A Reason for Handwriting
About a dozen years ago, a friend shared with me that she decided to bypass teaching her children the art of penmanship. Her children would jump straight to keyboarding: “This is the computer age. Cursive handwriting is archaic. Why do…
The Friendly Letter is a Gift
Let’s start a tradition! Let’s write friendly letters! Composing a letter by hand—a non-electronic letter—is a relational, social activity that teaches generosity, idea making, and the nature of beauty. Once upon a time there was no such thing as email,…
I Modinnari Apples
I Modinnari is a tradition that many communities have adopted to honor an Italian tradition that began way back in the 16th century. Once upon a time itinerant artists commissioned for bigger works, would, at the close of the project,…
Pop Art Apples
It looks simple. It is. But what makes it read “apple” is the fact that it began with observation. The most important thing that observation teaches, is that apples are not perfect spheres. One fun way to observe is to…
Pumpkin! Pumpkin!
Pumpkins are everywhere this time of year! Time to harvest, right? Following are three ideas to help you “switch it up” with pumpkin activities that will surely keep the fall mood stirring! ONE. Read (or listen to) a pumpkin story,…
Speaking of Apples
Cézanne said: “Everything is about to disappear. You’ve got to hurry up if you still want to see things.” What does he mean? I think he means: “LOOK!” This little painting by 9th grader, Kingsley, was accomplished during Session 1…
Three Ideas with Fall Leaves
It’s fall! Leaves are turning. Following are three ideas to help you “switch it up” with fall leaf activities! While reading the following ideas, listen to Vivaldi, Autumn from The Four Seasons performed by the Netherlands Bach Society. This will…
Three Ideas with Apples
It’s apple picking time! Apples are quintessentially fall. Following are three ideas with apples to help you “switch it up” with activities to enjoy those fall feelings… One. Listen to an apple story (this one was a favorite in our…
October-Focus-on-ELA-fest
It’s October. Fall is here and we are, most of us, 6 to 8 weeks into the 2023/24 school year. What now? First, please CONGRATULATE yourself for completing the first cycle of CORE Integrated Reading & Writing units, and likely…
How to Encourage Middle and High School Writers
Students using our Middle School ELA Grade Level Collections will be exploring essay form, enhancing vocabulary, and being introduced to advanced rhetoric in addition to the CORE units. Students at this level have developed confidence in the expanded form of…