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Writing Side-by-Side with Kids at Home and at School

Writing side-by-side with kids at home –Sit down comfortably with kids or grandkids when everyone, including you, is ready to write. –Invite each person to briefly share what they plan to work on: a funny story, recipe, journal entry, etc. –Set the timer for an agreed upon

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Focus on Stories for Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15-Oct. 15. Picture books and creative writing add focus for all concerned. Here’s a round-up from Read Brightly of 15 picture books to celebrate the theme. The books include contemporary stories from around the Americas, folktales and even introductions to Frida Kahlo and

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Story Structure: The Beginning, Middle and End

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 of early literacy, i.e. creating stories with

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On Musical Books and Distance Learning

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 cover (above) contains zippy insect drawings by

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Choosing Just the Right Names for Story Characters

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 questioned me about that exact challenge. To

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The Long Tail of a Teacher’s Positive Impact

Here’s a true story to lift the spirits of anyone devoted to nurturing young people. We cannot foretell exactly how, but the activities you present to children today may leave a positive impact for 50 years! Recently, Debbie Clark Anders, front row, fourth from left, posted on

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Two sticks, a drum pad and an author’s journey

This summer, I was honored to be interviewed for the National Association for Music Education. The editor, Tom Amoriello, a guitarist and educator, described himself as a longstanding fan of the Jazz Fly books. So he chose that focus for his “Yay, Storytime!” column. He asked lots

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About Permissions to Read My Picture Books Online

Since spring, with schools closed due to the new Coronavirus, teachers and librarians have taken to story time by remote. And my in-box has been filled with requests from around the country for permission to read my books, including The Jazz Fly musical books, online. Thank you,

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