For 22 years, November has meant report cards and parent conferences. Since this is my last year of teaching sixth grade, I feel a bit nostalgic and want to offer some observations and advice for parents. Don't ask for extra credit on the day grades close. Students build a grade over many weeks. It's not... Continue Reading →
Hawaiian Superstitions
Every culture has superstitious beliefs. As a child, I was encouraged not to step on sidewalk cracks lest I break my mother's back, to throw spilled salt over my shoulder, and not let black cats cross my path. While researching my book Aloha Spirit, I learned about Hawaiian superstitions because one of my characters is... Continue Reading →
Professional Development
Over my lifetime so far, I've had careers in retail management, human resources, teaching, and now writing. I've attended, and presented at, many conferences and staff development seminars. I always come away from these experiences energized and motivated, ready to take on the world and succeed! Recently, I took an online Continuing Studies class at... Continue Reading →
Learning Family Stories
Everyone has stories. As I get older, the stories of my youth become more and more interesting to my sons. They can't imagine a world without electronics, without cell phones, without CD players. To me, it's daily life. To them, it's a family story. The challenge for me is to tell them every wonderful (to... Continue Reading →
Fort Snelling
Fort Snelling is in Minnesota, but I am researching a time when it was part of the Michigan Territory, just after the Black Hawk War ended in 1832. My interest was piqued by an ancestor of mine who was born at the fort in 1836. Her father was the acting sutler at the fort. Her... Continue Reading →
Winner Novel Madness 2018!
And the winner is...House of Hades by Rick Riordan! Some students voted for it because Hunger Games, its opponent, had won before and they wanted to see a book win for the first time. In order to showcase the diversity of reading interests for my sixth graders over the years, here is the list of... Continue Reading →
Novel Madness 2018 FINALS
Yes, it's two of the sixth graders' all time favorites: The House of Hades and Hunger Games. Both novels have loyal followers. The contest will be decided this Wednesday, March 28, 2018. Stay tuned!
Novel Madness 2018–Semifinal Round!
Our novel competition is heating up! This week we said goodbye to some favorites.The remaining books will face off on Monday. These are four very different books, which makes for an interesting matchup. Here they are: Matilda by Roald Dahl vs. House of Hades by Rick Riordan Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins vs. Walk... Continue Reading →