Interview with Dorothy Massey
– is up on my interview page. Check it out!
What’s new
It’s National Poetry Month and I’m writing a poem a day, though not posting it to Robert Brewer’s blog this year. I started working from 7:30 to 4 PM this week. I’m feeling fairly overwhelmed. Oy!
Hot Diggety!
So Here’s the deal — I create the page in IE (or the blog post, title, no content).
I publish it.
I go to Mozilla Firefox. I edit the content, save, publish.
THEN AND ONLY THEN can I see content in IE and Mozilla.
Oy! Isn’t it enough that I get to deal with this stuff in my day job???
See New Interview Page
See interview with author Deborah Ramos on my new Interview page…
Interviews
Interview with Dorothy Massey
Q: How did you become interested in writing?
A: I was always interested in writing. Even in primary school I was writing stories and poems. English was my favourite subject at secondary school. If I wasn’t writing I was reading. I wrote poems for the school magazine about such diverse topics as migraine headaches and potatoes. I was a member of the school debating society and remember writing a speech about earthworms. Another speech I wrote was all in rhyme. I got second place for that one.
It’s only over the past five or six years that I’ve become particularly interested in writing for children. I think the main factors in that were having a child myself and teaching family learning.
Q: How did you become interested in literacy and ESL,
and how do you feel that plays into the writing you do
for children, if at all?
A: I studied English at University and took modules in education simply because I didn’t know what else to choose. On graduation I became a secondary school teacher of English, but soon realized secondary teaching wasn’t for me. I moved to a new town and looking for something to occupy my time, I began to work as a volunteer teaching basic literacy and ESL. Several years later | trained in both and taught on a paid basis.
I don’t think the ESL work plays directly into the writing for children, although obviously all life experience tends to influence what you write. As I said earlier, teaching family learning had a major influence in my move towards writing for children, as my role was to help parents develop a love of reading in their children. I read lots of children’s books with parents and with my own son, revisiting old favourites and discovering new ones.
Q: Do you speak any other languages yourself?
A: I learned French at school, but it’s very rusty now. I also took German, but found it extremely difficult. At university I studied Spanish, which I loved, but I have never used this language since. When I was an ESL volunteer, one of my students taught me Japanese in return for my teaching her English. It was very difficult, but I loved it. I particularly like the syllabic rhythm of the Japanese language. I can still remember a few words and phrases. More recently, I have tried to learn German again. I found German extremely difficult at school, and although learning online at my own pace this time round made things easier, I still became confused by the grammar and gave up.
Believe it or not, when I was at school I wanted to be an interpreter. I had planned to study English and French at university, but failed the French exam I needed to allow me to do so.
Q:Can you tell us something about your upcoming poetry resources packs and how that came about?
A: Certainly. Several years ago a friend and I were working on a project to teach children phonics through stories. I contacted a publisher called Zig Zag Education and sent them a proposal. Unfortunately, they rejected that proposal, but I remained on their mailing list. Last year, I received a standard e-mail asking for authors to submit resource packs on poems to be used in secondary schools. I’ve always loved poetry, so I wrote a sample pack and sent it to them along with a list of other poems for which I was interested in producing materials. The format for each pack was:
an initial worksheet to allow students to record their initial response and understanding of the poem,
detailed teacher notes to facilitate study of the main features of the poem
a second worksheet to check understanding of what had been taught
a follow up task which related directly to the poem
At the publisher’s request, I also sent recordings of my son and me reciting some of the poems, but I don’t know yet whether these will be used. I don’t have a publication date yet.
Q: Of all the stories you’ve written, what’s your favorite and why?
A: My favourite is Little Red Riding Hoo …ood, which is a humorous ghost story based on the traditional fairy tale. I wrote this story for a Pinestein Press competition. I like it because it’s fun and wacky and also because I won first prize in the competition for it. This led to a commission to write three stories for the Mini Mysteries and Kooky Spookies anthology.
More on Deborah Ramos and her book
An Aarmory of Aardvarks, A Zeal of Zebras
by Deborah Ramos
The group naming of beasts dates back
to 15th century
Medieval England when hunters
needed to know the names of their quarry.
The adventure
begins with the letter A.
An Aarmory of Aardvarks, shy and nocturnal,
leads us to
the letter B. A Brood of Jellyfish,
fluid and transparent, floats across the page
to the letter C.
A Crash of Rhinos,
with keen hearing and poor eyesight, charges
their way to the letter D.
A Drift of Swine, stout and thick skinned,
wallows their way to the letter E.
Letter by letter animals crash,
flutter and quiver across the pages.
Wait until you see what’s heating up
with the letter X!
An Aarmory of Aardvarks, A Zeal of Zebras
is a must have for any bookstore, library, or classroom,
or just the kids in your life.
Deborah Ramos Interview for An Armory of Aardvarks, A Zeal of Zebras
Where do you get your inspiration?
I find inspiration in the usual places… my pets, my kids, my granddaughter, my students, nature, places I’ve been, places I want to visit. Most of my stories begin with a true event, and then my imagination takes it from there. Once my two cats jumped on top of the snake tank, and the snake escaped. We found him two weeks later. That was a good story starter! Sometimes my head is swimming with stories. If I don’t write them down, I’ll forget.
What did you like to read as a child?
Little Lulu comic books were my favorite stories. On rainy days, or when I was home sick from school, I’d get comfy under my blankets, and read my Little Lulu comics. The Secret Garden was my favorite book. My fifth grade teacher read it out loud to the class. She gave characters accents and read with such expression, that it left a lasting impression on me. As a teenager, I didn’t read much. I found the classics boring, but Edgar Allen Poe fascinated me.
Why did you write about collective nouns?
I was writing a story about Africa, and in my research, I found a website that listed animals in alphabetical order, along with their group name. It sparked an interest, and I dug deeper. I thought it would be more fun to create a list of group names in alphabetical order. And the search began. It was fun for me, and I learned a lot about collective nouns and animals. Group names can bring to mind such interesting images, such as a prickling of porcupines; you can almost FEEL those, pokey, prickly quills.
What would your collective noun be for readers enjoying your book?
Now that’s a challenge. How about a Richness of Readers, a Bunch of Booklovers, or a Brigade of Bookworms.
What’s next for you?
I have works in progress I need to finish and stories I need to polish up. I have new ideas that need to be put on paper before I forget. I’m also working on two poetry chapbooks.
Meet Harry Gilleland, take two ..
Harry E. Gilleland, Jr. is a 64-year-old southerner. Born and raised in Macon, Georgia, he earned a B.S. (1966) and a M.S. (1968) in Microbiology from the University of Georgia in Athens. Following three years of service in the U.S. Army as a captain, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, he returned to earn a Ph.D. in Microbiology from UGA in 1973. He then headed north to complete a two-year fellowship at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada. In July of 1975 he joined the faculty of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. After twenty-nine years of teaching microbiology to medical and graduate students and performing vaccine research, Harry retired in July of 2004. Today Harry lives in Shreveport with his wonderful wife Linda. Harry enjoys being able to engage in his passion for writing full-time.
Harry has previously published three books of his personal poetry: Poetry For The Common Man: Storoems and Poems (2003, ISBN 1411600649), Gilleland Poetry: Storoems and Poems (2005, ISBN 1411629272), and Poetic Musings of an Old, Fat Man (2008, ISBN 978-1-4357-1242-3). In addition, Harry has published two books of prose, a tale of fantasy entitled Bob the Dragon Slayer (2005, ISBN 1411633156) and a contemporary romance story entitled White Lightning Road (2006, ISBN 978-1-4116-8693-9).
Harry Gilleland’s poetry recently won two cash awards in the 2008 Tom Howard Poetry Contest associated with Winning Writers.com. Harry’s rhyming storoem The Old Salty Poems won 2nd Place with a $1,000 prize, while his free-verse poem The Assembled Waiters earned $200 for a High Distinction award. Harry was the only poet to win two cash awards in the contest.
Harry Gilleland’s poetry has been included in four multi-author print anthologies of poems and short stories, in several poetry e-zines, and on numerous Internet poetry forums, in addition to his own three published collections. His storoems (story-poems) and poems are readily accessible to all readers, including those who do not regularly read poetry. Harry views the world with a poet’s eye.
Stay tuned tomorrow, to read Harry’s winning poems from the 2008 Tom Howard Poetry contest.
To see Harry’s books: http://www.lulu.com/harry
To see Harry’s book covers and samples of his poetry:
http://www.gillelands.com/poetry/
Red Heart/Black Heart
My poem, “Thoughts While Driving,” was one of the finalists in the Writers Digest “Red Heart/Black Heart” contest. You can download a free booklet of all the finalists and the winner by clicking the link below.
Good Things
Wow!
Read about Kathy Stemke’s new newsletter –Moving Through All Seven Days
It’s finally done! The first issue of the “MOVEMENT AND RHYTHM” newsletter is full of the latest information, activities, and games for the home or the classroom. This issue addresses topics like: “Why Use Movement to Teach?” “Musical Consonants in Action,” and “Activities for Gross Motor Skills.” You’ll be updated on educationtipster’s upcoming events like the Virtual Book Tour and the FREE teacher teleseminars in February. Just sign up on Kathy Stemke’s blog:http://educationtipster.blogspot.com.
Here’s some excerpts:
“Why Use Movement to Teach?”
…..Recent studies link cognitive skills to motor skill development. Scientists now say that because a child’s earliest learning is based on motor development, so too is much of the knowledge that follows. They have found that the cerebellum, the part of the brain previously thought to control only motor activities, is a “virtual switchboard of cognitive activity.” Scientists have demonstrated a connection between the cerebellum and such cognitive functions as memory, spatial orientation, attention, language, and decision making……
“Musical Consonants in Action”
If you’re happy and you know it, bounce around b b.
If you’re happy and you know it, bounce around b, b.
If your happy and you know it, then you’re face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, bounce around b, b…..
If your happy and you know it, creep along c, c…etc
“MOVING THROUGH ALL SEVEN DAYS” by Kathy Ann Stemke
I’m very excited to announce that Action Alley Education is close to publishing, “Moving Through All Seven Days.” This book inspires movement as children learn about the days of the week. The lyrical rhymes also teach them how to spell each day! The activities at the end of the book are designed to reinforce the concepts as well as give impetus to movement exploration.
NEWSLETTER REVIEWS:
Both parents and teachers of small children will want to subscribe to Movement and Rhythm, a valuable new resource from educator and children’s author, Kathy Stemke. This free newsletter is chock full of original articles, activities, and other offers to make education and teaching more fun and effective both inside and outside the classroom.
Suzanne Lieurance
The Working Writer’s Coach
http://www.workingwriterscoach.com
I love your newsletter! As a classroom teacher working for the school district I am required to document my on-going “professional development.” Frankly, it can become very boring. Your content is set up in easy to read blocks and the way it is written translates immediately into something I can do right now with the kids.
Please continue with this awesome resource!
Versana Polidore
Thomas Gibbs Elementary School
Classroom teacher
Kathy Stemke’s “Movement and Rhythm” Newsletter is a must read for all parents and teachers of little ones. I remember having my children clean their rooms to music, as we sang little songs. Learning through movement and rhythm is a good means for teaching many things, as well as helping children learn to appreciate music. After all, many of us still sing the Alphabet Song to ourselves when we need to check the alphabet.
Vivian Gilbert Zabel
Publisher 4RV, Author, Educator
http://viviangilbertzabel.com/
CONTACT KATHY AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES:
http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
Read about Kathy Stemke’s new newsletter –Moving Through All Seven Days
It’s finally done! The first issue of the “MOVEMENT AND RHYTHM” newsletter is full of the latest information, activities, and games for the home or the classroom. This issue addresses topics like: “Why Use Movement to Teach?” “Musical Consonants in Action,” and “Activities for Gross Motor Skills.” You’ll be updated on educationtipster’s upcoming events like the Virtual Book Tour and the FREE teacher teleseminars in February. Just sign up on Kathy Stemke’s blog:http://educationtipster.blogspot.com.
Here’s some excerpts:
“Why Use Movement to Teach?”
…..Recent studies link cognitive skills to motor skill development. Scientists now say that because a child’s earliest learning is based on motor development, so too is much of the knowledge that follows. They have found that the cerebellum, the part of the brain previously thought to control only motor activities, is a “virtual switchboard of cognitive activity.” Scientists have demonstrated a connection between the cerebellum and such cognitive functions as memory, spatial orientation, attention, language, and decision making……
“Musical Consonants in Action”
If you’re happy and you know it, bounce around b b.
If you’re happy and you know it, bounce around b, b.
If your happy and you know it, then you’re face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, bounce around b, b…..
If your happy and you know it, creep along c, c…etc
“MOVING THROUGH ALL SEVEN DAYS” by Kathy Ann Stemke
I’m very excited to announce that Action Alley Education is close to publishing, “Moving Through All Seven Days.” This book inspires movement as children learn about the days of the week. The lyrical rhymes also teach them how to spell each day! The activities at the end of the book are designed to reinforce the concepts as well as give impetus to movement exploration.
NEWSLETTER REVIEWS:
Both parents and teachers of small children will want to subscribe to Movement and Rhythm, a valuable new resource from educator and children’s author, Kathy Stemke. This free newsletter is chock full of original articles, activities, and other offers to make education and teaching more fun and effective both inside and outside the classroom.
Suzanne Lieurance
The Working Writer’s Coach
http://www.workingwriterscoach.com
I love your newsletter! As a classroom teacher working for the school district I am required to document my on-going “professional development.” Frankly, it can become very boring. Your content is set up in easy to read blocks and the way it is written translates immediately into something I can do right now with the kids.
Please continue with this awesome resource!
Versana Polidore
Thomas Gibbs Elementary School
Classroom teacher
Kathy Stemke’s “Movement and Rhythm” Newsletter is a must read for all parents and teachers of little ones. I remember having my children clean their rooms to music, as we sang little songs. Learning through movement and rhythm is a good means for teaching many things, as well as helping children learn to appreciate music. After all, many of us still sing the Alphabet Song to ourselves when we need to check the alphabet.
Vivian Gilbert Zabel
Publisher 4RV, Author, Educator
http://viviangilbertzabel.com/
CONTACT KATHY AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES:
http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
Test post
Can you see this??
Interview with author and educator Kathy Stemke
When did you first become interested in dance?
I danced in HS some and was captain of the cheerleaders. When I got into college I became part of a dance theater group that traveled around Connecticut. I was given a scholarship to The American Dance Festival where you lived with and learned from some famous dance companies for the entire summer. For example, The Martha Graham Dance Company taught us choreography and technique. It was an incredible experience, which taught me to think “out of the box.”
How does your interest in science play itself out in your creative life?
I love the biological sc
iences because you learn about the origin and preservation of life! It gives me a desire to look deep inside. I see this reflected in my nature photography, especially the close up work.
When did you first start writing, and when did you start to take yourself seriously as a writer?
I started writing in college when I was asked to write a play. I took some courses in poetry and then I turned all my feelings and thoughts into poetry. After that, there was turning back. When I wrote narration for evangelic musical productions and changed peoples lives, I felt like I was helping people. When I sold my first article I realized that people wanted to read what I wrote.
When did you first become interested in bringing movement into the classroom?
I was a dancer and a choreographer who taught kindergarten. It was a marriage made in heaven. When I taught the sounds of letters, I would create rhymes the children could remember and move to. I found that they learned faster and retained more. And we all had so much fun!
How long did it take you to work up the curriculum you have now?
I taught for 37 years and constantly created movement activities for the children. I’m always adding to the curriculum.
Congratulations on your upcoming book. Can you tell us a bit about it?
Thanks. I have one book under contract entitled, “Trouble on Earth Day.” A squirrel and her family learn about recycling and help a homeless songbird. This book is on hold due to the CIPSIA law that was recently passed requiring lead testing on picture books. I’m hoping that the government will lift that requirement soon.
I am about to self publish “Moving Through All Seven Days.” This rhyming book teaches children about the days of the week and how to spell each day. All my books have several activities pages for parents and teachers to use.
