More about the great new book, The Curse of Captain LaFoote
Link here to see the buzz: http://www.mycarolinatoday.com/2011/03/the-curse-of-captain-lafoote/
Writers: Little Red Writing Hood says…
Here’s a quick read courtesy of Filbert Publishing.
~~ 4 Reasons to Market with Postcards ~~
You’re a freelance writer. Why on EARTH would you use post cards to promote your writing?
1.Your potential readers are not psychic. If they don’t know you exist, if they don’t know you’ve written a book or if they don’t know you can write for their business, they won’t contact you.
2. Postcards are inexpensive to mail.
3. You can target the people who are your audience and send your message only to them.
4. Postcards are easy to write! It doesn’t take much time, you can flex your creativity muscles as much as you’d like. Plain and simple, complex and graphics filled… it’s up to you. Just make sure your message shines.
Most important? Market on a consistent basis because consistent marketing = consistent assignments.
This article is courtesy of Filbert Publishing. Make your writing sparkle, write killer queries, get published. Subscribe to Writing Etc., the free e-mag for freelancers and receive the e-book “Power Queries.” http://filbertpublishing.com
Thanks to Beth Erickson of Filbert Publishing for the expert advice!
Teacher Tip
Hi! Here’s another morning poem to recite aloud with your class. Jack Prelutsky’s written lesson plans for you, so I”ve included links.
By Jack Prelutsky
I am freezing.
I am freezing.
I am absolutely cold.
I am shivering and shaking like a pudding in a mold.
I’ve got glaciers in my stomach.
I’ve got sleet inside my bones.
I am colder than the contents of a million ice cream cones.
http://www.jackprelutsky.com/flash/pdf_docs/HowToWriteAFunnyPoem.pdf
http://www.jackprelutsky.com/flash/pdf_docs/PoetryActivities.pdf
http://www.jackprelutsky.com/flash/pdf_docs/TipsReadingYoung.pdf
Jack Prelutsky, America’s First Children’s Poet Laureate 
Teacher Tip
Poor Solomon Grundy
Washed the left side of his head on Monday
Washed the left side of his neck on Tuesday,
Washed the left arm on Wednesday,
Washed the left hand on Thursday,
Washed the left side on Friday,
Washed the left leg on Saturday,
Washed the left foot on Sunday.
Poor Solomon Grundy,
He’s still half dirty!
Teacher Tip
Morning! Forget to shave? Don’t worry-shaving cream’s waiting for you at school. Or….you can practice your letters.
Teacher Tip and Lesson Plan
Irish Saying
Very wet weather: “It’s a fine day for wet ducks.”
Irish Words (listen to the Irish dialect spoken on the internet)
Word: One
Irish: Aon
Pronunciation: Ay-on
Word: Two
Irish: Dó
Pronunciation: dhoh
Word: Three
Irish: Trí
Pronunciation: three
Word: Four
Irish: Ceathair
Pronunciation: ka-hir
Word: Five
Irish: Cúig
Pronunciation: coo-ig
Word: Six
Irish:Sé
Pronunciation: shay
Word: Seven
Irish: Seacht
Pronunciation: shoch-edh
Word: Eight
Irish: Ocht
Pronunciation: uchth
Word: Nine
Irish: Naoi
Pronunciation: knee (or in Munster Irish – nay)
Word: Ten
Irish: Deich
Pronunciation: djeh
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Lessons2.html#Gael8
SHOW-N-TELL
Bring in a variety of fresh greens, lettuces, and vegetables.
RECIPE
The best collard green recipe is a secret. (A certain relative won’t give out the recipe. Imagine that.) I can’t be mad this certain relative is not selfish. So, you’ll just have to prepare the recipe I clipped out of the newspaper.
Collards
There are several ways to prepare collards, so you can pick-n-choose the ingredients. Use fresh collards even though the recipes say you can use frozen.
Sauté bacon, onion, garlic, and carrots. (Or skip the bacon and use olive oil.) Add a splash or two of vinegar. Add a cup of chicken broth, the collards, salt and pepper to taste. Some suggest adding a couple tablespoons of sugar. Cook approx. 30-60 minutes or desired consistency.
More…
Try Broccoli Salad or Seven Layer Salad (both easy recipes to find on the internet)
Ready, Set, Go…. You have your St. Patrick’s plans!
Writers, Teachers, Moms, Women….Everybody
You’ll love this. Read and enjoy. By the way, I love Dooley. I do. I do.
The scene: Dooley’s tutor, Father Tim, and Dooley sharing a meal after a tutoring session. A Light in the Window, Jan Karon, page 379
“She looked so stern he thought he’d warm up the introduction. “Louise…” he said, extending his hand.
“I don’t believe you should call me by my Christian name.”
“Of course…”
“We wouldn’t want your parishioners to talk, since we’re both unmarried and thrown together in the intimacy of the home environment.”
He felt a positive wrench in his stomach. What was worse, he had to make dinner for this person.
**
“I got a stomach cramp,” said Dooley, whose eyes looked bloodshot.
“Me, too,” said the rector. They were still sitting in the kitchen, unable to move since Louise Appleshaw had risen from the table and insisted on seeing herself to the door.
“I hate ‘at ol’ bat.”
“Let me ask you something,” he said wearily. “Can you say ‘I hate that old bat’? Try it, just like I said it.”
“I hate that old bat.”
“Well done. Who needs a tutor?”
……
He was exhausted. And since Louise Appleshaw was allergic to anything with barley, oats, raisins, nuts, pineapple, white flour, sugar, cow’s milk, carob, chocolate, dates, leeks, cabbage, lima beans, beef, pork, and tomatoes, what in the name of heaven was he going to do about dinner on Friday?
The Mitford Series Books by Jan Karon are delightful!!! Read them.
Don’t be an old bat today. You might give someone a stomach cramp.
Just a thought…….DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
TEACHER TIP: After you read a Mitford Book (At Home in Mitford is the first book), choose one character to share. Read sections of the book to your class, allowing them to discuss, draw, and delight in this person. You may introduce writing class with this activity once a week or so, “Okay, it’s time for a Dooley reading…..” or Father Tim, or Sadie, or Emma. There are many personalities to choose. FUN for all.
(Look out for Dooley’s conversations–some of it’s….raw. Funny, but raw.)
Draw maps of Mitford.
MOTHER TIP: Are you reading with your chldren? “No, my children can read.” Please don’t overlook the joy of reading together even when your children become independent readers. I’d recommend reading the Mitford Books with a ten year old, elevenish, or possible twelve year old.
Are you familiar with The Simple Wife? (see the links). This lady plans so well she reads with her daughters at breakfast before they go to school: fed and read. (get it??)
WRITERS: Study Jan’s characters and humor. (I’m surprised half the world hasn’t move to Mitford (Blowing Rock, NC) after reading the books.
Teacher Tip
Thomas Jefferson
Lived: April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826
Served: 1801-1809
Quotes
But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.
Delay is preferable to error.
Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.
Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.
I cannot live without books.
It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness.
Interesting Facts
Jefferson often welcomed people at the White house in slippers and a robe.
Thomas Jefferson, an intellect, knew several languages.
A public figure, but a very private man, burned letters from his wife and himself after she died.
Jefferson lived and died in debt due to weak money management skills.
President Jefferson is responsible for the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-1806.
Teacher Tips
-
Invite guests to teach the class basic words in different languages.
-
Have a casual day and allow the children to wear their robe over their clothes and bring their slippers in a backpack to wear inside the classroom. (Scour used clothing shops to purchase robes for children who do not have one. Engage a parent volunteer for this job.
-
Teach money management skills, no matter how young. The 80/20 principal is 10% give, 10% save, and live on 80%.
LINKS
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/pres/jefferson/
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/facts-on-thomas-jefferson.html
Teacher Tip
Abraham Lincoln
February 12,1809 –April 15, 1865
Served: 1861 – 1865
Quotes
All my life I have tried to pluck a thistle and plant a flower wherever the flower would grow in thought and mind.
Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.
Everybody likes a compliment.
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
I will prepare and some day my chance will come.
If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.
Knavery and flattery are blood relations.
Teaching Tips
Use the quotations to launch several studies:
Vocabulary: thistle, knavery (look up Lincoln speeches and writings for vocabulary words)
Encourage kindness: Collect compliments in a top hat. When it’s full, have a celebration with pretzels dipped in melted almond bark.
Plans: Abe Lincoln believed in plans. Teach students how to make daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals.
Have a tea tasting. (Guess you ought to avoid serving coffee to elementary students).
Science: plant flower seeds
Book: Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt Civil War Era Story appropriate for fifth grade
http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/proj/lincoln/index.html
Lincoln: compliments of karenwhimsy.com
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