Two weeks ago, I got a bell-hop to leave his post at his hotel in downtown San Antonio and help me move my gear into the city’s vast convention center. “What kind of convention did you say this was?” he…
Writer Alexa Russell got me thinking about the PRACTICAL value of an English degree in today’s online work environment. More than ever, she says, students are able to put their degrees to work remotely in order to spur social change…
Last weekend at the annual CRA conference (California Reading Association), I had the pleasure of hearing, then actually meeting, “The 2 Sisters,” Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, authors of “The Daily 5.” They are teachers making a big impact on…
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,…
OK, so this isn’t exactly Broadway, or even Off Broadway, but in terms of sheer innocence and joy, this performance is a delight. Months ago, I got an email from teacher Helaine Witt of the Ellington School, P.S. 140 in…
This past weekend I attended the two-day “Publishing University” in San Francisco, put on by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). Always wise to invest in a bit of professional development–just to keep clear of ruts and bad habits! I…
