The resilience of Migrant students is a moving thing to behold! This summer it was my honor to provide three weeks of creative writing workshops for TK-8th Migrant students. The children—some U.S. born, others from Mexico, Central or even South…
A Writing and Drawing Workshop Based on “My Favorite Things” This summer, I had an amazing experience leading writing workshops for Migrant students! I had Pre-K students all the way through 8th grade. So I presented one 60+ minute workshop…
Ten years ago, following my assemblies at a rural school in California, I was asked to spend an hour with a small group of Migrant students. They ranged widely in ages and still spoke only Spanish. The idea was for…
Usually, I urge kids to gather around books, not screens. But with summer almost here, and literary activities welcome, it’s nice to know that high quality, book-related television exists. Over a year ago, Seattle-based “Look, Listen + Learn TV” approached…
Wishing warm snuggly layers of clothing for everyone facing the brunt of winter. Even parts of Mexico, from where I just returned, were chilly, but the bright colors and hot cups of champurrado (corn and chocolate drink) warmed the soul. Last month,…
Two-year olds can inspire a mom or dad to learn what’s possible—like make lunch, resolve a bathroom emergency and define “is” all at once. By the time I was a dad, I was a jazz drummer and an author. But…
Beginning, middle and end. (El principio, el desarrollo y el final.) True confession: I’m an improviser. (The Jazz Fly series is partially autobiographical!) But I really do benefit by keeping story structure in mind. Basic story structure is especially useful in the context…
As this year like no other finally lurches toward an end, I want to take a moment to appreciate my locale. Sonoma County, roughly an hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge, boasts natural beauty, state parks, diversity, and a…
Tell me quickly the more agreeable topic: children’s books or presidential elections? This month, I am thrilled to appear on the cover of Story Monsters Ink, a digital children’s literature publication distributed to schools and libraries across the country. The…
Choosing just the right names for your story’s characters sounds like it would be easy enough. Usually, though, it isn’t, at least not for me. In an interview for the National Association for Music Education, the columnist/ editor Tom Amoriello…