Writing Mumbo Jumbo
Before I began teaching writing, I was a writer. I was immersed daily in the lives of my characters and the world of shopping my manuscript. I was an active…
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Writing Mumbo Jumbo
My Reading Dilemma
Here's my reading dilemma: Once I begin a book, I cannot stop - even if it is REALLY, REALLY bad!Does anyone else have this problem?Last night I got all the…
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My Reading Dilemma
Proofreading: Whose Job Is It?
It’s an age old problem. It’s something that teachers and parents talk about until they are blue in the face. It’s the one thing that can make the difference between…
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Proofreading: Whose Job Is It?
Critical Thinking Skills and Your Teen
With college essays and SAT’s on the horizon, how can you help your teen prepare for writing timed persuasive essays using critical thinking skills?A big part of timed essays relies…
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Critical Thinking Skills and Your Teen
Colons: My Favorite Mark of Punctuation
Yes, I know it is probably a bit odd to have a favorite punctuation mark. It's probably even stranger not to choose an illustrious piece of end punctuation. Nope. My…
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Colons: My Favorite Mark of Punctuation
Spelling Strategies for Students who Struggle
Many children have difficulty spelling. But did you know that this spelling weakness can affect both the writers they are today as well as the writers they will eventually become?While…
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Spelling Strategies for Students who Struggle
Traditional Writing Skills for Modern Students?
In an article entitled “How to Teach Kids to Write Effectively,” Penelope Trunk questions how writing is taught today. She suggests that learning traditional writing skills is a waste of…
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Traditional Writing Skills for Modern Students?