Boooooooooo

Hi everyone,

Sometime ago, Renee LaTulippe and I made this Halloween video. No one asked us to bring it back this year, but we know how forgetful you are and that you meant to. So here it is, just as you meant to request.

I love working with Renee. In this case I (think I) suggested we might do something together and wrote what turned out to be my half of this bloodcurdling duet. Renee, with her superior knowledge of all kinds of things, including makeup, dramatizing, producing, and technology, took care of the rest. I couldn’t decide whether to repost this on Saturday or on Sunday. My compromise was to leave it up both days. You’ll thank me later.

Still on schedule

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I enjoyed making a 25-minute video with Mary Jo Fresch and Tim Rasinski that will be posted for the California Reading Association virtual conference, October 22-23. We presented aspects of a book we’re finishing for Scholastic, which will be published January 22, titled PARTNER POEMS & WORD LADDERS FOR BUILDING FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY SKILLS.

Starting today I’ll be away from the Fairfax project for twelve days, the longest hiatus since I started. When I return, I’ll have 19 work-days to write the final 15 poems. If all goes as planned, I should finish on time. By work days I mean weekdays between now and November 15 when I don’t have other commitments already on the schedule. Fingers crossed!

Boo

Hi everyone,
Halloween fun from No Water River (https://www.nowaterriver.com/poetry-video-library/), featuring none other than the one and only Renee La Tulippe!

From Missouri to England to Mexico

Hi everyone,

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had been approached by a designer in London who was working on a project for a major department store on a Valentines campaign, “For the love of poetry.” The project tested successfully so I’m standing by for possible future involvement.

I recently sent her the first two videos I’ve made of me reading from AFTER DARK and NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON’T. Yesterday I heard from her that she has shared the videos with her aunt in Mexico City who is principal at an English school called Humanitree. Needless to say, I am delighted! I may be stuck at home making videos in my bathroom, but at least my stories are seeing the world.

Lori Oczkus

Hi everyone,

Many of you will be familiar with the work of Lori Oczkus, a well known and respected literacy consultant and author. We met years ago when we spoke at a conference in New York and have remained in touch. Lori frequently uses my work in her publications and presentations and I continue to admire her work in the field of teaching literacy skills to young students.

The other day Lori shared with me two of her latest videos and with her permission I’m sharing them with you today.

How to Boost Reading Comprehension with the Fab Four

How to Improve Comprehension & Fluency with Poetry

Lori Oczkus, Literacy Consultant and Author
Reciprocal Teaching at Work ( ASCD, 2018) Foreword by John Hattie
http://www.ascd.org/Publications/Books/Overview/Reciprocal-Teaching-at-Work-Powerful-Strategies-and-Lessons-for-Improving-Reading-Comprehension-3rd-Edition.aspx

Thank you, Lori. Looking forward to the next time our paths meet.