Character Building at Barfield Elementary

I had an amazing Virtual Author Visit with Barfield Elementary School students this week! We spent the day reading Pretty Dolls and building characters. One first grader told me his character was a ping-pong ball with a penchant for ice cream. Love it!

Swoon-Worthy Literary Love Quotes

Need some passion inspo this Valentine's Day?  Whether you're feeling mushy, gushy, or crushy - look no further than a book for a swoon-worthy literary love quote.  

Here are some of my favorites:

"Do I love you? My god, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches." 

—William Goldman, The Princess Bride

"When he shall die,

Take him and cut him out in little stars,

And he will make the face of heaven so fine

That all the world will be in love with night

And pay no worship to the garish sun." 

—William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet

"You might not have been my first love, but you were the love that made all the other loves irrelevant”

—Rupi Kaur, milk and honey

“I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,

in secret, between the shadow and the soul.”

–Pablo Neruda, Sonnet XVII

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.” —A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

“Don't ever think I fell for you, or fell over you. I didn't fall in love, I rose in it.” 

― Toni Morrison, Jazz

"Love shook my heart

Like the wind on the mountain

rushing over the oak trees." 

— Sappho

"We loved with a love that was more than love." 

—Edgar Allan Poe, "Annabel Lee"

“You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.”

—Margaret Mitchell, Gone With the Wind

"Who, being loved, is poor?" — Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance

"I will not play at tug o' war.

I'd rather play at hug o' war,

Where everyone hugs

Instead of tugs,

Where everyone giggles

And rolls on the rug,

Where everyone kisses,

And everyone grins,

And everyone cuddles,

And everyone wins." 

— Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends

For more literary love inspiration and classroom activities, check out my Literary Love Quote Task Cards and Valentine's Day Literary Bundle

Love, read, and write with abandon...HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! 

Janus Words for January

Words are power.  Words can bring us great joy or great pain, as proven with last week's unparalleled events.  Words can also determine our future.  When I wanted to raise my SAT score, my father gave me some sage advice - Learn more words!  He was right.    

From that moment, I’m been a hopeless word nerd.  I love them.  I keep files of cool words and will text myself ones I come across when reading for further reflection.  I’ve been known to look up words in the middle of the night, which means I must dream about them.  Yes – Word NERD!  I love anagrams, puns, and word etymology.  And French words and phrases...don’t get me started!  Nothing is more fun to drop in casual conversation.  Must be a je ne sais quoi thing. 

So for January, I thought it would be fun to write about Janus words.  A Janus word is a contronym or a word with two opposite meanings.  Appropriately named after the Roman god Janus, who is depicted with two opposite faces, Janus words are spelled the same but function as auto-antonyms.

Ten Examples of Janus Words:

• Bolt – to secure OR to run away
• Clip – to separate OR to join
• Fast – firmly fixed OR moving rapidly
• Left – to leave OR to remain
• Oversight – inadvertent mistake OR watchful care
• Rock – to be firm OR to sway or tilt
• Sanction – to allow OR to prohibit
• Screen – to display, such as a film OR to conceal
• Trip – To dance or skip OR to stumble 
• Weather – to endure OR to erode

So get two-faced and create some juicy sentences with Janus words.  Or add to the list.  In the interim, reflect on this sentence: “Because of the teacher’s oversight, the students’ behavior was sanctioned.”  This could be interpreted two different ways as a result of the Janus words oversight and sanctioned.  Either way someone ran a tight ship or got off scot-free.  How I loved that latter kind of teacher.     

Ahhh…word play! 

When All Else Fails: Words of Writing Inspiration

Okay...maybe National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and tweeting your #amwritng daily word count just isn't your jam or flew right by because you know - life, 2020, and that prickly COVID thing.  I can certainly relate, and that's when I have to make a conscious choice between guilt and grace.  

This year I choose grace.  And with grace comes revisiting the words from my favorite literary friends who I can only hope will carry me into 2021 in quest of telling that burning story buried deep inside one's soul - with only the rawest of truth and beauty:

"The only obligation any artist can have is to himself.  His work means nothing otherwise.  It has no meaning." ~ Truman Capote 

"In truth, I never consider the audience for whom I'm writing.  I just write what I want to write." ~ J.K. Rowling

"Writing is an extreme privilege but it's also a gift. It's a gift to yourself and it's a gift of giving a story to someone." ~ Amy Tan 

“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.” ~ Anne Lamott

“Words create sentences; sentences create paragraphs; sometimes paragraphs quicken and begin to breathe.” ~ Stephen King

“When your writing is unselfconscious, when it comes from your heart, that's when it's powerful.” ~ Sandra Cisneros

"I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn." ~ Anne Frank

"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect." ~ Anaïs Nin

"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." ~ Toni Morrison

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ~ Maya Angelou

“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” ~ Sylvia Plath

“If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.” ~ Elmore Leonard

“The best time to plan a book is while you’re doing the dishes.” ~ Agatha Christie

Thrills and Chills: Teaching the Art of Suspense Writing to Kids

Kids adore the adrenaline rush, so it is no surprise they have an innate attraction to the genre of suspense.  The feelings of tension, uncertainty, doubt and apprehension all parallel the angst of adolescence, resulting in a familiar emotional connection.  Additionally, the physiological response of the pounding beating heart, the spine-prickling shivers, and mind-buzzing thoughts serve up an intoxicating thrill ride kids thrive on.

Consequently, it makes perfect sense that kids make amazing suspense writers — if given the proper tools.

What are the benefits of teaching suspense writing to kids?

1) Adults want to be glued to the page and kids are no exception — only “the hook” is even more critical in their techno world of iPad, iPod, and iPhone instant gratification (Clearly, this is what the “i” must stand for)! So as teachers, we have our work cut out for us; however, if boredom is the archenemy of a love for literacy, then suspense is the antidote. Suspenseful stories have universal appeal and can magically pique the interest of even the most reluctant of readers, jarring them awake from their ill-fated K-12 “School-is-boring.  Reading is stupid” stupor. A story whereby an ordinary person is thrown into extraordinary circumstances is irresistible. Throw in a ticking clock and a spooky setting, and you just made Jaded Johnny a lifetime reader. Talk about a best practices with synergistic effects!

2) To strengthen our resolve in making book buffs out of reluctant readers, suspenseful stories contain rich literary elements including dark, villainous characters; mysterious motifs of staircases, woods, graveyards, shadows, and confined spaces; and, thought-provoking thematic subjects, such as perception versus reality, good over evil, and isolation and imprisonment.  Suspense stories are not only an entertaining vehicle, they surreptitiously breed critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills from students whom are not otherwise be engaged.

3) Finally, suspenseful stories empower kids by unmasking the cerebral tools and coping skills needed in order to tackle life’s enigmas.  Through exposure to mysterious worlds of dark characters and thematic messages, kids learn to revere intelligence, sagacity, and fearlessness.  Kids love to “get deep” as they debate and argue over the finer points of plot. Insulated by a safe, voyeuristic lens, kids can safely unravel intricate storylines as they earnestly judge the innocent versus the guilty, thereby refining their own sense of morality.  What’s more, suspenseful stories generate rich discussion in literary analysis and are a perfect springboard for developing kids’ own unique writing craft and style.

So how do we teach suspense? 

The first thing we have to teach kids is what suspense is: A state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen as opposed to what suspense is not: Suspense is not horror. The two are easily confused so when I introduce the concept, I always translate it into kid-speak. I tell my students, “Suspense is not Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers. It is much more refined than blood and gore. And therefore, even more terrifying.”

“What is the difference?” they ask with bated breath.

“It’s simple,” I tell them. “Horror shows.  Suspense implies. And then I dim the lights, set match to a votive candle, and read Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.”  And when the narrator tears up the planks and proclaims, “Villains…dissemble no more! I admit the deed! — tear up the planks! — here, here! — it is the beating of his hideous heart!” — I look out into their shiny eyes, burning brightly and begging for more.  So later that week we read suspense-riddled tomes, such as “The Monkey’s Paw,” “Lamb to the Slaughter,” and “The Lottery.”

Once students are feeling creatively juiced with sordid secrets, villainous vendettas, gothic graveyards, and are up to the task of writing their own stories, it is my modus operandi to get them past “It was a dark and stormy night…”  

This is, of course, how most kids will begin their suspense story.  Not that there is anything wrong with dark and stormy nights. Dark and stormy nights are a perfect setting when building a backdrop for suspense. But in the interest of avoiding clichés, I front-load my kid writers to a special acronymic formula for “writhe-in-your-seat-worthy” suspense writing:  G.E.M. — Gothicism, Expansion of Time, and Magic of Three.

GOTHICISM: All suspense stories should express an element of the gothic genre, such as the supernatural; an eerie, mysterious setting; emotion over passion; or distinctive characters who are lonely, isolated, and/or oppressed.  Throw in a tyrannical villain, a vendetta, or an illicit love affair — you’ve got Goth gold!  Why Gothicism?  It explores the tragic themes of life and the darker side of human nature.  What’s more, kids innately are attracted to it.  

EXPANDING TIME: Next, I introduce the art of expanding time using foreshadowing, flashback, and implementing “well, um…maybe…let me see” dialogue.” Expanding time allows the writer to twist, turn, and tangle up the plot. “Tease your audience,” I tell my students. “Pile on the problems and trap your protagonist with a ticking clock.  Every second counts with suspense!” There is an old writing adage that says to write slow scenes fast and fast scenes slow. By delaying the big reveal, we build tension and punch up the plot.

MAGIC OF THREE: Finally, the Magic of Three comes into play. The Magic of Three is a writer’s trick where a series of three hints lead to a major discovery. During the first hint, the protagonist detects something is amiss. The second hint sparks a more intense reaction, but nothing is discovered — yet. And then — BANG! The third hint leads to a discovery or revelation. During the big reveal, I teach kids to use and manipulate red flags and phrases, such as Suddenly, Without warning, In a blink of an eye, Instantly, A moment later, Like a shot, To my shock, and To my horror.

Teaching suspense writing to kids breeds amazing results. Once they learn to tantalize their audience through the craft of anticipation with G.E.M., they recognize the power behind suspense and why audiences are drawn to the genre. More importantly, they appreciate suspense for what it is…the secret sauce of writing.

“So go mine your story, and find your G.E.M.,” I tell my students. “The clock is ticking…”

Article Previously Published by Killer Nashville Magazine

Need some Spooky Story Starters?  

Spooky Season is upon us and six-word stories are all the rage!  Here are (32) Six-Word Scary Story Starters to keep the spooky in your writing.  

Six-Word Scary Story Starters

1) Three people enter cave.  Two leave.

2) Babysitter needs job.  Loves kids.  Kinda.

3) Looks in the mirror.  No mouth.

4) Beautiful house.  Backyard cemetery.  For sale. 

5) App downloads virus - in its users.

6) Mechanical pencil erases mistakes.  And memory.

7) Neighborhood has party.  Hosts are vampires.

8) Creepy basement.  Rickety staircase.  No escape.

9) Circus clowns revolt.  No one laughs. 

10) Wife wakes up.  Husband does not.

11) Adorable puppy turns into demonic dog.

12) Selfie pics sent by unknown user.

13) Found: Mason jar with unknown species

14) Girl keeps swinging.  She’s not alive. 

15) Grieving scientist clones deceased wife.  Oops.

16) They entered the elevator.  That’s all.

17) Purchased antique painting.  Haunted.  Buyer’s remorse.

18) Couple has nightmares.  They come true. 

19) Museum coffin won’t open.  Pounding inside.

20) Peaceful ocean swim.  Dorsal fin.  Ouch!

21) Clock runs backwards.  Time does too.

22) Tour guide loses group.  On purpose.

23) Locked doors and windows.  Forgot one.

24) Perfect suburban neighborhood.  Until freak accidents. 

25) Doorbell rings.  Gift.  Worst present ever!

26) New boyfriend.  Neither boy or friend. 

27) Office coffee maker brews deadly decaf.

28) Children’s voices fill park.  No kids.

29) Vacationers open their suitcase.  It bites.

30) Quiet road.  Abandoned car.  Open door.

31) Feeling the creepy crawlies.  Spiders everywhere! 

32) Voices heard upstairs.  Everyone is downstairs.


Teach English?  Teens and tweens love to be scared! Now your students can apply the six-word writing prompt and create their own scary stories with engaging (32) Six-Word Scary Story Starter Task Cards. These task cards are sure to generate rich narratives from your students as they combine story elements (setting, dialogue, conflict, etc.) with their own innate creativity. Perfect for Halloween, Creative Writing class, or any other time!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Six-Word-Scary-Story-Starter-Task-Cards-4813107

Students Acting Slothy? Teach Them Something Gothy!

The distance learning honeymoon is officially over, and it's about this time that students reveal subtle symptoms of slothy sluggishness.  Consequently, around late September/early October, I reach deep in my literacy bag of tricks for my go-to Gothic Literature unit.  Reading spine-tingling excerpts from Dracula, Frankenstein, or Edgar Allan Poe are all but guaranteed to reignite enthusiasm from students and possibly even the most reluctant of readers who have yet to reveal their literary chops.  (My hope is, in keeping with the theme, they are merely keeping me in suspense!)

That said, before plunging into the dark world of castles, chambers, and creepy cloisters, students require background information on Gothic Literature itself.  It is at this time we examine five basic elements of Gothic Literature, which I have classified into the following categories:

5 Elements of Gothic Literature

1) Elements of Superstition

• Presence of ghosts, vampires, etc.
• Unexplained sounds, sights, occurrences
• Eerie atmosphere
• Mysterious tone adds to building of tension

2) Emotions and Passions

• Emotion surpasses rationality
• Spells of hysteria, lust, and anxiety
• Frequent crying and screaming
• Detailed sensory description revealing characters’ passions
• Characters experience terror and hysteria due to miasmic atmosphere


3) Broken Families

• Families are often broken, incestuous, or murderous
• Women subject to lustful wrongdoings 
• Male characters are tyrannical
• Women depicted as damsels in distress
• Family unit confining, from which characters must escape

4) Eerie, mysterious setting

• Claustrophobic, dark venues such as an old castle, mansion, or abbey
• Places of fear and dread that portray the world as deteriorating
• Desperate, dark ruined scenery
• Surrounding area is dismal and rotting, often adding a haunting flavor of impending doom


5) Distinctive Characters

• Characters are lonely, isolated, and oppressed
• Presence of a tyrannical villain 
• Action revolves around an unrequited love, or illicit love affair 
• A vendetta or vengeance is a prominent theme

After students are fully inducted into the world of Gothic Literature, it's time for them to write their own stories.  For inspiration, I offer some creepy music, telling them to listen at their own risk.  

Assignment: Write a Gothic Story...

The requirements are as follows:

• Setting must be a large old house or graveyard
• An unexplainable, scary event occurs in the house or graveyard 
• Presence of the supernatural, such as a ghost, vampire, or werewolf
• Unexplained phenomenon, such as doors slamming shut or lights turning on/off by themselves
• Highly emotional characters who cry and scream
• Implementation of Gothic symbols, such as a staircase, shadows, or a full moon.  

With a little inspiration from the darker works of the literary canon, students can't help but get their Goth on.  Whether you are a teacher, writer, or simply have a nagging nostalgia for Manic Panic, it's the perfect time to reach inside YOUR creepy bag of tricks and write your own Gothic tale.  

Happy Spooky Season, y'all! 

For more literary Goth inspiration, go to Kimberly's teaching store at:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Gothic-Literature-1449449

Annotating With the Fabulous Five

Active readers annotate!  

Although it may seem like the strategy du jour, annotation is not new, as seen in the parchment page gloss below:

Historically speaking, glosses were originally notes made in the margin or between the lines of a text to help the reader understand the meaning of a word or passage.  

We ask students to do the same thing today.  All good, right?  Yes, unless students are burdened with so many annotation marks and symbols they lose sight of the text's content, which I have seen (and most likely done) first hand.

There are as many ways to annotate as there are readers and of course, teachers.  There is not one right way to teach annotation.  However, having attended many professional development sessions and read the latest pedagogical tomes on annotating, I had to come up with my own easy-to-remember, meaningful symbols that worked for interacting with any text - fiction and nonfiction.  

Hence the Fabulous Five:

The Fab Five annotation marks are grounded in four seminal reading skills of adroit readers who attack complex texts: 

• Questioning
• Identifying key ideas and overarching themes 
• Accessing content vocabulary
• Making connections  

It is my hope the Fabulous Five help support both students and teachers as they continue teach annotation as a formative close reading skill and best practice.  

Need more evidence?  Text annotation allows the reader to...

• Interact with the text, bringing their own ideas, questions, and interpretations.
• Increase comprehension and retention.
• Keep track of key ideas, questions, connections, and predictions
• Help formulate thoughts and questions for deeper understanding
• Foster analyzing and interpreting skills
• Make inferences and draw conclusions about the text
• Easily refer back to the text without rereading the text in its entirety

Happy Reading and Annotating, y'all! 

Need some Fabulous Five Annotation Products?  Check out my Fabulous Five Annotation Bundle for everything your students need.