Write. Paint. Teach. Repeat. a blog about words, images, and/or kids

I guess in a way, most mandalas do look like a flower, but that was not the intention. It's that whole radial symmetry thing. This one,...

Hey, there! It's been a while! On the verge of the new year, I wanted to share a little bit of a new process and fun art exploration I...

It’s the end of National Poetry Month! For the second in-service course I am teaching this year, called Creative Connections: Art &...

If that makes no sense, stay with me a minute... My youngest son and I talked about painting a cat mural for his room. He has had a HUGE...

It's been an exciting week in the kidlit world: PBParty and the 50 Precious Words contest both within a few days of each other. They're...

I'm excited to enter Vivian Kirkfield's 50 Precious Words writing contest for the second time. It is such a fun challenge to write an...

Hey, there, Happy New Year! I should start by saying I don't love New Year's Day. It's always a reminder that the holidays are over and...

After an amazing family trip to Acadia National Park in Maine, I was freshly inspired to create some landscape paintings. I've always...

Hey, folks, it's been a while. I had planned to keep up with this blog, but, well, summer & life happened! I have gotten a lot of writing...

One of my favorite things is combining different modes of expression and creativity, and seeing how they inspire and influence one...

Happy Book Birthday to Imperfect II: poems about perspective: an anthology for middle schoolers! I'm so excited to share that two of my...

I'm entering Vivan Kirkfield's #50PreciousWords writing contest. More details and all the amazing submissions can be read at her website....

Children's author Julie Hedlund, challenged participants of her 12 Days of Christmas for Writers series to post SUCCESSES (rather than...

My fourth grade students recently finished a "figure in action" art project. I love this lesson for the beginning of the year, because it...

I'm so excited to participate in Susanna Leonard Hill's 11th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest this year! The basics: write a story for...

the scent of new crayons -- like that sweet inhale while cradling a newborn -- defies description... almost... it’s a fresh start...

I'm participating in the annual #FallWritingFrenzy and I couldn't be more excited. For those of you who don't know, it's a contest hosted...

A couple years ago, I was at an art teacher conference and the amazing #CassieStephens was the keynote. She spoke about how when your...

Here's to the often-difficult but highly-satisfied feeling that comes with waking up early... Get up! Get coffee and stretch -- Quick!...

I always strive to be positive, but sometimes I can't help but feel overwhelmed. (9 more days of teaching this year, but who's counting?)...