artwork. The positive images with their playfulness — and lots…
In this post, I highlight a few favorite Canadian authors and related online resources. I hope these multimedia materials connect you to these titles in fun, meaningful ways and prompt you to consider integrating them throughout your curriculum.
Teen Tech Week (March 8-14, 2009) is a great time to explore with young people the variety of roles that technology plays in society.
Thought-provoking books that incorporate technology, such as Feed written by M.T. Anderson (Candlewick Press, 2002), provide…