Award winning author of historical fiction
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) occurs every November. Since 2011, I have participated four times with my sixth grade students. While my goal was always 50,000 words, going along with the adult site, my students set their own goals with NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program. When they finished editing their novels in December, I published an… Continue reading NaNoWriMo
Now that NaNoWriMo is over, a LOT of people are revising the novels they just finished writing. Revising is a difficult skill to teach. I've told students that revising is changing the words to make it better. That helps them understand, but it really doesn't tell them what to do. I've heard of teachers who… Continue reading Revising a Narrative
It's not the first time I've become a National Novel Writing Month winner, but it's no less intoxicating! Fifty thousand words in one month is something I can be proud of. At school, the first trimester ends the first week of November. That means grading final projects, tests, and other work then doing report cards.… Continue reading NaNoWriMo Winner!
National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, is well under way in my classroom. This is the fifth year I have undertaken this event with a class. It is an incredible experience for the students! During October, students plan their novel. When November 1 dawns, they leap into the novel. This is only November 6, and… Continue reading National Novel Writing Month
In just five and a half short hours, National Novel Writing Month begins. This will be the fourth year I have participated in NaNoWriMo, all four times with my class of eager students. Well, that first group wasn't very eager--they were pretty terrified. Three years, though, and all but one of those students finished their… Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2012