In addition to this blog, I have kept a family blog for years now. When I started writing over here, I found that there were times when I liked to double dip and make one blog post do the work for two blogs. Initially I did it to introduce my readers to my work. Then […]

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We don’t write this phrase often as adults but…I am so proud of myself! This is my second Nonfiction Monday post. Last week I admitted to my bias against nonfiction. My hope was that Nonfiction Monday would force me out of my comfort zone and so far, so good. In making this realization, I’ve also […]

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I had to run an errand after I picked up our four year old yesterday. For some reason, I thought out loud that maybe I would bring our iPad to help keep her entertained while I did some banking. Fortunately, my husband reminded me that we don’t do that. He said, “Are you doing to […]

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Today I went to local school to learn how I could volunteer. I am friends with their professor in residence and have listened to many stories about the community she serves. I had expected to be shocked and disturbed by what I found but my expectations could not have prepared me for the hours I […]

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Back in the fall I was thrilled to be selected as a panelist for the Cybils awards. I was happy for a number of reasons. I couldn’t wait to read lots of new books. I was excited to engage in conversation with other children’s lit lovers. And I was also hopeful that being a member […]

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Thanks to the inspiration of one of my favorite bloggers, Teach Mama, I have brought back our magnetic letters. They were on the refrigerator for years when Caroline was tiny and then went away in those  years when Caroline lost interest and when Katherine would merely teeth on them. I am thrilled to have been […]

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  Both of my daughter’s schools encourage lots of parental volunteering and I have jumped in head first. I am a ‘reading mom’, a ‘read aloud parent’, a ‘library aide’ and and an ‘art docent.’ Fortunately, at the start of the school year, I realized that I had to focus on killing two birds with […]

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This month has been all about planning. Before Thanksgiving arrives, I will have given three presentations, begun teaching a parent-child literacy class and made significant progress toward deciding this year’s choice in the Cybil awards. While I may be struggling to find time to blog through all my planning, I do continue to read to […]

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I am in one of those points in life when my personal and professional life are completely intertwined. The reading I do for “work” is so directly related to my own children that I often step back and think how lucky I am to be  passionate about something that is truly important for my own children. I […]

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the most fantastic resource! I am in the process of putting together a parent seminar anda parent-child class each called Growing Readers. The process is both exhausting and truly exhilarating. It is so wonderful to be doing work that really and truly does not feel a bit like work. As part of my preparation I am […]

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