Blog

reading / writing with kids

Literature in a Bag

Looking for a fun activity to share with kids, maybe an entire classroom? Look no further. Here’s a great way to support reading which will, in the long run, support student writing since books develop vocabulary and expand student interests. Make literature bags for school with prekindergarten or Kindergarten through grad 3 classrooms. Please make a class set of 30 so all students in an individual classroom will receive a bag. (30 will be ample and provide replacement bags as needed during the year.) PLASTIC BAGS Purchase gallon-sized plastic freezer bags with sturdy zip-lock slides. Leave plain or send to...

details in writing / new works / Tasman

Tasman

I’m currently changing writing gears. While I enjoyed writing the ballet-themed trilogy, I have had a story gnawing at me for several years. It all started with a trip to Australia. Our foursome of travelers decided to visit the island of Tasmania. We flew across Bass Strait and stepped back in time to the Pacific Northwest in the early 50s. Life on the island was a slower pace than Melbourne and Sydney, even more laid back than Adelaide. The west side was still wild and remote; the east side filled with small towns and lovely beaches. On the southern end,...

musings / quotes

Quotes Leaving Paris

(Paris) The city is a testament to civilization….It makes tourists of all of us. It anchors your heart to a place. Just like Sydney Harbor, the wonderful sights of Paris inspire emotion. Almost French by Sarah Turnbull   We stayed up late one night, watching snow fall over the city in frosty chunks, covering tree branches, spreading over the garden in a marzipan sheet. It’s Not Love, It’s Just Paris by Patricia Engel   As he neared the Place de le Concorde, he thought of the Concorde-the SST. He wished it would fly over, a happy coincidence, tying history in...

details in writing / musings / reader suggestions / writing

Writing Genres

Fiction writers have many genres to pick from when they sit down: mystery, romance, science fiction, medical/police/legal procedurals, horror, western, historical,  comedy, adventure, fantasy, political thriller and more. New genres and sub-genres crop up every year as writers stretch their writing brains. My favorites are historical fiction, cozy mysteries (a sub-genre of mysteries), medical-police-legal procedurals, and women’s fiction. I enjoy having a host of characters to get to know and follow as they work through their problems or situations. I’ll leave the high adventure and new world making stories for my husband. I’m moving my writing away from pointe shoes,...

details in writing / musings / poetry / prompts

Found Poetry

I found this excellent resources for describing found poetry at www.waunakee.k12.wi.us/faculty/lcarthers. Here’s what was shared: Found Poem Instructions Find a couple random paragraph from a newspaper, magazine, book, etc. The selection should contain 100-200 words. You can also try recipe instructions, legal notices, and horoscopes. Read through your selection. Highlight or underline words, lines, etc that seem promising to you. Use what you selected to write a poem. You may add your own words, but no more than 50% of final poem may include new words. Your poem may be of any length, but it must focus on a single...

musings / recreational reading / writing reference books

Favorite Books on Writing and for Recreational Reading

Some books about the craft of writing are timeless in their content: English Through the Ages by William Brohaugh The Emotions Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan Between the Lines by Jessica Morrell **My newly-read favorite authors include: Nina George Anna Rivers Siddons **My short list of continuing favorite authors for recreational reading includes: Amy Yurk Sue Henry Jamie Ford **Local (Edmonds area) authors that create great stories include: Mindy Halleck Judith Works Denise Frisino **For specific titles by these authors consult your local bookshop or peruse online book companies

Dancing / musings

Dance Styles/Genres

How many kinds of dancing can you name or move to? Here’s a partial list of dance style categories (Taken from Wikipedia, 2017) Concert dance / performance dance Ballet, Concert dance, Contemporary dance, Ecstatic dance (also known as freestyle dance and barefoot improvisational dance), Jazz dance, Lyrical dance, Modern dance, Performance dance, River, Tap dance Latin / rhythm Bachata, Bolero. East Coast Swing, Mambo, Rhythm, Rumba, Cha Cha, Corridos, Cumbia, Duranguense, International Latin , Argentine tango, Capoeira, Maculelê, Danza, Jive, Merengue, Milonga, Reggaeton, Rumba , Salsa, Samba, Zumba (dance), Zouk, Quebradita, Tejano, gayunder Swing dance Balboa, Blues dance, Carolina Shag,...

Summer Reading Ideas

Challenge / musings / reader suggestions

Summer Reading Ideas

This summer try a change of pace; read a book from outside your preferred genres. If you like adventure, try a biography. If you’re a Sci-fi fan, try a western. Enjoy historical fiction? Read personal essays from non-fiction. Like medical or legal procedurals? Slip over to the poetry section. Favor romance? Try a mystery. Prefer non-fiction? Step into a New York Times reviewed book? Not sure what to try? Visit an independent bookstore and ask for their ideas. Sometimes it’s good to shake up your reading. Maybe you’ll discover a new interest.

Dancing / musings

National Dance Day – 2017

Launched in 2010 by “So You Think You Can Dance” co-creator and DFF(Dizzy Feet Foundation) co-president Nigel Lythgoe, National Dance Day is an annual celebration that takes place on the last Saturday in July. This grassroots campaign encourages Americans to embrace dance as a fun and positive way to maintain good health and fight obesity. National Dance Day always takes place on the last Saturday in July. In 2017, NDD will take place on: Saturday, JULY 29th. Want ideas for what to do? Look on YouTube for Dizzy Feet National Dance Day. You will find several years of ideas to...

Dancing / musings

(SYTYCD) So You Think You Can Dance season on FOX

The dance program So You Think You Can Dance is in full swing on FOX. It’s a chance to see a variety of dance genres performed by up-and-coming dancers. It started on June 12th and is well into its season, but you can get caught up through On Demand, or start watching it now. Its’ worth a viewing. I am so impressed by the quality of dancing I see. Let me know what you think.