The Backbone of Literacy
The ability to read and write is complex and involves the integration of numerous foundational skills. Learning to read and write, children must wade through the landscape of phonology (word sounds), orthography (word patterns), morphology (word classifications) and…
The Metaphorical Beast
E. Nesbit, storyteller extraordinaire, weaves quite a yarn. The Book of Beasts is a favorite of my three sons. Why? Not because the protagonist is a small boy, but because that small boy becomes king! What boy doesn’t dream of…
Paint like Jasper Johns
“Take an object. Do something to it. Do something else to it.” – Jasper Johns Find a word you like. Take the word and write it on canvas. Mix some colors you like. Take your word and paint the colors…
How to Read a Great Character and Become One
Characters do things. They feel things. They hear things. They say things. They think things. They go places. They can walk, run, leap, and jump. They may sit and rock in a rocking chair. They may just lie in bed,…
Da Vinci Summer IV: UNPLUG
Television from WaterhouseGuild on Vimeo. Each poem is a one-of-a-kind collage of sounds that tickle the tip-of-the-tongue and a rhythmic hammering that sparks a tap-of-the-toe. Poetry is a larger part of our world than we often admit. It’s the songs…
after Cezanne
As tradition goes, we usher in summer with a collaborative iMadonnari creation. This year’s inspiration was “Still Life with Apples” by Paul Cézanne.
Words Are a Great Wonder
In our world where fast paced technological communicating is the norm, our lexicon is shrinking hand over fist. But the potential of words is a great wonder. Words are salty goodness that pepper writing with flavor. So this month…
“Tiny Magical Spheres of Wonder”
These curious little balls commonly known as water pearls (I prefer my name) are in a word…captivating. Their usefulness in exploring science and math are obvious and you can find tons of great ideas all over the Internet for incoroprating…
Write “Your Very Own Ars Poetica”
Q: What is the purpose of poetry? A: Why an Ars Poetica of course. Q: A what? (Now the fun begins…) A: Well, being a Latin phrase “ars poetica” is translated “on the art of poetry” in English. And art…
Twelve Days
Up until recently I thought that the Twelve Days of Christmas were the twelve days before Christmas. Not so. These twelve days, The Twelve Days of Christmas, are twelve days after Crīstesmæsse, the Chrsitmastide. Twelve days came down to us…