STEAM, Service Learning and Middle School Kids- What a Great Mix!
How do you get 7th and 8th graders excited about school? Give them voice and ownership over a service learning project and allow them to understand the impact … Read More
How to Use Visual Writing Prompts in Your Class.
Using visual writing prompts in your classroom will inspire your students to dig deep and come up with new and imaginative stories. But- the image you use is important if you … Read More
We all like to be recognized- particularly when we work hard. It’s even better when that recognition comes from professional illustrators, AND your work is compared to that of Chris Van Allsburg!
Recently I was awarded Honorable Mention in a … Read More
This year, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators ended the Tomie DePaolo award and replaced it with the Narrative Art Award. The rules are simple- you submit three illustrations that convey a cohesive story in the theme of … Read More
What if the Big Bad Wolf was framed?
Twisted or “fractured” fairy tales are old, familiar fairy tales told with a twist. They challenge us to ask “what if”, through words and images. Writing and illustrating fractured fairy tales gives … Read More
Make fantastic pop-up books with your students using Dan Santat’s Beekle for inspiration.
Robert Sabuda is well known for his amazing pop-up books. I wanted to use his pop-up techniques to show my students how paper may be manipulated. But … Read More
Teaching students to make inferences is a core component of thinking critically. Using visual writing prompts encourages students to think divergently, and when given time to look and think about the image, students partake in debate about the meaning of … Read More
Want to know what happens after you submit your picture book to a publisher? Last week I attended The A to Z of Picture Books, presented by author Kat Yeh and Rotem Moscovich, Editor at Disney-Hyperion. The presentation was true … Read More
Whether you are an artist or a writer, staring at a blank page is nerve wracking. We are all looking to be inspired and excited about our craft. Using art- looking at it for characters, texture, setting and mood- can … Read More
Express Yourself! Paper Masks Inspired by Japanese Noh Masks
This summer while researching projects for my seventh grade art class, I came across these Japanese Noh masks. They are quite expressive and beautiful, while maintaining their simplicity.
Noh classic … Read More
