Monday, August 27, 2012

Differentiated Math?

I really want to step up this area this year.  I read the most wonderful post by Anna Brantley on the topic and pinned it a few weeks ago.  Really helped me clarify some of my thoughts.  If you haven't read it or need some ideas, click pic to take you there.



I was wondering if anyone has any other posts/links/books they care to share?  I'd really appreciate it.

One week of summer vacation left for me...

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Win My New Chapter Book Series!

Wow!  I wasn't expecting these in the mail yesterday!!!  Let me introduce you to TJ Trapper, Bully Zapper...



I love, love, love the cover art, don't you?  I have the fabo artist, Gary LaCoste, to thank for doing such amazing artwork!  I am giddy when I look at them! Absolutely beyond giddy!  TJ is a fourth grader and these, I think, are perfect for grades 2-4!  Of course, I know that some 1st and 5th graders will like them as well and are totally appropriate for the firsties.  While they teach a great deal about bullying, they aren't preachy...promise! 

ABDO is my amazing publisher and my editor, Stephanie, rocks!!

When I do school visits (which is now seriously limited since I returned to teaching full-time!), I am often asked how I feel when I see my books for the first time.  Well, I could tell you but when I got my Katharine books and saw them for the first time in 2009, my 5th grader at the time just happened to have his new Flip camera and caught it on tape.  Although he taped 12 minutes of me (but his commentary was the best part!) I only show 1/3 of it.  Want to see it?  It's not pretty- me (9:30 at night!  Just saw them on porch) or the shaky tape, but you'll get the idea of how I felt when I saw my hard work come to life. 

The Books Have Arrived Video

If you want to win the set, just leave your email below.  I'll have it open for a week so if you know of any teachers who might like to win, send them here.  Good luck!  (No, you don't have to watch the video!!)

Okay- now I am off to celebrate my daughter's 15th (GULP!) birthday!  We're going to see this on Broadway today: