Tools for Teaching

When I was at school our teacher used to write on a huge blackboard, that rolled round the frame, so that it was in effect 3 blackboards.

Fast forward to 2005 when my second child started school and his classroom had an interactive white board. The teacher used a special pen to write on it or select one of the tools that were intergrated into it.

Possibly cleaner than chalk but there is the absence of the wooden block eraser to launch across the classroom at the kids who aren't paying attention - but then teachers aren't allowed to do that these days!

And homework. I remember having to go to the library to find books.Read the passage I needed then try to recreate it a few sentances at a time in my own words, so it usually ended up longer than the piece in the book or I read it all then tried to write about it only to find I'd forgotten some vital piece of information (Oh wait, was that just me?) Nowadays the kids go onto the web and either print the information off and write it up, or more likely, cut, paste and edit. But at least they can insert pictures instead of trying to draw them (I'm not sure my drawing ever inhanced my homework).

Today teachers boards are somehow magically synched to their laptops so presentations appear on the wall and a favourite tool seems to be Youtube clips and why not if it makes the learning more fun.

Whether you are a teacher or one of the growing number of home teaching parents, (or a parent who wants to entertain their child on a wet day) then a great resource for you is The Literacy Shed. The website is full of ideas and videos that will enhance your teaching.
www.literacyshed.com

Thank Crunchie it's Friday

Those of you over a certain age and living in Britain may well remember the title line from an advert for chocolate, appropriate as chocolate has helped me get through this strange week - as well as numerous cups of tea. This week has been as varied as the weather. Let's start with the weather, lots of cloud, some sun (quite warm, although thankfully about 10 degrees less tha some were enduring)rain and strong winds; def think it has forgotten it's June. The rain Wednesday night brought with it Saharan sand which it deposited all over my black car - I know it was from the Sahara and not from the beach a couple of miles away because the lady showed me a graphic whilst giving me the weather forecast - How nice of her! Perhaps today's rain will wash it away again.
Kids - 12yr old is same as ever, either very vocal or shut in his room like a hermit,eagerly waiting for me to finish my musings so he can use the laptop to revise for a science test - sorry mate just a bit longer! Teenager has finished her exams for this year(except science practicals which she is doing during lesson time)Yesterday she had a world of work day at school which consisited of the army coming in and doing a team building exercise with the kids.You know get from point to point using amo box and planks of wood without touching the ground.This she loved, what she didn't like was the sales pitch the pompous old dude (her words) gave them afterwards. Hey wait a minute I signed a form saying she could take part, not that you could try and recruit my 15yr old - Hands off! The afternoon consisted of a mock interview with a local company.(This we knew was happening so we spent last Saturday looking for a suitable top to team with her school trousers to turn them into an interview outfit,this we accomlpished and with the addition of my jacket she looked very smart and grown up-so much so that her maths teacher of 4yrs almost didn't recognise her)In the feedback session the woman told teenager that a) there was nothing she needed to work on b) if it had been a real interview she'd have got the job. Way to go offspring!
My week has consisited of decorating,tidying,paperwork and yesterday - joy the carpet finally being fitted, cause for celebration - except the heavy rain Wed night showed we still had a leak somewhere and the floor under the stairs was wet - count to 10.Solution was to ask the nice man to leave that area,his solution was to fit carpet and roll it back for me - yay him. We're hoping we may have discovered where the prob lay, now we have to try and fix it, sooner rather tha later as we've discovered the skirting board is rotten too.
Now it's Friday, the kids have an inset day so we're all tucked up inside, away from the nasty weather and I'm hoping things improve next week.

What Next

The hardest part about writing a book, apart from actually putting the words down on paper of course, is the waiting once you send it out to agents. How long will it be before they get back to you? probably about two or more months and that is a long time when you want to know if they will accept you and your work. So usually you start to write something new in between. Which is fine but I'm finding that I'm still itching to do something to help my work that I have just sent out into the cold world. Luckily I have found a competition to enter which should keep me busy, if only I can get my book characters out of my head long enough for me to concentrate on the brief. Okay time to start!

Janalya

I've just sent my YA novel, Janalya out to some agents.It is always an exciting time, the possiblity that someone will like your book enough to take it on. Sadly it takes a while before you hear back from agents because of the amount of manuscripts that get sent to them. However I am hopeful, this time, that my work is strong, as are the letter and synopsis that are required. Fingers crossed and I'll update you as I hear any news.

Finished Book

I finished writing my YA novel on Thursday,well when I say finished,I wrote and typed up the last chapter. I know I will have to edit it to make sure it's as good as I can make it. My teenage daughter has to proof it and offer any comments, as will a few trusted friends. I decided, that until I had all the feedback in, I wouldn't touch it. I know that one day next week I will read through it and make any changes but until then I'd have a break from it.I thought I'd be quite pleased to be free of it for a few days; How wrong was I? Friday I spent all day trying to resist picking it up to read. Today (Saturday has been easier, as I've been busy with family. I've lived with these characters for nearly a year and they are still talking to me, maybe it's because I know that the book isn't completely finished! I had very mixed emotions on completing my book, the evening before I was excited because I knew I would finish the next day but on Thursday, as I typed the last word, I felt a bit empty. Of course, I know that once I do finally decide the novel is finished, I shall be busy trying to find representation for it, so it will be a while before my mind can focus on something else. Writing is a consuming business!

Shooting Stars - Allison Rushby

Love them or loathe them, photographers are a part of celebrities lives but what if one of them was a schoolgirl, following in her father’s footsteps, trying to make enough money to follow her dream of becoming a portrait photographer?


“Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she's known in the biz. The best pint-sized paparazzo out there, Jo loves shooting the stars, and she certainly doesn't mind doing whatever takes to get that one perfect picture.
But then Jo is sent on a major undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett-teen superstar/heartthrob and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her-at an exclusive retreat facility in Boston. Among the cheesy group therapy sessions and embarrassing “team building” exercises, Jo finds there’s more to the reclusive Ned than meets the eye-and maybe more to herself, too.” Shooting stars – Allison Rushby.

Allison’ story has you hooked from the start; with great central characters that you hope will succeed. Her descriptions of the trials faced by teenagers are told with sympathy and humor and you want to know how all of them are coping, even when they have left the retreat.



For more information on Shooting Stars visit www.bloomsburyteens.com
http://www.amazon.co.uk

Kiera’s Quest: Awakenings – Kristy Brown

Kristy’s book for teenagers is a good blend of fantasy and reality, with a fast pace throughout. The characters are all well written and believable and you want to know more about them; from the loyal friends, to the Witch Queen, and of course, Kiera and Zakk.

“Meet Kiera, a pretty, intelligent, and talented girl, brought up by her uncle, and abandoned by her parents. Life is as normal as she believes it to be, apart from the deep ache inside her, telling her she’s different. For years, Kiera had dreams where she ventures into a different reality. She’s not alone; a presence is always there, keeping her safe, yet she feels vulnerable, and hunted.

Zakk, Prince of Zantar, is under the Witch Queen’s spell as she tries to take over his world. He crosses paths with Kiera, and their fates are entwined.

As their journey unravels, she learns that she is not the only one affected by this prince. Who is on her side? Will she find out why she has been chosen? How can someone so young, defeat such evil? Will she find the strength to save the ones closest to her? Will this be Kiera’s only Quest?” Kiera’s Quest: Awakenings Kristy Brown

Awakenings is the first of four books in the Kiera’s Quest series, with the second book due out in July. Once your teenager reads the first one, they will be counting down the days until they can download the next one.

For more information or to download the book follow one of the links below.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kieras-Quest-Awakenings-ebook/dp/B005WXN1RE/ref=cm_rdp_product_img

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kieras-Quest/331392551035?ref=share

http://museituppublishing.com/musepub/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152&Itemid=82

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12937815-kiera-s-quest