Have a dose of candy
Add a shot of fright or two
Line up scary pumpkins and
Lots of ghosts that BOO!
Owls that hoot from trees
While kids in costumes bound
Each one seeking to find
Every sucker that's left in town.
Night of trick or treating begins...
Many teachers are aware that acrostic poems are a staple of any holiday season. Acrostics are a good assignment to use with elementary students because they teach kids how to write to a specific format, and allow teachers to incorporate the use of dictionaries and thesauruses into a lesson in a meaningful way. Plus, after the written work is completed, children can represent their poems in artistic ways as well. So, if you are looking for a fun and educational writing and art activity for your students, acrostic poems just might be for you.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
- Brian Moen, Writer of Children's Books
- Washington, United States
- www.brianmoen.com
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Question of the Day
How did you eat me into your body?
My wife got asked this question today by my 4 year old. My son really just wanted to know how he was conceived. But, I'm sure happy he asked for Mom to explain it instead of Dad.
When the nosy Daddy (me, of course) overheard the conversation that was building steam, I let out a spastic laugh and snort. Then, while attempting to stifle more giggles, I quickly shielded my face with the newspaper. I didn't want to curb the conversation they were having. And, secretly, I wanted to see how my wife would answer his strangely worded inquisition.
My wife then calmly explained to my son that Mommies and Daddies are like puzzle pieces. When you put them together, a baby is made. My son said, "Oh." Then, he flopped back down on the floor to play with his race cars.
My wife is so smart! Well done, Honey!
My wife got asked this question today by my 4 year old. My son really just wanted to know how he was conceived. But, I'm sure happy he asked for Mom to explain it instead of Dad.
When the nosy Daddy (me, of course) overheard the conversation that was building steam, I let out a spastic laugh and snort. Then, while attempting to stifle more giggles, I quickly shielded my face with the newspaper. I didn't want to curb the conversation they were having. And, secretly, I wanted to see how my wife would answer his strangely worded inquisition.
My wife then calmly explained to my son that Mommies and Daddies are like puzzle pieces. When you put them together, a baby is made. My son said, "Oh." Then, he flopped back down on the floor to play with his race cars.
My wife is so smart! Well done, Honey!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Weekend with Daddy
My wife left me for the weekend. Not only did she leave me, she took my daughter with her, too. They are off to spend a rainy Washington weekend of camping with the Girl Scouts. That means that Daddy gets to spend the weekend all by himself with the boys, doing safe and manly activities.
We’ve already enjoyed a dinner of delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a side order of pears (fresh from the plastic single serving sized cups), small glasses of frothy 2% milk, and cookie dough ice cream with caramel syrup on top for dessert. Then, the boys messed around for awhile by pushing their toy trucks safely around the living room. But, as the thrill of competition between the two kids took over, the trucks became dangerous projectiles that knocked over some chairs and flew pell-mell toward the t.v., Dad quickly put an end to the monster truck rally. After that, we used quiet inside voices and kicked back for a bit, watched the prototypical kids’ cartoons, did some mazes, and played a few games of tick-tack-toe. I got the boys ready for bed at a respectable 10:30 pm (c’mon, it’s the weekend), and tucked them in for the night.
My next task is to figure out what we should do tomorrow. I’ve contemplated the pros and cons of taking the boys to the Serpentarium to hold snakes, hiking to a waterfall through a magical rainforest, finding our way through a corn maze, or visiting the children’s museum. Then again, the allure of going to a local fast food restaurant and letting them run around in the kids play area also sounds appealing due to the added benefit of not having to think about what to fix for lunch. And, there’s always football and car racing events to think about as well. Decisions, decisions …
I’m sure that whatever I decide to have the kids do for the rest of this weekend will be fun. It’s not often that the males in the Moen household get to bond like this. Besides, I know that my wife will consider the weekend to be a success as long as she finds the males of this household in the same condition as she left them.
We’ve already enjoyed a dinner of delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a side order of pears (fresh from the plastic single serving sized cups), small glasses of frothy 2% milk, and cookie dough ice cream with caramel syrup on top for dessert. Then, the boys messed around for awhile by pushing their toy trucks safely around the living room. But, as the thrill of competition between the two kids took over, the trucks became dangerous projectiles that knocked over some chairs and flew pell-mell toward the t.v., Dad quickly put an end to the monster truck rally. After that, we used quiet inside voices and kicked back for a bit, watched the prototypical kids’ cartoons, did some mazes, and played a few games of tick-tack-toe. I got the boys ready for bed at a respectable 10:30 pm (c’mon, it’s the weekend), and tucked them in for the night.
My next task is to figure out what we should do tomorrow. I’ve contemplated the pros and cons of taking the boys to the Serpentarium to hold snakes, hiking to a waterfall through a magical rainforest, finding our way through a corn maze, or visiting the children’s museum. Then again, the allure of going to a local fast food restaurant and letting them run around in the kids play area also sounds appealing due to the added benefit of not having to think about what to fix for lunch. And, there’s always football and car racing events to think about as well. Decisions, decisions …
I’m sure that whatever I decide to have the kids do for the rest of this weekend will be fun. It’s not often that the males in the Moen household get to bond like this. Besides, I know that my wife will consider the weekend to be a success as long as she finds the males of this household in the same condition as she left them.
Picture Book Art
If you are interested in seeing some of the creative artwork produced by artists and illustrators throughout the U.S., this site is a good one to visit. There is also a section for teachers, librarians, and others to learn more about the artists behind the work. Here is the link:
http://picturebookartists.org/
(Original Posting Date - October 21, 2009)
http://picturebookartists.org/
(Original Posting Date - October 21, 2009)
Too Ill to Tango
Sick today
Yuck!
Having a difficult time letting the body and neurons play
Just my luck.
(Original Posting Date - October 20, 2009)
Yuck!
Having a difficult time letting the body and neurons play
Just my luck.
(Original Posting Date - October 20, 2009)
Quote for the Day
“If you think of home as a place where you feel comfortable, where you can kick off your shoes and be yourself, then writing is my home. No matter where I am, if I have my laptop or my journal, I’m home. When I pick up the pen, I experience the most profound feeling of intimacy and acceptance and familiarity I know.”
–Sheryl St. Germain, poet and creative writing professor, 2009
(Original Posting Date - October 16, 2009)
–Sheryl St. Germain, poet and creative writing professor, 2009
(Original Posting Date - October 16, 2009)
Play Date for the Neurons
I, like most people, do not like being sick! I don’t enjoy the aches, pains, headaches, and other malaise that come with it. In addition, it seems that now that I’ve gotten a little older, my body usually waits until the weekend to shut itself down. So, as it is, I spend my work week in a generally productive and vertical position. But, once the weekend comes around, the bug hits me, and I’m on my back in bed. There goes the weekend!
Being sick does have a unique purpose, though. I fathom that it’s life’s way of saying to each one of us, “Slow down there, partner. You’ve been burning the candle at both ends for too long. It’s time to take it easy and relax for a bit.” So, instead of mowing the lawn, cleaning out the gutters, and doing the multitude of other projects I had planned for today, I put on my jammies instead. Then, I just snuggled up under my fluffy, down-filled covers, surfed on the internet, read, and chugged clear sports-type drinks to my heart’s content.
Still, there is another big upside to my life when I’m sick that I haven’t mentioned. (And, no … I’m not talking about having my wife wait on me on hand and foot, and feel sorry for me.) The benefit of being ill is that since my body needs rest, my mind gets its own time to wander. Think of it as a “play date for the neurons.” The creative part of my ‘being’ gets a chance to be set free on the world and wreak havoc. In other words, I get time to write!
Thus far today, I’ve had the opportunity to put pen to paper a lot. I got the chance to go over my current easy reader book manuscript to complete an additional round of editing and revisions. This endeavor was sorely needed. As I wrote about previously in this blog, I have a critique group meeting coming up later this month. Today’s review of my creation was important to accomplish before then. On top of that, I was able to clarify and add ideas to my outline for a new picture book project, brainstorm some key thoughts for an article that I’m entering in a writing contest, and update my website. Plus, I got the chance to get caught up with some friends via email and through a certain social-networking sight.
So you see, even when a person is ‘under the weather’ for a bit, much can be accomplished.
(Original Posting Date - October 10, 2009)
Being sick does have a unique purpose, though. I fathom that it’s life’s way of saying to each one of us, “Slow down there, partner. You’ve been burning the candle at both ends for too long. It’s time to take it easy and relax for a bit.” So, instead of mowing the lawn, cleaning out the gutters, and doing the multitude of other projects I had planned for today, I put on my jammies instead. Then, I just snuggled up under my fluffy, down-filled covers, surfed on the internet, read, and chugged clear sports-type drinks to my heart’s content.
Still, there is another big upside to my life when I’m sick that I haven’t mentioned. (And, no … I’m not talking about having my wife wait on me on hand and foot, and feel sorry for me.) The benefit of being ill is that since my body needs rest, my mind gets its own time to wander. Think of it as a “play date for the neurons.” The creative part of my ‘being’ gets a chance to be set free on the world and wreak havoc. In other words, I get time to write!
Thus far today, I’ve had the opportunity to put pen to paper a lot. I got the chance to go over my current easy reader book manuscript to complete an additional round of editing and revisions. This endeavor was sorely needed. As I wrote about previously in this blog, I have a critique group meeting coming up later this month. Today’s review of my creation was important to accomplish before then. On top of that, I was able to clarify and add ideas to my outline for a new picture book project, brainstorm some key thoughts for an article that I’m entering in a writing contest, and update my website. Plus, I got the chance to get caught up with some friends via email and through a certain social-networking sight.
So you see, even when a person is ‘under the weather’ for a bit, much can be accomplished.
(Original Posting Date - October 10, 2009)
Realistic Dialogue
During class today, one of my students read the following line aloud while sharing a story that he’d written in his journal:
“My Dad has a lot of hair … but none of it is on his head.”
This line cracked my students up! I knew right away that I had to share this with my readers.
I felt it was important to pass this quote along because it provided a terrific example of the type of humor that kids in the upper elementary and middle grades find amusing. By listening to and learning how kids talk in “real life,” you are more able to capture the feelings of your characters and write realistic dialogue for your stories. The genuine word choices you make will help you connect with your potential audiences better, and bring increased depth to your stories.
Plus,the fact is, now that I am in my mid forties, my back is beginning to resemble my student’s comment.
(Original Posting Date - October 6, 2009)
“My Dad has a lot of hair … but none of it is on his head.”
This line cracked my students up! I knew right away that I had to share this with my readers.
I felt it was important to pass this quote along because it provided a terrific example of the type of humor that kids in the upper elementary and middle grades find amusing. By listening to and learning how kids talk in “real life,” you are more able to capture the feelings of your characters and write realistic dialogue for your stories. The genuine word choices you make will help you connect with your potential audiences better, and bring increased depth to your stories.
Plus,the fact is, now that I am in my mid forties, my back is beginning to resemble my student’s comment.
(Original Posting Date - October 6, 2009)
It’s Logic, Mom?
Dinner last night was a struggle. My 4 year old didn’t want to eat his hot dog. He spent much of the mealtime watching others, making faces at his siblings, and talking to himself while the rest of us ate.
After being told by my wife over and over again to stop messing around and to start eating, my son suddenly paused and looked up at her. With a serious expression plastered across his face, he dryly said, “I can’t eat right now, Mom. I’m too busy playing around.”
Who can argue with the logic of a 4 year old?
(Original Posting Date - October 4, 2009)
After being told by my wife over and over again to stop messing around and to start eating, my son suddenly paused and looked up at her. With a serious expression plastered across his face, he dryly said, “I can’t eat right now, Mom. I’m too busy playing around.”
Who can argue with the logic of a 4 year old?
(Original Posting Date - October 4, 2009)
A Critique Group Invitation – The Journey Continues
I am thrilled to announce that the next chapter of my journey to becoming a published writer continues!
I was recently contacted to join a Critique Group in my local area. Needless to say, I jumped out of my socks at this wonderful offer, and can’t wait for our group’s meetings to start later this month!
For those of you that are unaware of what a Critique Group is, I will attempt to give you a brief explanation: In a nutshell, a Critique Group is composed of a small group of both published (ideally) and aspiring writers and/or illustrators. Regular gatherings are held, generally about one time per month, to share projects, get advice on how to make positive changes to our work, and to help each other navigate the mazes and roadblocks on the way to publication. Some groups also use the internet to send manuscripts back and forth so members can get help with editing and revisions between (or in lieu of) face to face meeting times.
The members of our newly formed group are both published (yey!) and unpublished authors like me, as well as a couple of illustrators of children’s books. I am practically salivating at the chance to get my first story ripped apart (nicely please!!!) by my writing peers.
I will keep everyone apprised of how things go after my first meeting in a few weeks. Until then, be safe and keep reading!
(Original Posting Date - October 1, 2009)
I was recently contacted to join a Critique Group in my local area. Needless to say, I jumped out of my socks at this wonderful offer, and can’t wait for our group’s meetings to start later this month!
For those of you that are unaware of what a Critique Group is, I will attempt to give you a brief explanation: In a nutshell, a Critique Group is composed of a small group of both published (ideally) and aspiring writers and/or illustrators. Regular gatherings are held, generally about one time per month, to share projects, get advice on how to make positive changes to our work, and to help each other navigate the mazes and roadblocks on the way to publication. Some groups also use the internet to send manuscripts back and forth so members can get help with editing and revisions between (or in lieu of) face to face meeting times.
The members of our newly formed group are both published (yey!) and unpublished authors like me, as well as a couple of illustrators of children’s books. I am practically salivating at the chance to get my first story ripped apart (nicely please!!!) by my writing peers.
I will keep everyone apprised of how things go after my first meeting in a few weeks. Until then, be safe and keep reading!
(Original Posting Date - October 1, 2009)
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