How Do I Encourage my Child to Write?

Have you ever heard I HATE TO WRITE from your child?

For many of us, writing a shopping list is about the extent of our writing. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise to us when our children find it difficult to complete writing assignments in school. But how can we help?

I can remember when my daughter was in elementary school and the stress her and her classmates had was heavy. They had to write a story that included specific details, a clear outline, and little to no grammatical errors, all within a 60 minute time frame. As a tinkering author at the time, I could feel their pain. I knew what it was like to struggle over even some of the most minute details and not able to move past that to finish it. Perfection is an author's worse enemy. I had to stop re-reading my work because I would never be content and want to constantly change it. When I saw students with similar dilemmas I could understand what they were feeling.

Here are some strategies that I both teach and use to help writing be more fun and less stressful.

1.  Come Up With A Plan: Writing is like taking a road trip. You need a plan for getting from point A to Point B, and with writing, it is more fun to take the scenic route! The only way you are going to make it to you destination is to have an outline of how you will start your story and how you will get to the end. Like taking a road trip, if you don't know what or where your destination is, you will never arrive. Writing always has a purpose, whether it is to share information with others, persuade people to think or act the way you believe they should, to express emotions with others, or to merely entertain the world around us. Knowing the purpose of your writing is important when planning it out. There are many graphic organizers on the internet, such as webs, that can help your young authors create an outline to "plan their trip" accordingly.

2. Just Write What You Are Thinking: I always tell students that it's better to have something down on paper than nothing at all. Every author has to have a starting place. In order to begin your journey you must...begin. Don't be afraid of making mistakes, especially when you first begin. No one is perfect and it's not supposed to be perfect! Which leads me to my last point...

3. Don't Be Afraid To Edit: I know I said that one of the worst things an author can do is constantly read and alter their work. However, some editing is necessary to make your writing better. You can only edit when you have something to edit. The editing process can be one of the most rewarding steps to writing because your story has truly come to life. Adding and changing adjectives is one of the best ways to see drastic improvement quickly. I strongly encourage students to learn how to use a Thesaurus. It is a great tool that helps students with varying and acquiring new words into their vocabulary. You will not only see a difference in their writing, but also their day to day language.

Hopefully these tips will help you as you cheer on your children through school and beyond. And with anything, the more you practice, the better you get.

If you have any words of encouragement or writing tips you would like to share, please comment below.

Happy writing!

My Book Trailer is Out!

Here is a simple 15 second teaser video about Extraordinary Annie. 

I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider liking and commenting on the video.

Annie Hanging Out at Bamboozle Tea Lounge

Today I am at Bamboozle Tea Lounge in Tampa for my first out of town book signing event. The cafe is cozy and the people are very friendly. Because it is surrounded by apartments, I've also been able to enjoy watching people walking their dogs.

Everything still seems surreal as I sit at my table, talking with customers. I love having the opportunity to meet new people and share my inspiration for writing Extraordinary Annie. I can't wait until my next event!

My First Official Signing Event

Today was my first book signing event and it just so happened to be only a few minutes away from home. My family and friends had a wonderful time at D'Lites Emporium in Gainesville, FL. They were great hosts and would highly recommend them if you are in the area. They have the best low calorie soft serve ice cream around!

The day was beautiful outside! We had lots of people coming in and out of the store. I even got to read my book twice to a few of the most adorable kids! Today really showed me how blessed I am to have supportive family members who work as hard as I do to help this dream come true. Not only that, but how I am also blessed with friends who take time out of their schedules to come visit and support me too. Today was a good day.

So, with my first solo event under wraps I am now looking toward to the next one, which is scheduled for May in Tampa, FL. This has been an exciting ride thus far, but I know this is just the beginning. 

Free Worksheets for Extraordinary Annie

Now that my book is available at a variety of websites, I would like to share a few lesson ideas and worksheets with my fellow elementary school teachers.

The first, and most obvious lesson, focuses on antonyms. Within the book, Extraordinary Annie, some differences are apparent while others can be found within the pictures. The two look different, act different, dress different...need I say more? If you click the link below you will find a worksheet for students to complete, only focusing on the antonyms found in the story.

Worksheet: Antonym Graphic Organizer

Along with being opposites, the girls do have some similarities. Students can read the story and not only find an abundance of opposites, but also find similarities when comparing and contrasting Annie and her best friend, Zoe. The perfect graphic organizer for this is a Venn Diagram. If you click below you will find a customized Venn Diagram worksheet that can be used with individual students, small groups, or even as a class activity together.

Worksheet: Venn Diagram

A great discussion idea can focus on friendship. Do friends have to be alike to get along? What if everyone was the same? How are the same as your best friend? How are you different? Is it a good thing or a bad thing and why? This allows students to see that differences make us all extraordinary!

These are just a few ways my book can be used in the classroom. As you read and use Extraordinary Annie, please share your ideas of using it in your classroom or with your students here in the comments. You can also share suggestions personally with me by email. And don't forget...make each day extraordinary!

What a Surprise!

For the past two weeks I've spent time organizing, planning, printing, and putting together decorations all to be prepared for the Book Release Party. Being sick on top of it all was not what I had planned, but things came together. A few days before the Book Release Celebration, I sat down at the computer and began to play around.

You know how friends tell you to "Google" yourself? It can be quite interesting the items that pop up. I decided to do it and just see what was out there. Boy, was I in for a surprise! What a surreal moment when you look yourself up and find your name and your book's title essentially everywhere! To be honest, it took a little time for it to sink in. My daughter was enjoying herself trying to find all of the countries and all the different websites where my book is being sold.

Well, things keep moving forward. The book is out and available on many websites, including Amazon. More events are coming, so stay tuned.

My New Children's Book

I feel like the new year has just begun and now February is right around the corner. As with many of you, I have a growing list of "To Dos" and "Bucket List" items that I would love to check off as being done. With that being said, I am excited to share with you one thing that I am able to say is coming soon.

My first children's book, Extraordinary Annie, is scheduled to be released on February 10! This is one pursuit that I've been involved with for a few years now. As a Media Specialist at an elementary school I began to notice the need for books that helped to teach antonyms, but on a higher level than just "up-down" and "hot-cold". I wanted to write a book that older students could read and teachers could use in the classroom teaching many different skills all with the same text. And with this...my journey began.

And so, here I am today writing this blog, not able to fully anticipate the future, but going along for the ride, none-the-less. I am truly thankful for all of the support I have received from my dear family and friends through this endeavor.

I have several companion worksheets and lesson ideas for teachers and parents to use with the book. Stay tuned for free materials to be shared on this blog.

Let me leave you with a final thought...what are going to mark off of your Bucket List this year? Let me reassure you that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, just don't give up.

Click here to order Extraordinary Annie today!