This is the newest "Fancy Nancy" book which I sent to my granddaugher, Mary Mace, earlier this week. The title is: "Fancy Nancy, Poet Extraordinaire!" written by Jane Conner and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. Mary Mace has all of the books in this series and has an extraordinary vocabulary, partially from reading these books or having them read to her by her Mom. Each book teaches a few 'fancy' words to the reader, then explains them and uses them in sentences. Also, the artwork in each book is amazing, totally sparkly and vivid.
Ralph Fletcher writes for children, and I have four of his books about writing. They're as good as or better than any writing book I have written for adults. My daughter, Sarah, is teaching Poetry this month in her 4th grade class and Mr. Fletcher will be visiting her class. I sent her five of his books as a birthday present. The one above is one he'll be teaching from. How amazing for children to meet a published poet? I'm hoping lots of new poets will be born and inspired by him.
This is a closeup shot of the Poet-Tree in Sarah's classroom. Guess who she got this great idea from? None other than the teacher in the "Fancy Nancy" books, Mrs. Glass. The trunk is made of the kids' poems, the leaves are vocabulary words they are learning about poetry and the acorns are Sarah's comments on their work. She called me laughing at the perfect synchronicity of me sending Mary Mace that book and her teaching Poetry at the same time. All of her teacher friends loved the idea and borrowed it for their classes, too.
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Happy TGIF, and the last day of Winter.
Love & Blessings,
~Marion, proud mother of two teachers
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Modern cynics and skeptics... see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a smaller wage than is paid to those to whom they entrust the care of their plumbing. ~John F. Kennedy
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The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind. ~Kahlil Gibran
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