Monthly Archives: April 2014

Learning with Caps – Recycled Play

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f4939b9d9b4f5f90c8240245691056faLearning with Caps – Recycled Play

As a teacher, I find many uses for random household items that most people throw away. Bottle caps, for example, are never disposed of in my home.  Just this morning, my children and I played our own version of scrabble using yogurt caps I wrote letters on. They are a great way to engage children in learning (but I don’t dare tell them that). Sometimes I throw in different size and colour lids, just to see how the kids will fit them into the game.

They love coming up with their own rules (problem-solving, cooperation, creative thinking at its best):

“I know – how about the black ones be free letters?” says A.

“Yeah, we can use them when we get stuck, “ adds B.

I can’t help throwing in my own two cents. “They can be vowels.”

And off we go, making up words vertically, diagonally, horizontally, changing rules, adding rules, anything they want, so long as they are engaged.

scrabble scrabble2
What household items have you saved from the recycling bin? Please share to feature your idea on our blog.

 

All the Colours in the Sky

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All the Colours in the Sky
Liam, age 5

All the colours in the sky –
Violet, yellow, red and blue.
All the colours in the sky –
Pink and purple too.

All the colours in the sky
Indigo, orange and grey.
All the colours in the sky –
What a spectacular array!

Sky

Note: The poem was inspired by Liam’s inquiry-based learning about the sky. His Kindergarten teacher read the book Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds and invited students to take pictures of the sky at various times of the day. We captured a shot at sunset and decided to take it a step further. His teacher liked the poem very much and wrote it up on chart paper to share with the class.
(Mommy only helped a little bit J)

 

Creative Commons License
All the colours in the sky by Lora Rozler is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Pall’s Poem

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Pall’s Poem
By Stan Morris

I don’t pretend I know a lot,
about the world in which you slide.
It’s hard to speak to people, you know
I’d rather go spacing and hide.

But I see it makes you happy,
to hang out with a group.
And I know you never mind,
when the group becomes a troop.

So I stay by your side and wait to see
if your eyes will turn to me.

Poetry is calling …

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“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words”.
Robert Frost

“Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks”.
Plutarch

 “A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language”.
W. H. Auden

“Poetry can be dangerous, especially beautiful poetry, because it gives the illusion of having had the experience without actually going through it.”
Rumi

“One merit of poetry few persons will deny: it says more and in fewer words than prose”.
Voltaire

Hello everyone.  April is National Poetry month – and it so happens, I LOVE poems!  In recognition, I would like to share a couple of poems by two of my favourite authors.

Messy Room
By Shel Silverstein

Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
His underwear is hanging on the lamp.
His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair,
And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp.
His workbook is wedged in the window,
His sweater’s been thrown on the floor.
His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV,
And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door.
His books are all jammed in the closet,
His vest has been left in the hall.
A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed,
And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall.
Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
Donald or Robert or Willie or–
Huh? You say it’s mine? Oh, dear,
I knew it looked familiar!

There is great collection of Shel Silverstein’s work on: http://www.shelsilverstein.com/

My Teacher Calls Me Sweetie Cakes

My teacher calls me sweetie cakes.
My classmates think it’s funny
to hear her call me angel face
or pookie bear or honey.

She calls me precious baby doll.
She calls me pumpkin pie
or doodle bug or honey bunch
or darling butterfly.

My class is so embarrassing
I need to find another;
just any class at all
in which the teacher’s not my mother.

Check out Kenn Nesbitt’s website for other great poems: http://www.poetry4kids.com

Here are some other links to cool poetry pages:

http://www.gigglepoetry.com/poemcategories.aspx

http://www.storyit.com/Classics/JustPoems/classicpoems.htm

http://www.poetryarchive.org/childrensarchive/home.do

http://www.poetrysoup.com/poems/

If you have a favourite poem that you’d like to feature on our blog (perhaps even your own), please submit it to us at wordsonalimb@bell.net.  Remember to include the author’s name.

Please note: Words on a Limb does not claim ownership of any of the poems posted.

Words on a Limb Interviews K.S. Daniels

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kimberly outside2_editedKimberly Daniels is the terrific Goodreads author of The Valkyrie Profiles which is the #1 book of the Valkyrie Trilogy.  We learn some more about her on this installment of Spotlight on Authors.

Kimberly spent four years teaching English Composition and Literature at the University of South Alabama. She also writes Science Fiction (Genre fiction! Oh, My!) and consumes copious amounts of coffee and whiskey (not necessarily together or in that order). When she’s not busy writing, much like a cat, she enjoys napping, running suddenly into a randomly selected room, and plotting the destruction of mankind. She exhibits a curious interest robots, leading to the widespread rumor that she may, in fact, be one herself.

Her current projects include the third installment of the Valkyrie Trilogy and various short stories. Her first novel, The Valkyrie Profiles, was a quarter finalist for Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award in 2013 and the second novel, Flight of the Valkyries debuted in May of 2014 to much fanfare (read: she threw confetti at herself). She also has a prequel short story in the Valkyrie Trilogy, Children of Ymir, that is a Kindle exclusive and another short story in the second Lunar’s Children anthology by Dark Oak Press titled Chimera, which began as horror but somehow still managed to end up as Science Fiction. Much to her own surprise, she currently lives in New Orleans, LA. eating as many raw oysters as robotically possible (that’s a lot of oysters) and working on yet another time machine.

About writing …

When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
My first serious thoughts on being a writer began around the age of fourteen. I was really big into Star Wars and read a lot of the books that were written post-Return of the Jedi. At some point, I realized, hey, I could write books like this! So began my first book, never to be finished, handwritten across several black and white Mead compositions books. Eventually, I outgrew my Star Wars fan fiction and by the time I started on my Master’s in English, my first ‘real’ novel was well underway.

What book(s) has most influenced your writing?
I grew up on classic Science Fiction: Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Andre Norton, etc. so those books had the biggest impact on my writing. My prose tends to be tight, no pages and pages on the scenery descriptions for me. As Hemingway said, “Writing is architecture, not interior decorating.” I’ve also been partial to Victorian literature, like Jane Eyre, so I tend to incorporate a lot of gothic elements into my work as well. Some of the books I still read over and over again are Asimov’s “The Caves of Steel” and “The Stars Like Dust”, Philip K. Dick’s “Ubik”, Bronte’s “Jane Eyre”, Huxley’s “Brave New World”.

When and where do you prefer to write?
I prefer the morning, before my head has time to get bogged down with everyday, mundane tasks. The where can vary these days, though years ago I had to be in ‘my writing spot’. I do usually write away from home, but I prefer quiet places, like a dark corner in a locals-only coffee shop. We have a wonderful English Tea Room near my house that I hope to try out soon. Sometimes I like to listen to music when I write. Each of my characters has their own play list on Spotify so that helps me get my head in the right place before I begin.

What was your biggest challenge in writing your book?
With my first book, it was finding the time. I wrote half the book as my Master’s thesis, but right after graduation I took a two year internship at the University of South Alabama teaching four sections of either Composition or literature. I barely wrote at all during that time, but once I finished the internship, I could teach fewer classes and devote half my time to finishing the book.

What advice do you have for other writers?
Read good books! Never neglect your reading for writing; you should do both with equal vigor.

About you …

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I do a lot of reading, of course, but I also have a horde of rescue pets so they keep my pretty busy too. I just moved into a house that we are renovating ourselves, so I spend much of my free time on the project that is my new home.

Can you share something that is happening in your life that would surprise us?
That’s a tough one. I don’t feel like I’ve ever done anything particularly surprising. I’m a vegetarian, so that surprises some people. I own two pit bulls, a toy poodle, and a cat who all get on swimmingly. I love whiskey and playing dress up on any given day for no reason other than my own amusement.

Do you have any unique talents besides writing?
I took ballet for fifteen years so I’m a pretty great dancer. I also taught myself how to sew a few years back so I could make my own costumes for Halloween and SF conventions.

What can we expect from you in the future?
Many, many, many more books! I’ll never stop writing. I aim to leave me mark on the world by bring people enjoyment through my fiction.

Quick hits …

Is there an author that you would really like to meet?
All of my favorite authors are dead, so it’d be really hard to meet any of them without a time machine. Meeting Neil Gaiman would be cool though. Simon Pegg wrote a book, so I guess he counts and I’d certainly like to meet him.

What book are you currently reading?
I just finished The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain and Unwind, by Neal Shusterman. I just got into Philip K. Dick’s Man in the High Castle, and after that I plan on reading Cress, by Melissa Meyer.

Who designed your latest book cover?
Ana Cruz. She is the absolute best! She’s a pleasure to work with and her art is phenomenal. You can check out more of her work at Anna Cruz @ Deviant Art.

What is your favourite quote?
I’ve got so many, it’s hard to pick just one! I guess I’d have to go with “I write for the same reason I breathe – because if I didn’t, I would die.” – Isaac Asimov. I feel the same way. If I couldn’t write, I think I’d probably die.

Where can new fans can follow you?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kimberlysdaniels
Twitter: @KimSDaniels
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/ksdaniels
My horribly neglected blog: ksdaniels.blogspot.com
Amazon Author page: www.amazon.com/K.-S.-Daniels/e/B00B084336

The Valkyrie Profiles
By K.S. Daniels
Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Nook

My first book in the Valkyrie series is The Valkyrie Profiles and the second book, Flight of the Valkyrie will be out this summer.

The Valkyrie Profiles: With war on the horizon and a rising body count, Vladia Robespierre must decide if her brother is really what he seems? And if he is the enemy, what does that make her?

 

Kimberly, Words on a Limb would like to thank you for your time.  We wish you much success with The Valkyrie Profiles and future books in this series.

 

A Book’s Journey

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Going from an idea to a book, Stan Morris shares how Sarah’s Spaceship Adventure came to be.

A Book’s Journey
By Stan Morris

It is late at night, and I am not asleep.  This is not an uncommon occurrence, and neither is what happens next.  A vision forms.  In this instance, it is of a girl/woman, maybe twenty years old, maybe eighteen.  I hope she’s at least seventeen, because she’s not wearing any clothes, and her hands are tied behind her back.  Continue reading →

My Dreams Are Valid

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Julie Anna's avatarJ.

“I think I’m failing a course”.

“You?! You’re kidding right? How could you fail a course?”

Well, it’s quite simple. I lost focus because I lost the drive. Other things were happening and instead of worrying about school I went on a journey to figure myself out. I failed because I chose to learn about myself this year, more than ever before.

But mainly, I was able to fail because I am human.

You know that saying, “if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room” – I have learned the truth and value in that. This past year I have went to hear people speak at events, read tons of books and works written about and by brilliant people, introduced myself to a whole new world beyond textbooks and stressing over standardized testing. Entrepreneurs, business people, survivors of tragic events, CEO’s, philanthropists  and…

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MaurifullFrozen – Review

Anna: I don’t even know what love is.
Olaf: That’s okay. I do. Love is putting someone else’s needs before yours.

This is one of the lessons that Olaf (the snowman) teaches Anna in the movie Frozen. This Disney juggernaut ran away with the box office raking in a staggering $400 million domestic and another $713 million worldwide for a mind-bending $1.1 billion overall.  Not bad for a children’s movie that opened #2 to Hunger Games: Catching Fire with a healthy $67M, and then went on to also pick up a shiny new Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.  This all begs the question, what was the appeal?

Well, to begin, it’s a clever musical adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen” fairy tale; although you would never notice with all the memorable musical numbers and state of the art animation.  It also boast many timeless sequences that will be watched on Blu-ray for years to come, I’m sure.  But the true magic, in my opinion, is the enduring sisterhood story that girls of all ages just can’t resist.  Even though Disney tried hard to sell it as an action-filled movie, presumably to attract boys as well, they knew that the heart-warming princess fairy tale would win the day.  How do I know?

“Kids, you want to watch Frozen?”
David: “No way! That’s a girl movie!”
Dayana: “Yes, yes, please!  I love the songs!”

Yet both sat and watched every moment with equal delight.  That is the value of skilled story-telling – indeed, a culmination of Disney’s efforts to blend a good fairy tale with modern appeal.  One of the main building blocks was the success of another well-known fairy tale turned Disney film – Tangled.  I would hazard to guess that the producers of Frozen kept those Tangled production notes very close by.  Both are a welcome change from the toy-selling, in-your-face commercialization of the Toy Story franchise.

So what is it about?  Once upon a time there were two princess sisters who loved each other growing up.  That is until the older one, Elsa discovers she has a knack for freezing things (a classic Disney curse).  So as to not hurt her sister, she runs away.  Her beloved younger sibling, Anna, spends the rest of the film trying to save that sisterly bond that they both cherished.  Along the way, she has to leave her suitor-turned-villian, meets the irresistibly charming snowman, enlists the help of the a hunky mountain man-turned love interest, battles a snow monster – all the ingredients in place for an epic adventure in a spectacular frozen wonderland.  Cue the music…

Disney made sure to top off the film with their trademarks: goofy talking animals (in this story, a snowman and a reindeer) who help and teach the protagonist along the way, memorable songs and a lesson learned.  Add a pinch of a love story and a villain and there you have it – a Disney Classic straight from the pages of literary masterpieces (see Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin, Tarzan, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, The Jungle Book, the aforementioned Tangled, etc,etc.)  It is Disney at it’s best.

If you have any reservations about grabbing the Blu-ray for the kids … “Let it go, let it go…”

By Mauricio Bonifaz

For continued reading about the important life lessons in Frozen, look at these great links:

5 moral lessons from Disney’s ‘Frozen’
Top Five Lessons ‘Frozen’ Taught Us
5 Life Lessons Every Collegiette Can Learn From Disney’s “Frozen”

R-R-R-Rejected!

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Great article Lynette. Keep going!

Lynette Noni's avatarLynette Noni

rejection-letter1

Rejection sucks. There’s no way to sugar-coat it. In any area of life, rejection – in one form or another – is crushing. It hurts. It chips away at our self-esteem, it kicks the metaphorical spleen of our pride, and it shreds the lingering vestiges of our hope. It’s just plain uncool.

But you know what?

Rejection is also one of the best things we can ever experience.

Without feeling the sting of rejection, we would never have the opportunity to become more than what we are. We’d never need to make the tough choices in life, the decisions addressing what matters most and what price we’re willing to pay to see our dreams come to pass. We would never get to ask ourselves, “What am I truly passionate about?”

We would also never have a reason to then ask, “Are my dreams worth my blood, sweat and tears?”

And…

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Writing Picture Books: Tips from the Top

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WRITING PICTURE BOOKS: TIPS FROM THE TOP!
By Susan Hughes

“Oh, you write picture books? I have a great idea for a children’s story. I’m planning to write it one day — and maybe get it published — when I have a little more time.”

What picture book author hasn’t heard these sentiments expressed time and time again? On the one hand, they are a nice reflection of the longing shared by so many people to tell a story, to participate in the creative process, to turn a spark generated by a moment or an image or a feeling into something memorable and lasting.

On the other hand, they seem to underestimate, and under-appreciate, the complex synthesis of effort, inspiration, dedication, skill and delicate reworking required to create the precious, compact world that is a picture book. Ask any of us who do write picture books, and we’ll tell you: It might look easy, but it ain’t!

So what’s the magic formula? How do you write a picture book story that lifts off the page into the world of possibilities? How do you write those words that will be transformed by visuals into a book that captures the imagination of young readers?

Well, it turns out there isn’t actually a magic formula; however, in this month’s column, five well-known authors of award-winning picture books, Dan Bar-El, Ruth Ohi, Hazel Hutchins, Monica Kulling and Cary Fagan, generously share writing tips and suggestions. Hope you learn lots. I know I did!

Continue reading →