January Journeys
It’s been a busy start to the New Year for me–juggling time zones and virtual jet lag. I’ve been connecting with students across the U. S. and even as far away as Canada and Wales. Next month I’ll be off to many more national locations–even to the territory of Puerto Rico.
Students and teachers have been eager to discover tips on bringing sensory details into their writing. I like to encourage the students to use “juicy words.” Specific nouns, power-packed verbs, and creative adjectives are all helpful in making a story come to life.
I take the students through the five senses, exploring words that amp up a story and take it to the next level. I use a variety of props to aid them in selecting sensory words to fit the scene. I even “put them in a scene” to find the right words to entice their readers to read more.
Most of all I encourage the students to reach for their reading and writing goals. I stress how important words are for all of us. Words can be powerful when used for good, for change, for sharing ideas and knowledge. Words can unite and enlighten!
And I love sharing some of “my words,” a brief slice from one of my books: FROM THE GRAVE or INTO THE SHADOWLANDS. The monsters seem to have a way of connecting with kids and helping them connect to reading and writing.
Here are tweets from two of the teachers about my visit to their school in Minnesota:
@SkypeClassroom with @JollyFishPress author @cynthiareeg. a S shares “your book reads like a movie in my head.” Ss being mentored on writing descriptively. pic.twitter.com/Fe0WnoJsp6
— Mark Nechanicky (@MarkNechanicky) January 19, 2018
Using @SkypeClassroom to visit with children’s author @cynthiareeg. We are exploring the world of misfit monsters by using our senses. #ALASconnectED #lakeview pic.twitter.com/AteQlzjUpC
— Melinda Talamantes (@talamantesmrs) January 19, 2018
If you are interested in inviting me to visit your class, check out the Microsoft Educator Community or contact me directly here.
And check out these Thank You’s from students in Iowa who shared in sensory word fun!
