Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens 1835 – 1910) is one of America’s greatest authors and humorists. He was celebrated in his time, and despite being frequently banned, is still read on campuses today. Of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” Ernest …[Continue]
Language Arts, Reference Resources
This category is further divided into: Grammar, Jokes and Riddles, Poetry, Reading, Reference, Vocabulary, Writing.
Back-to-School Poems
Back-to-school is a fun, scary, busy time for everyone, especially small children. Because transitions of all kinds can usually be made easier with stories, songs and poems, this week’s collection of poetry and sing-along songs is dedicated to going back …[Continue]
Children’s Books
Whether choosing books for avid readers or finding titles for reluctant readers, these websites are sure to help. In addition to book reviews, they offer games, printable worksheets, author bios and an opportunity for kids to interact with others who …[Continue]
Thanksgiving Writing Prompts
From gratitude to twittering turkeys, these ideas are far from boring, and are sure to jump start your classroom writing assignments….[Continue]
Ghost Stories
Halloween trick-or-treating probably originated with a ninth-century European custom called souling. On All Souls Day (November 2), early Christians would walk from village to village begging for soul cakes, square pieces of bread with currants. In exchange for the cakes, …[Continue]
Booklists
Looking for a great read? Take a scroll through these recommended sites featuring book reviews and lists of award-winners for both children and young adults. Your next reading adventure is waiting for you….[Continue]
E.B. White
In the world of children’s literature, E.B. White is a super-star: the author of three beloved classics “Stuart Little,” “Charlotte’s Web,” and “The Trumpet of the Swan.” He also co-authored my favorite guide to the writer’s craft, “Elements of Style.”…[Continue]
Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter (1866 – 1943) was an English author, illustrator, and conservationist best known for her children’s books featuring Peter Rabbit and other animal characters. The first draft of “The Story of Peter Rabbit” was based on a letter she …[Continue]
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee published her first novel in 1960, at the age of thirty-four. It won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction the following year. “To Kill a Mockingbird” tells two stories at once: one about attorney Atticus Finch’s defense of a …[Continue]
Margaret Wise Brown
Although “Goodnight Moon” is her best known work (it has sold forty-eight million copies since 1947), children’s author Margaret Wise Brown (1910 – 1952) wrote more than a hundred children’s books before dying suddenly at forty-two while recovering from surgery. …[Continue]